Do you know what crowbar funny is? This was, of course, indicative of how Scott would start many conversations. A question or a statement that would get you to wondering what he was about to unload on you. I didn't know what crowbar funny was but I knew it would be good.
So he goes on. We're camping with the kids in SplitPea, SplitPea being their lime green Westphalia still parked in the drive way up the road a bit. Fiona and Sarah have just gotten into the van and the boys and Scott are still outside. Looking over at Simon and Courtney, he says watch this, this is crowbar funny. He grabs a June bug, which both Fiona and Sarah are scared to death of, whipped open the door to the van, threw it in and slammed the door shut and sat back down to watch the show. Illuminated from inside it was hilarious to watch nothing for a moment and than to see their silhouettes lose it - bouncing around the inside of the camper with arms flailing. Crowbar Funny is doing something knowing full well you stood the chance of getting whacked with a crowbar by the small but mighty Fiona.
That was essential Scott - anything for a laugh. It didn't matter if you or anyone else found it funny, he did, and that was the point. Thankfully for all of us, he was almost always funny. That wry smile and raised eyebrow were his calling card. That's all anyone ever needed, that's all he ever needed and to quote his spirit animal, George Carlin -
"People who see life as anything more than pure entertainment are missing the point"
I'm certain there are more stories than we can count among us all - they will be shared over the days, months and years to come as we both mourn the loss of and celebrate the life of a father, a husband, a brother, and a friend. Scott touched many people in his life. Proof of that is here in front of me and proof of that was witnessed at his fun-er-all back in April after we learned of the sad and tragic news that his days were numbered. It was an outpouring of love and support for him and his loving family.
My father had a saying when I was younger - "how many languages a man knows that is how many men he is" Easy for him to say as he speaks 4 or 5 of them and I can barely speak English. But I digress - Scott too seemed to live many lives as well and his rich life provided him with a way of putting life in perspective that was unique and beautiful. He would hold up a mirror to the world around him and help make sense of it all.
He created elaborate practical jokes. Some of which I was on the receiving end of. He was a speed demon at heart - if not throwing himself from perfectly good airplanes he was motoring down windy side roads on his Ducati monster. And try beating him at trivial pursuit - I'm sorry, the answer is Moops, him with his cursed eidetic memory.
A lover of Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Bowie and Motorhead, of all things. He loved Top Gear and Formula One racing but he truly lived for gatherings that included his family and good friends usually around a shared meal. In fact, our friendship began with food and it was the underlying current for many of our experiences. Mopping up sauce from the pan of Osso Bucco or delighting in all things sushi. He and I shared a wonderful meal back in the spring where we both managed to fulfill a little dream of ours. To sit down at a great sushi place and leave ourselves in the hands of the master chef. We are yours sir, do as you wish. It was glorious and a night that I will remember to the end of my days.
In his own way he lived life out loud. Unfortunately life sometimes wasn't loud enough. As you may know Scott used hearing aids and I think maybe sometimes he needed to check the batteries more than he did. My boy and his were playing together at his house one day. Scott was busy doing the dishes and maybe he forgot that when young boys are silent, often there is trouble being brewed. So when the first dark object flew by the window he wasn't sure what to make of it. The second and third got his attention though. One could imagine his face as he bolted upstairs to see what was going on and lo and behold the mystery was solved, you see; the boys were on the little roof over the garage flinging shingles off of it. This happened to dovetail nicely with the story of the two boys that liked to open up the little spigots on the cast iron radiators upstairs, the damage noticed only when water was seen dripping from the ceiling. Secretly I was happy they were playing at Scott’s place and not mine. Despite the damage done he responded with grace and understanding, I on the other hand ended up on that roof with a rough patch job to hold the rain at bay.
While Scott was fun loving he was also fierce A fierce friend and a fierce enemy of injustice, in all its forms. Six days before his passing we were sharing what turned out to be one of his last true home meals and he was railing against racism that had reared its ugly head with a dear friend of his. Even as Scott was managing his own dying he took up the pen and fought for justice and supported a friend with action and not just words. This rise to action has been a pattern in the Steele family. When their beautiful son Simon passed away from cancer - Scott and Fiona got mad, and got involved. Right here in this place of beauty, I and many others, were in awe at their response to the tragic loss of their son. While most of us kept muttering that we couldn't imagine what it must feel like, they shook their fists and took up the cause of the Kids Cancer Ride. It was truly inspiring. And last Saturday, the night before he passed, his thoughts were of making sure that the cancer ride kept happening. This mattered to him. This was the essence of Scott, taking up arms for a cause, righting a wrong or simply speaking truth to stupid.
He will remain an inspiration to me for those reasons as well as his standing invitation to his tomfoolery. And for this reason as well. His belief in questioning everything - once again George Carlin comes to mind:
"Don’t just teach your children to read… Teach them to question what they read.
Teach them to question everything."
You are missed by many Scott We will hug each other and comfort each other the best we can but we won't have you here to lighten the mood in the way only you could. You lived everyday fully, you brought laughter and joy to many lives and I will miss you deeply my brother. Say hi to Bowie and Lemmy and George and give your son a big hug for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment