People in the Tubes

Chapter 48

Peaceful Morning not 1862

Internet connections have brought us together – and driven us insane 1999

There's a hole in daddy's arm

where all the money goes

Jesus Christ died for nothin' I suppose

Little pitchers have big ears

Don't stop to count the years

Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios -

- John Prine – Sam Stone


People in the Tubes

Dear Mr. Parker:

I was pleased to hear from you. I have often wondered about JB. I feared his life had mirrored another one in our platoon; I was asked to speak at his memorial service. The JB I knew seemed unlikely to be in church and the father of three. I am being honored for twenty years here as the coach next March is there anyway JB would come to LA? I would love to introduce him as the man who saved my life. JB always said it made us even. He went above and beyond on that day. In a predominately African American school, I would like to demonstrate in crisis we succeed when we pull together.

Thank you for your email.

Coach Robinson

Coach Robinson

I live in Seattle and am back at work now. I will contact JB back on the farm in Franklin. I doubt he has ever been on an airplane unless it was in going to Vietnam and back. He told me you owed each other your lives, and he had learned much from you. JB admitted he was insulated in his rural all white community. He came to see the Black community through you as people very much like himself. JB doesn’t have a web presence. There are some photos of him and his wife soon after they were married, at about the same time you took your coaching position. A library may have a copy of Stephen Capuano’s book the ‘Illustrated Edition of a Bountiful Earth’, and his sequel ‘The Abundant Earth’. The photos were at the Parker farm where his wife Ruth became a manager and he was the all-around fix it guy back in those days. I will update you when I know.

Tom Parker

Coach Robinson

JB and Ruth would like to come. We have time to plan their trip. Ruth has never been on an airplane. Carol Parker’s son Shiloh may come with them. He has been going to school in California. He began working an internship in the tech field and then decided to go to school in California. He can help them navigate O’Hare and LAX. JB says he will participate in any way to support you, but don’t expect a speech.

Tom Parker

Ruth and Tom

Thank you for Ruth Donaldson’s email address. I will copy you both on emails. Hopefully Tom can update Shiloh. Ruth I would like you and JB to stay at our house. Our kids are on their own now. My wife and I would love to take you to our church. Hopefully JB will come to my school with me and meet the students. The event is on a Friday night, the 29th. If you come out the week before we could have time to catch up and I can schedule the school-week ahead of Friday. Students and alumni in preparing for this have found photos taken of our unit in Vietnam. I have a set of prints for you to take home. Tom told me about the books with your photos. Our librarian was able to find them and get me copies. You and your little daughter were so charming and JB looked good, much better than our bedraggled selves in Vietnam. After showing them to some of the faculty we started a garden in a vacant space by the school. A student group has a plan to expand more community gardens next year. I know you may have concerns about coming to our city. I can assure you will be safe at my home and at the school. I know your only image must be of the riots. The Watts riot after the MLK assassination was the cause of my being in the Army. I was just out seeing what was happening like many kids when I was arrested. I was told if I joined the Army everything would be dropped. Next thing I know I am slogging through that miserable mud, and in the bush beside JB hoping the noise we heard was not a hostile. I am so glad you and JB are blessed with home and family. I look forward to your being here.

Coach Robinson

Dear Coach Robinson

I must admit I have never been to a large city. I was concerned. JB told me it would alright if Jerome had planned our visit. I truly look forward to joining you and your family in church. I have faith that God has given us an opportunity to expand our own image of God. Carol and Tom are helping us with coordinating tickets and the trip. They have suggested we fly to LAX on Thursday and come back the Sunday after your event. If that is ok with you, they will confirm their ticket purchases. Tom suggested Shiloh rent a car and drive us to your house. Shiloh said he has a TomTom; he says it gives reliable driving directions. I have never used one. JB is excited to talk with you, he always reminds us no speeches. We will continue to walk in faith.

All our love

Ruth Donaldson

Tom and Mom

We got here on time. The car was ready, and I drove out with no problem. It was the middle of the afternoon which helps. I am at Kelsey’s house I may give her a ride back to school. We have unlimited miles. Mr. Robinson and his wife came out to meet us when I drove into their drive. JB got out and he and Mr. Robinson hugged and cried. I’ve never seen JB cry. Mrs. Robinson introduced herself to Ruth. Her name is Marcella. She and Ruth instantly became friends as everyone does with Ruth. I carried the luggage into the house for Ruth. When I came out JB introduced me to Jerome, Coach Robinson. Marcella and Ruth walked with their husbands into the house and I left for Kelsey’s.

Salutations from the land without weather

Shiloh Just disasters earthquakes, wildfires, droughts, weeklong traffic jams

Tom and Carol

Thank you so much for making Ruth and JB’s visit possible. Shiloh made it much easier to navigate for them. He is very polite. He is also a well-built young man, he said he was still lifting to keep in shape. JB also tells me he is a very good student. They told me how their family and your family are very close. They have invited us to Franklin and insisted our being the only African Americans for at least thirty miles would not be a problem. I am sure if Ruth is with us it would not be. She loved and was loved back by everyone at our church. Ruth is a large miracle contained in a small body. My students were very interested in JB. He comes from a world different than theirs. He did relate how he won’t let the use of the N-word just slip by because of our time together in Vietnam. They loved his story of a fight back in his drinking and brawling days. A guy in the bar kept talking about he hoped that loud mouthed N-word got his ugly face broken. He was talking about Muhammad Ali. JB told him to knock it off with the racial slurs, he was disrespecting men he fought with. The man went on using the term and provoking JB. JB was pulled off the man and popped a couple of more guys at the table. He said he had to pay the doctor bills, but the guys around were more careful with their language. It was a popular story. JB apologized he said he didn’t drink or get in fights, anymore. His life was a much better one. People’s language could be altered without kicking anyone’s butt. When someone asked if he had learned something from me besides not to use the n word, he said he learned to like James Brown as much as Buck Owens. They had a laugh over that. I had forgotten how much JB and I came to rely on each other. We trusted each other and not much else.

Thank you

– JB is very lucky to be surrounded by such supportive people.

Coach Robinson

Tom

Thank you so much for contacting Jerome and Marcella. JB said he asked you to check on Jerome but did not ask you to contact him. Thank God you did. It meant so much to both of them. The Robinsons are a wonderful family. I got to meet the kids as they all came to the ceremony. I loved their church. We Franklin Methodists sing but will not move a muscle. They are so animated it was joyous. I didn’t think we would ever get home they were so loving to talk with after the service. It was odd to be the only or near only white people. It was what God wanted us to experience. Marcella took me out to Knott’s Berry Farm. I had read about them and it wasn’t too far. In LA too far doesn’t mean much it is all about the traffic. They are a mockery of what we do when it comes to quality food products. I did get some ideas. I am sure Carol will love them. I cannot imagine living in such a place, but the people were wonderful. It is a much richer life here in Franklin. I am so glad for JB. He and Jerome talked about Sam from Stockton. He had been the one guy who could lift everyone up with a joke or a look. He never seemed to lose control during his tour in Vietnam. He had come home and was lost to drugs and alcohol. Jerome said one of his first teams had some great players who all got college scholarships a couple made it to the NBA. They went to the state tournament and won. He was featured on TV with the players and they highlighted his being a Vietnam Vet. Sam’s daughter was with him when he said I was in the same outfit as Jerome. He told her about the time in Vietnam. Just a few months later Sam drove his old truck off the road and was killed. His daughter said nobody would miss her Dad maybe just herself. She asked if he would come speak at his graveside service. Jerome said he did and heard all the spiraling down after Sam had come home. He and JB sat silent for a moment then turned to us and thanked us. Told us we had been the wives that kept hem from losing control like Sam had. I will never forget that moment.

Thank you. Keep faith, know Jesus needs you in this world

Ruth Donaldson





Photo I found it on my hard drive - I used to run an ISP and some of the images are from old web pages. The folder was labeled global  village  I thought it appropriate for chapter -- that's all I know