Spock. RIP
He was never the coolest kid on the block when we were at
school. He was lanky, with sticky-out ears, and a
head of curls so tight he reckoned he went to the poodle
parlour to get a haircut. Everyone knew him as Spock, though I've
no idea why.
When we were teenagers, he taught me how to dance to motown. The drainpipe trousers and skinny tie used to make him look even stringier...until he shrugged on the massive green parka and sat hunched on his Vespa. I remember being swamped in that coat one night when we walked back in the cold from wherever we'd been.
He always tried hard at the school discos...though his efforts with the 'ladies' rarely paid off. But that was OK 'cos I never got the boy, so we often walked home together. It's supposed to be the boy who walks the girl back, but on one memorable occassion it was me who delivered him to his door; I still remember the look on his Dad's face at the sight of Spock, so blotto he could barely stand.
We were both into Scouting with other friends...and the international camp where I met my husband-to-be was the same one where Spock drove his Vespa round in circles inside the huge marquee. I remember laughing fit to burst from inside my sleeping bag 'cos everyone was sleeping in there on the last night.
After uni, we lost touch a bit. He went to agricultural college and worked in Germany for many years. Then he felt a calling...and spent time with missionaries, teaching Phillipino prisoners how to earn a living from the land.
Whilst in the Phillipines, Spock met his wife and discovered his true vocation. With the blessing of his sending church, he set up a model farm, showcasing animal husbandry and increased yields of rice through organic farming. He was enthusiastic and committed to the cause, teaching his methods to trainees who arrived from many third world countries.
I was so proud of what he'd achieved and was still planning to do...but I never got the chance to tell him.
He died last weekend.
RIP Spock.
When we were teenagers, he taught me how to dance to motown. The drainpipe trousers and skinny tie used to make him look even stringier...until he shrugged on the massive green parka and sat hunched on his Vespa. I remember being swamped in that coat one night when we walked back in the cold from wherever we'd been.
He always tried hard at the school discos...though his efforts with the 'ladies' rarely paid off. But that was OK 'cos I never got the boy, so we often walked home together. It's supposed to be the boy who walks the girl back, but on one memorable occassion it was me who delivered him to his door; I still remember the look on his Dad's face at the sight of Spock, so blotto he could barely stand.
We were both into Scouting with other friends...and the international camp where I met my husband-to-be was the same one where Spock drove his Vespa round in circles inside the huge marquee. I remember laughing fit to burst from inside my sleeping bag 'cos everyone was sleeping in there on the last night.
After uni, we lost touch a bit. He went to agricultural college and worked in Germany for many years. Then he felt a calling...and spent time with missionaries, teaching Phillipino prisoners how to earn a living from the land.
Whilst in the Phillipines, Spock met his wife and discovered his true vocation. With the blessing of his sending church, he set up a model farm, showcasing animal husbandry and increased yields of rice through organic farming. He was enthusiastic and committed to the cause, teaching his methods to trainees who arrived from many third world countries.
I was so proud of what he'd achieved and was still planning to do...but I never got the chance to tell him.
He died last weekend.
RIP Spock.
15 Comments
[Do you really not know why he was called Spock? With his sticky-out eras? :-) ]
A nice tribute. I know the PI quite well and I think I know the prison where he may have worked.
I am sorry for your loss but I am pleased to read that your memories are happy ones...
A fitting tribute. How many people will be remembered with smiles?
OFP
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