First Posted: 4/23/2015
There are plenty of highs and lows in life. This past week, I experienced both.
Cancer sucks… plain and simple. It affects everyone at any age,regardless of sex or religion. As a cancer victim, when I see someone pass from this dreaded disease, it affects me deeply. I realize how lucky I am to be doing what I love and walking the Earth when the outcome could have been different.
This past Tuesday, 56-year-old Steve Byrnes,a NASCAR reporter for FOX Sports, passed away from cancer. From all the testimonials I read about Steve, I realize what a great guy, commentator, father and husband he must have been. Watching all those tributes brought me to tears.
I enjoy motorsports and will watch a race whenever I get the chance. I’ve seen Byrnes for almost three decades report on the sport he loved. He had the utmost respect from everyone in his field.
Last Sunday, two days before Byrnes’ death and prior to the NASCAR race, all team pit crews held signs bearing his name. All drivers had his name stenciled on their car. It was emotional; it was moving. To see a man have that kind of respect from his peers and colleagues was touching.
Cancer seems to be prevalent in our area. Chances are you know someone who has or had cancer. It may be a close friend, a family member or even yourself. It’s everywhere.
So many people I know are battling at this very moment. Some have battled and won, while others have battled and lost. Thankfully, science is on our side, and each and every day, strides are made so people can live full lives – even with cancer.
One person battling cancer is my pal Jim Norris. Jim used be an educator, sports coach, and when he played football, one mean, talented player. Nowadays, Jim is known as the father of Pittston Area head football coach Jim Norris – a title that makes him proud, no doubt.
Jim was diagnosed with melanoma and, because of the miracle of modern medicine, is very confident about his battle. Outside of a bit of a limp, Jim displays no outward symptoms of the disease. He’s upbeat – an attitude you must havee in order to conquer the foe of cancer.
We are also pulling for Wyoming Area eighth-grader Megan Lee in her battle to slay cancer. Her mom Erica tells me Megan is a trooper and she, too, is upbeat. Megan knew she was going to lose her hair during chemo and hasn’t let that get her down. As a matter of fact, she encourages cancer victims not to sweat the hair loss. Her maturity level is way beyond her years.
And as for the high note of my week, I had the pleasure of taking photos of some pretty cool high school seniors at Pittston Area who have decided to play sports at the college level.
I’m sure to many of these students, I’m the guy who takes their photo for the newspaper and it ends there. For me, it’s different. For some of those athletes, I’ve covered their career from freshman to senior year and, in other cases from Little League on, so to see them graduating and moving forward in life is a pretty great thing. It’s like the rite of passage.
I’ve had the pleasure of watching Allie Barber and Liz Waleski excel in soccer, basketball and track for the Patriots for four years. It seems like Jacob Vaxmonsky has been wrestling forever at PA. Until this past week, I never knew Mia Nardone had blonde hair because I’ve only seen her wearing goggles and a bathing cap.
I photographed Kyle Gattuso, Angelo Aita, Joshua John and Shane Flannelly dozens of times over the years on the gridiron. This spring, I was able to photograph Olivia Giambra, as well as Mia Cain, during a Pittston Area track meet.
Tyler McGarry played on the hardwoods and is also a very tall golfer for the Pats. Katrina McKitish will play field hockey in college while Claudia Shandra, Elaina Menichelli and Christian Charney will play tennis. John Fagotti will head for the baseball diamond post high school.
It’s great to see most of those who signed this past week will attend college in northeastern PA.
The best part of taking pictures of the PA seniors? Watching their parents and seeing such pride and happiness on their faces.
Even though this week had its ups and downs, what I’ll take away is hope, faith, happiness and optimism.
Quote of the week
“Courage is not the absence of despair; it is, rather, the capacity to move ahead in spite of despair.” – Rollo May, American existential psychologist. (Dedicated to those fighting cancer.)
Thought of the week
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir, Scottish-American naturalist.
Bumper sticker
“Fear is the parent of cruelty.” – James Anthony Froude, British historian.
