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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 2015)
in other words august6 2015 Small Town, Big World: For the Love of the Game By Britt Bensen-Steele I remember when it happened. We were out tooling around on our motorbike through the narrow streets of Ubud, Bali when suddenly, Larry hits the brakes and points off to the right. There is a school and a big concrete pad out front. He points again, and on the end I see a pseudo-basketball hoop, and one kid with a basketball. We park our motor- bike and quickly realize we have come upon a bunch of Balinese teenagers shooting some hoops. We walk up to the edge of the court, keeping a respectful distance to observe. We see them. They see us. They keep playing. After a few minutes, a ball bounces off a shoe and veers toward Larry. He picks up the ball, and bounces it a few times. He steps closer. He works his way in to shoot the ball, showing the kids that he knows a little about basketball. It doesn’t take long for them to see he can make a free throw. They start smiling, sending the ball his way, and gesturing for him to shoot again. The more baskets he makes, the more they smile and pass him the ball. One boy singles himself out and speaks. “Mi- chael Jordan!!” All the boys laugh. Larry laughs. A tall smiley boy puts his palm on his own chest and says, “Name: BonBon.” Larry puts his hand on his own chest and says, “Larry.” This day marked the beginning of Larry teach- ing a group of Balinese boys how to shoot, and navigat- ing his way through an explanation to BonBon that he wanted to talk to someone about replacing the back- board, hoop and nets for the school. BonBon nods in understanding and takes off on his motorbike. He re- turns with a teacher on the back of his motorbike, who speaks only a slight bit more English. Larry does his best to explain, again, his intention. 7 what had just transpired. We get the impression from the caretaker that maybe we’ll never see the money again, nor the new equipment. We drive by for a few days, and see no evidence of new equipment. About a week later, Larry, on a solo mis- sion, heads over to the school grounds and finds a court full of boys playing with the new back- board, hoop and net. Larry pulls up and the boys are all smiles. He waves as he walks onto the court, and BonBon yells, “Hello Larry!” and throws him the ball. Larry still hears from BonBon by email. He is married and has a child. He still asks Larry about camp in America and tells him the village is happy with the equipment. Never doubt, gestures of the heart last a long, long time. (BonBon is the one in the black t-shirt.) The teacher gets on his cell phone and with- in 15 minutes or so, ten adult men, including the “head master,” the English Teacher to help with Eng- lish, and a couple graduates of the school, are standing with Larry, staring up at the hoop, rambling mostly in Balinese, and exchanging a few bits of broken English of “how much it cost?” They settle on an amount they think it will cost to fulfill Larry’s prop- osition. Larry hands them cash. One man folds it and puts in his pocket. We head back to our rental and explain to our caretaker Friends of the Vernonia Library Jamboree Book Sale Friday, August 7th 4 - 7 pm Saturday, August 8th 9 am - 4 pm at the Library Paperbacks: $1 Hardbacks: $2 Shop the book sale and support library programs and services! OPEN Vernonia HOUSE Library 701 Weed Avenue 503-429-1818 September 6, Noon-6 pm Receive a $5 off coupon Bighorn Logging since 1981 Contract Logging 503-324-2422 Free Estimates Timber Purchases Timber Management Owned and Operated by Don & Kim Wallace Oregon Professional Logger certified since 1996 CORPORATE MEMBER Theraputic Massage Specializing in • Auto/Work Injury Rehabilitation • Medical Massage Cupping • Manual Lymph Drainage • Nutritional Counseling • Post Mastectomy Care • Oncology Support • Sauna on-site Heather Lewis, LMT, LMP, CLT, NT 847 Madison Avenue, Vernonia For appointments call: 503-429-4677 Insurance accepted #10732 Ha nd Loc al o rga nic sta rts & -cr re New lo duce cation ! ! ! Adams Avenue & Weed St. of Bridge The corner City Hall) from Street) (across (at Bridge Interested in Vending? PleaseContact Penny (503) 804-0424 or Bill (971) 998-3705 A PROJECT OF: n C ia OMM U o pro mo Check us Out on Facebook s & 503.429.0214 NEW LOCATION! od Prime Rib Fri & Sat go Burgers & Beer NEW LOCATION! ed Full Breakfast Menu aft Family Dining TY NI v e rn DON WALLACE, PLS Professional Land Surveying 1224 E. Alder St. Vernonia, OR 97064 Phone: 503-429-6115 FAX: 1-866-297-1402 Email: DWallace_KLS@msn.com New Day Massage and Bodyworks Garden June t
