Mentors

This blog is all about a high school speech coach who transformed my life. That I am the extrovert's extrovert is an innate trait. I fearlessly talk to strangers, something I inherited from my mother Joyce. The person who talks to others in the checkout line whether they liked it or not? That was Joyce. I'm her mini-me.  

Coach Peitz helped hone that skill to winning speech contests in Original Oratory, Extemporaneous Speaking, TV News, Choral Reading... and I feel like I am forgetting something but I'll let it go. The bottom line? I am on the wall of Benton Community's Fine Arts Hall of Fame thanks to Coach Peitz.

That he is best known for his directing talents is a story for a different post/podcast. This post is about me.

Wow, I miss having hair.

I couldn't have won those speech contests if were not the guidance of Mike Peitz. 

I went on to Coe College for an education in Economics. There I met the most unlikely of mentors - A foorball coach, all around jock, the introvert's introvert... Felix and Oscar of the Odd couple have nothing on Steve and Bill. 

Had things gone to plan I would be a labor arbitrator/mediator now making a shit ton of money. 

Life never works out the way you have planned. Professor Spellman had a heart attack and died in 1997. His widow Donna graciously allowed me to give the eulogy at his funeral. The original speech in front of 800 people is lost to a bad VHS tape. A few years ago I recreated it.

The connection I had with Bill was beyond friendship, beyond family. When it was clear how serious his heart was my only question for his cardiologist was, "Can I donate my heart." He gave me an incredulous look and quickly realized I was serious so he began telling me options... Doc, as I called him lived a few more months. 

The only reason I became a Professor is thanks to Spellman. I had no interest in teaching. I covered his classes when he traveled for arbitration cases. His advice? "You need to do this. It is easy for you. For me, it's fucking work to stand in front of students every day. You fucking love it. Why not do something you enjoy?"

Upon his death my love of meterology and becoming a labor aribitrator took a backseat. Time to become Professor Steve.

*****

Since 1997 their are a few songs that ring true for me. 

That I had the opportunity to see U2 live in Iowa City on the Joshua Tree tour and I didn't go? We all have major life regrets. This is one I have to live with. This song calls to me because I happily childless. Becoming a loving husband/father was never in the cards for me.

When Spellman died the song that became an anthem for me:

This is the only WhiteSnake song that speaks to me... but Damn! 80's hair bands? An era lost in time. For better worse, only I could have traveled the path I've traveled. As a white, cis-gender guy speaking English and fucking good at teaching? I'd like to think I've made the most of my talents.

*****

Had Spellman lived, I would have become a labor arbitrator and taught adjunct at colleges to get my extorover fix in. It would have been a good life. If if meant Spellman was still alive today it's the life I wish I had... but he's not... and I made the best of what I could.

Which brings me to my favorite song. That Paul McCartney sued the Verve and kept them from getting any royalties for this song for decades is a stain on his storied career. (Paul's releashed the rights... the Verve now makes money antyime it's played.

To say this song sings me to personally next is an understatement. I identify with every word. 

All art is open to interpretation. My take on this song? You do your best. When life hands you bad cards you have to adapt or die.