I couldn’t help but laugh when I read a comment in Darren’s June 4th entry, “Basketball and football were the sports that [Mike] enjoyed most, but he seemed to be good at just about anything he tried”. Clearly Darren has never seen Mike play golf. To put it mildly, Mike’s ability on the football field and basketball court did not remotely follow him to the golf course.
Darren’s comment reminded me of the time when Mike played a foursome of golf with Dad, Dad’s cousin Robert and Dad’s uncle Rolland. Mike was about 18 at the time and Dad had taken them all to a swanky new golf course in Toronto. Rolland and Robert were seasoned golfers and Dad was a natural at golf, despite his lack of practice. Mike, on the other hand, had little to no experience at golf and equally little to no natural ability.
On the first hole Mike repeatedly swung his club and missed the ball. This was repeated on the next few holes, and Mike became increasingly frustrated. Finally he snapped and rather than get angry and frustrated he began laughing. With each missed attempt at hitting the ball the laughing increased until a ‘full on’ (as Mike would say) ‘no life attack’ ensued. It wasn’t long before Dad joined Mike in the ‘no life attack’. Mike and Dad continued to play the next several holes in full hysterics, while Rolland and Robert (unfamiliar with the fine art of ‘no life attacks’) quickly formed their own twosome and substantially distanced themselves from the laughing duo.
Reflecting on this story reminds me of one of Mike’s qualities I admire most – he never took himself too seriously, despite all of his academic, professional and personal accomplishments. He had a unique ability to turn frustrating experiences into something fun and laugh with others at his own shortcomings.
Thanks Darren for sparking this enjoyable memory for me. Thanks Mike for making us all laugh along with you.
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