"Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone."
Then he looked around the room and asked someone to give him a second line. The class caught on quickly and someone offered up, "Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you."
They continued to go around the room writing the words to the song, line by line. The teacher never figured out that it was a James Taylor song and she probably thought she'd taught the best lesson in the history of the planet!
After that wonderful story, it was our table's turn. A classmate from our table stood up and announced to all 83 (stunned) people that she came to the reunion to see her old boyfriend and to find out if there was "anything left". She said she learned that "it wasn't over". There was a collective gasp from the group, since her old boyfriend was sitting at another table with his WIFE OF 17 YEARS.
.
Dear Andy,
You probably have heard that I am plotting something for Peter's birthday. I'm not going to tell you any of the secret because I think you guys are too close (and I don't trust you!) But if you would like to help, I might be able to use you in a small but meaningful way. Information, mostly. (Remember, this is the guy who told me you went to COOKING SCHOOL.)
If you don't want to be involved, it's no big deal. Peter, inadvertently gave me your dad's e-mail address and I can probably get anything I need from there. You can tell Peter I said that. (And let me know if he cringes.)
Chworowsky 1977
Would love to help, and I'm shocked that you think I can't keep a secret. I don't even like Peter. I'm just nice to him 'cause my Mom said I had to be.
To Andy
Thanks, I'll get back to you on how you can help later. I still don't trust you--I have a feeling you and Peter are as close as my sister and I are, and that isn't good for keeping secrets.
From Andy:
OK Rower, Don't trust me. Like I really care. Big whoop-di-doo.
By Andy Chworowsky
Oh! Oh, I know! Once there was this really cool time when he....oh, no, that wasn't him...
Um, yeah, so. After surviving numerous near-fatal beatings and even more death threats from Peter when I was a small terrified child cowering in a darkened corner, (usually to try and stop me from smoking -- he was so cruel) Peter and I settled into an uneasy détente towards the end of our teens. This was based on the agreement that he was allowed to pass moral judgement on (what he saw as) my hopeless immaturity, as long as I was allowed to stick my tongue out at him and then borrow lots of money off him. This arrangement was fine with me, and seemed to working as far as I could tell.
Of course everything changes. Somewhere along the line Peter seemed to grow up considerably, and started treating me as an equal. (Not that I'm admitting I have an equal) This growing attitude was probably a cynical attempt to get me to repay some of that aforementioned money that he lent me for all those frivolous things like making it possible for me to pay for college.
Ha! What was he thinking? In any case, this new outlook is getting to be interesting because it's definitely going full circle. You know things have changed when Peter whines, "C'mon Andy. It's only midnight. Let's go dancing! I've gotta get up early too!"
His vast array of friends worldwide is mystifiying and bewildering. I suppose it's because he's so non-threatening, in a "Rain Man" sort of way. His tricks like counting all the toothpicks in an instant, and his speech about life being like a box of chocolates have amused his friends and family for years, sure, but his blind loyalty and singleminded defense of those he loves is probably why he has otherwise inexplicably endeared himself to so many.
He even -- against all his better judgment I'm sure -- agreed to invest in the new restaurant I'm setting up. I say this appropo nothing except to get in a cheap plug in for "Fat Angelos" 414-424 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong -- opening around the middle of May. Mention Peter and maybe I'll buy you a drink or something.
So, as I reflect on Peter's 39 years on this planet, I can only think, "oh heck, that's what I've got to look forward to, huh?" But I don't care what everyone else says about him, he's not very heavy and he's my brother, and OK, It's so icckky to say it, but yeah, I love him.
