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Politically Uncorrected
By Neil Corcoran
Posted Friday, August 18, 2006
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I was in Vermont over the weekend, and if you know anything about Vermont, you know it's a very politically correct state, borderline socialist paradise. And taxes are extremely high. Activists of any and all types pretty much dominate any public debates. How to tell? Bumper stickers. Bumper stickers on cars that are total *%$! boxes. But anyway, one sticker in particular caught my eye over the weekend, "Celebrate Diversity." I laughed out loud. Why? Vermont is the whitest state in the union. The woman driving was white and probably has never even met any minorities.
It got me thinking of my own experiences with diversity. Most of you who know me know I grew up in West Medford, attended Catholic schools my entire life. As a yout (Yes, yout! Haven't you ever seen "My Cousin Vinny"?), I went to work at the Mobil gas station in West Medford Square. It was owned by a black man named Jerry Dottin. Now, not only was Jerry a great mechanic, he was -- is one of the smartest men I've ever known. How and why he ended up running a gas station while holding a master's degree in English was beyond me, but I'm glad he mentored me. I feel the person and mechanic I am today was due to him. He still stops by my garage on occasion to check up on me!
When I left Jerry's, I went to work for a Volkswagen dealership as I was now married with kids. Here is where I met another black man on the first day of work who became a big part of my life. His name was Wilson Salters, and he was an elderly gentleman who had grown up in the segregated South. He only had a third-grade education, but I learned more about life from him than anyone else I've ever known. I used to go to work early just to sit and talk with him and listen to his stories. He kept me enthralled as he told me of his life growing up, of being a hobo on the rail lines, his years in Detroit running moonshine, and then settling in Boston to raise his family. He was a true gentleman and probably the most positive person I've ever met. When I questioned him as to how he could be so positive after every racial slight imaginable, his reply? "Neil, bitterness, it just eats you up. Hatred is a cancer that will kill you slowly, miserably. I refuse to let that happen." He lived in Dorchester but made the trip to Kingston at least once a month for lunch or just a BS session, and he wouldn't bring his car to be repaired anyplace else. He died two years ago at the age of 92 (his beloved Jessie, his wife of almost 57 years, followed him one month to the day) . I was surprised when his family asked if I could give a eulogy. Me? Why? "We just want you to." Let's just say the Southern Baptists know how to send you off. I only hope there really is a heaven because if there is, he's most definitely there. I'm not embarrassed to tell you that I admired and loved that man with all my heart.
Most of you also know that I prefer winter to summer as I ski as often as I can, which is nowhere near what I'd like to. I spent a lot of time skiing at Killington because my parents had a place not too far from there and they went to Florida for the winter. Many memorable moments were spent there. After my mother died, my father sold the place and moved down here to Kingston. A friend of ours (and loyal customer!!) told us to go to Stowe, Vermont, that we would never go back to Killington. Right on!! In the mid-90s, we wanted to rent a house for the month of February with my sister and husband and their kids. I won't go into all the details. However, the next thing I know I was at a closing for a little ski chalet owned by a Jewish couple from New York! Bob and Joan. Ever meet someone you instantly like? That's what happened here. Two of the nicest people you'll ever meet. The next thing we know we're paying Bob and Joan the monthly note! Why on God's earth would someone ever do that for me and my family? I'm still at a loss. But we've never been late with a payment, and I've even skied with Bob. Hey, I'm an Irish kid. Can it be the so-called "Luck of the Irish"? Don't know!
My kids ask me all the time, "How do you know so many people?" I tell them, "The cheapest thing in the world is a hello. You never know what will come of it." It's a great big highway out there. We're all different and yet really we're the same. So celebrate diversity! ------------------------------- Neil Corcoran is the owner/operator of Neil's Auto Repair & Sales in Kingston Center and is an ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician with L1 Certification/Mass. State Emissions Repair Technician.
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