This is what history feels like.
By Karlsie
As is the case with most writers, I have a day job. I run a children's book department at a chain bookstore in Chestnut Hill, MA. Jason Varitek lives near the store, as do a number of other members of the Sox. I know this for two reasons: the night Varitek was chased through our store last fall after he tried to take his family out to dinner. (By the way folks, as much as I love the Sox, if the guys aren't doing a public appearance thing - let them be with their families and stuff, imagine trying to take your kid out shopping only to have to smile, be nice, sign autographs and listen to play-by-plays of your recentaccomplishments/disappointments endlessly.)
The second involves my editor thinking about a piece called "star maps" which listed all the famous people in town - including the Old Towne Team. He didn't do it, but we could have had some fun with it if we wanted to.
Because of my day job, I got to volunteer to work security at Johnny Damon's book signing tonight. Now, I'm used to kids and working crowds, so I brought Mr. Bear with me. Mr. Bear is an American black bear hand puppet with a name tag and an attitude. My job, along with cleaning up the coffee cups and other abandoned bits of trash, was to work the kids in the crowd that were unlikely to make it up to the table after waiting in line for hours. So, work it I did.
Or should I say, Mr. Bear did. He told kids to brush their teeth, read books and, if you didn't meet Johnny today - keep your eyes open as there was no telling when you might run into a member of the team. The bear talked baseball and reminded kids to do well in school because maybe they'd be a dentist one day like 67 Cy Young award winner Jim Lonborg. It worked because there were very few kid meltdowns - pretty amazing for that type of a crowd at such an odd time for kids.
At one point I found myself back by the table. There was the ring - the Holy Grail that had eluded us for so long. One of the guys with Damon (I think it was his brother, I'm not sure), let me try it on.
It was beautiful: all big and heavy with diamonds and rubies and sapphires and gold. The sucker was too big for my thumb and it fell off, hitting the floor where I immediately dived and came back up with it clenched in my fist - causing me to panic but everyone else at the table to laugh. I never thought I could fall in love with a piece of jewelry like that - but I did. It is more beautiful that I ever thought it would be - and it was on the thumb of my right hand for a moment. I didn't want to let it go, it just mesmerized me in an unexpected way.
But I did let it go.
It gave me an insight into the owner as well.
Jimmy Buffett once talked about how, when he was starting out, he was told by an old pro that it was just as easy to be jerk as it was to be a nice guy. If you're a nice guy, you've made some fan's day that put you in the lifestyle you're living. If you're a jerk, you've lost that person and then some. In the long run, it was easier to be a nice guy.
Johnny Damon is a nice guy. He mugged for the camera, talked to people, signed books and flexed his muscles on command. He smiled and waved and made everyone who got to the table feel like they were special. Because over 500 people turned out for the signing and he had to leave, he did his best to get everyone covered. In the end, when he stood up, he worked the line - shaking hands and signing books, making sure the kids who were there got their books signed.
We hustled him into the back room where he posed for pictures with the staff - including a group picture. I asked if he'd pose with Mr. Bear - and he gladly assented.
On the long drive home, I reflected about this and my opportunity to pose with the World Series trophy last month when it came through Newton. These guys get it. They get we feel connected to them in a way that is unfathomable in other parts of the country. We are the Ben Wrightmans of the world. We are the most pathetic creature on the face of the earth. We are Red Sox fans and we love it.
I doubt Derek Cheater or Sucky Dent would have let me try on their World Series rings. I bet that if it fell off my thumb that they wouldn't have laughed. But here was Johnny Damon letting me do just that.
I am a Red Sox fan and, right now, life is good.
