Page 22 - Boca Club News - September '24

Page 22, Boca Club News
Essays on Life:

The Blue Hat

By Sonia E. Ravech. Sonia is a had ever known, the only school she had ever attended and three little girls walking down the street. “Which one is
native of Massachusetts and a all the friends she had made. I was sympathetic, assuring Charlene?” I asked, finally getting to meet my daughter’s
resident of Broken Sound for more her she would have no problem making new friends. I was new friend, albeit from a distance.
than 30 years. She is the mother right. Within a couple of weeks she returned home from “The one in the blue hat,” she responded.
of four, grandmother of seven school every day chatting excitedly about her new friend, As I drove by the trio I was surprised to see that the girl
and great-grandmother of four. Charlene. in the blue hat was African American. I smiled, recalling that
She has been the facilitator of the I learned Charlene lived in the big Victorian house on of all the things my daughter had told me about Charlene it
Broken Sound Memoir Writers’ the corner. Her father was a judge and her mother a social had never occurred to her to mention her new friend’s race.
Workshop for the past seven years. worker. She had no siblings but did have two cats. I thought to myself, how much better society would be
In 1969 my husband and I decided to move to a bigger One afternoon, as I was driving Marcie to the dentist, if everyone looked at the world through the eyes of a nine-
house in a new community with a superior school system. she jumped up excitedly from the back seat exclaiming, year-old child, recognizing only a warm smile, friendly
My nine-year-old daughter, Marcie, was not happy. She “Mama, Mama, there’s my new friend Charlene.” wave and the color of one’s hat, rather than the color of
blamed me for taking her away from the only home she I looked in the direction she was pointing and saw one’s skin.
Film Review:

“Don’t Worry: He Won’t Get Far on Foot”

By Nils A. Shapiro Through the director’s, actor’s and cinematographer’s become an accomplished cartoonist whose work you
Trust me on this one. skills, John’s trauma and shock are palpable. The initial will instantly recognize from newspapers and popular
If, like me, at some point treatment by much of the hospital staff is insufficiently national magazines—and whose humor, while definitely
in the first half hour or so caring, except for a beautiful visiting volunteer (played funny and clever, is often considered somewhat risqué
of this film you feel like by Rooney Mara) who spoon feeds him and understands and even the object of complaints from certain social and
turning it off as being that a little kiss will make him feel human. religious groups.
rather depressing, don’t When John is provided with an electric wheelchair Interestingly, although I strongly disagree, because the
do it! whose movements and direction he can control with film shows some of these wonderful cartoons, the movie
Resist that urge and his fingers, his world widens: He can travel around the itself is listed in the category of “comedy drama” despite
you will be rewarded with hospital and even go outdoors. Recognizing the reason the fact that the story itself is of a life that can hardly be
one of the most brilliant for his disastrous situation he decides to join a group in considered as having any semblance of humor.
acting performances and Alcoholics Anonymous to straighten out his life. The But there is indeed a happy ending to this life, one that
emotional screen stories group leader, portrayed by Jonah Hill, takes a special will reward you for staying with the film as I urged you
you will have experienced interest in guiding John through AA’s established process. to do at the opening of this review. A successful career as
in a long time, to be then told in the closing credits (forgive We learn that John’s mother had turned him over for a cartoonist…a loving marriage to Annu, caregiver at the
this spoiler) that it is all based on a true memoir by the man adoption when he was a young boy and he has never hospital who understood what this patient needed at the
who lived it! overcome the sadness and feeling of loss of self-worth worst moment of his life…and, as you will discover, the
The highly respected director Gus Van Sant adapted caused by that decision. one-word lesson learned from his AA leader that enabled
that memoir into the screenplay for this 2018 film That is the turning point in the film, for it led the John Callahan at last to overcome his life of alcoholism.
streaming on Amazon Prime Video. After viewing real John Callahan–who is able to use his hands—to
Joaquin Phoenix’s extraordinary performance in the lead
role I had to do some research to learn why he failed to win
the Academy Award that year. It went to Rami Malek for Two Palm Beach Children’s Surgical
playing Freddie Mercury in American Rhapsody. (Joaquin
Phoenix throughout his career has won one Academy Specialists Pediatric Surgeons Offer
Award, one British Academy Film Award, two Golden
Globe Awards, one Grammy—having been nominated for Important Back-To-School Tips To Keep
13 of those—in addition to having been nominated for
no fewer than 105 other U.S. and international festival
acting awards and taking top honors 28 times!) Children Safe On Campus And Playing Field
We meet him here in the opening scene as John
Callahan, onstage as a recovered alcoholic receiving an As the new school year nears, ensuring students’ or replaced. Children need to be supervised to ensure they
award before an audience to whom he is telling the story safety on and around campus as well as during sports and use the equipment correctly and to prevent overcrowding,
we are about to witness. extracurricular activities is crucial. Back-to-school season which can also lead to accidents.”
The flashback begins at a party where Jack and his means more time spent on fields and playgrounds, so Additionally ,
friend (played by Jack Black), already having had too making safety a priority is key to a successful, injury-free encouraging children to
much to drink, decide to make a real night of it. After academic year. practice safe play habits
stops at an amusement park and a strip club, imbibing Pediatric surgeons helps minimize risks.
even more at each, they pile back into the car for one more Anne Fischer, MD, and “Schools can promote
stop with his totally besotted friend behind the wheel. As Avraham Schlager, MD, safety through regular drills
the car veers from one lane to another, the driver’s eyes two members of the highly and educational sessions,
begin to close. He dozes off…and the inevitable 90 mph skilled clinical team at and by having clear safety
crash into a light pole results in them being brought by Palm Beach Children’s guidelines,” he said.
emergency ambulance to a hospital. Surgical Specialists, The new academic
As it turns out, the driver escapes with only minor offered some important year also brings increased
bruises and we see no more of him until the very end of the tips to help keep children activity to streets around
film. But it is largely through John’s (Joaquin Phoenix’s) safe both at school and on schools, making traffic Avraham Schlager, MD
eyes and thoughts that we learn and experience his life the playing field. and pedestrian safety a top
from that moment on as a quadriplegic: paralysis of both For participants in any priority. “Parents need to
arms and both legs. sport, wearing the proper Anne Fischer, MD remind children about the importance of using crosswalks
protective gear is essential and obeying traffic signals, especially if they’re starting
to prevent injuries. “For sports like football, hockey, and at a new school where they may be unfamiliar with
lacrosse, helmets, mouthguards, and pads are crucial,” the campus,” said Dr. Fischer. “It’s also important to
said Dr. Fischer. “These items should be well-fitted and emphasize wearing high visibility clothing, particularly
regularly inspected for wear and tear. In sports like soccer for younger children who walk or bike to school. And, of
and basketball, shin guards and supportive footwear help course, helmets are a must for any child riding a bicycle.”
reduce the risk of injuries. Students should be educated By working together to ensure that playgrounds
on the importance of wearing this gear consistently and are secure and traffic patterns around schools are well-
correctly, as even a momentary lapse in protection can lead organized and safe, schools and parents can create a safer
to serious injuries.” and more enjoyable environment for students, added Dr.
Playground safety is another back-to-school concern. Schlager.
Playgrounds are a hub of activity, and ensuring they remain For more information on Dr. Anne Fischer and
safe is vital. “The surface under playground equipment Dr. Avraham Schlager and Palm Beach Children’s
should be made of impact-absorbing materials like Surgical Specialists practice and office visit:
mulch or rubber to minimize injuries from falls,” said Dr. palmbeachchildrenssurgicalspecialists.com or call (561)
Schlager. “Equipment should be regularly inspected for 295-9100.
any wear and tear and damaged items promptly repaired
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