Good Morning Gloucester

Thanks to the large number of fans who made a point to stop by and watch some fantastic hockey get played over the course of the weekend.  I even spotted the Mayor in the crowd at one point!

The Sal Grasso Memorial Westmount Friendship Tournament was a huge success…and not just because Cape Ann won.  Although I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that fact helps. If that sounds mean, check out the photo below that clearly shows that Westmount has been victorious a painful 18 out of 22 years…with Cape Ann only keeping the trophy safe for four.  But, not this year!  Because it is a friendship tournament and we have nothing but respect for Westmount and our long-standing friendship with them, I will simply state the facts.  At the end of the 24 games of play this weekend, Cape Ann hung up their skates with 16 wins, 4 losses, and 4 ties.

MUCH more important than the final tally is the fact that some friendly and topnotch hockey was played.  Cape Ann teams clocked serious hours at the rink to support other teams (as did their Canadian counterparts for sure), players shook hands, hugged, cheered, and stood quiet and still while each other’s National Anthems were played at the beginning of each and every game.

And, while the children were blissfully unaware, it was impossible to keep Paris, France out of one’s thoughts as our anthems played on…while chaos was simultaneously unfolding across the Atlantic.  Likewise, with hands on hearts every 60 minutes or so all day long on Saturday, it was hard not to think of the hearts that were breaking across the way.

This tournament is about friendship…about camaraderie…about respect…and some healthy competition.  Shared between two communities far, far away from each other, who share a passion for a sport.

While I have hundreds of action shots from the weekend… it is shots like these that summarize what the weekend was all about.

Congratulations to ALL of the players!  While you thought you were just playing hockey this weekend…you showed us much, much more.

This was last week of course, but it was still November, when we don’t think of people in the water and kids running along the sandbar in their bathing suits.  We could take that for another month or two.

I recall swimming in March 2012 at Cambridge Beach, and looking over at a crowded Wingaersheek Beach filled with umbrellas and sunbathers during that winter that never happened.  Maybe we’ll get a repeat this year.

E.J. Lefavour

Gloucester Marine Railways
11:00am

Tune in tomorrow morning at http://www.northeastbbq.com for the live Smoke.  Been soaking since 1:30PM today in a sealed Zip lock bag.

Here’s the ingredients for the marinade

I am currently in Kathmandu, Nepal, scene of a devastating series of over 100 earthquakes which began on  April  25th, this year.  This Himalayan nation, around the size of Tennessee, wedged between Tibet and India, is home of many of the worlds tallest mountains and is one of the world’s poorest countries.  The economy has been crippled, over 9000 people were killed and there is much suffering in the villages worst hit by this event.  As winter approaches and temperatures fall to freezing, hundreds of thousands of people are in need of warmth as they survive in temporary and often minimal  housing.

On my second day here I found an English man who is doing various social programs for villages here, and have decided to back him in his efforts to provide blankets for families.  I have checked him out, he is legit and all of the funds I raise will go 100% to blankets, no administrative costs.  Many people have lost everything, all their possessions as well as homes.  The blankets will allow for comfort and warmth during the fast approaching Himalayan winter.

If you would like to donate, please send checks payable to Carol Seeckts, 10 Laurel Ct, Acton, MA 01720.  She will deposit the money into my account and I will then access it here in Nepal.  I ask that if you are sending a donation (ANY amount is welcome!) PLEASE send me an email at BrendaMalloy@hotmail.com so that I know the funds are coming.   I leave on November 20 and will front the money until your check gets deposited.

I am not a non profit, so donations are not tax deductable.  Thank you Joey for making such a platform available and EJ for making this post for me.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and thoughtfulness.  A little goes a long way in this poor country.

PEACE!
Brenda