An old friend
just gave me a gift unlike any I’ve ever received.
just gave me a gift unlike any I’ve ever received.
The friend’s
name: Boris Hrybinsky. He died in late August and yesterday, my wife
Helena and long-time pal Rick Mayoh attended a memorial service in Toronto.
name: Boris Hrybinsky. He died in late August and yesterday, my wife
Helena and long-time pal Rick Mayoh attended a memorial service in Toronto.
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| WRITERS IN ARMS: I know I’ll learn from Adrian |
Boris, Rick
and I lived together for two academic years when we were studying journalism at
Carleton University. Truth be told, I could make that sentence far more accurate if I went back and inserted quotation marks around academic and studying.
and I lived together for two academic years when we were studying journalism at
Carleton University. Truth be told, I could make that sentence far more accurate if I went back and inserted quotation marks around academic and studying.
I won’t go into detail about what life was like with Hrybinsky and Mayoh except that it was insanely fun, profoundly educational and I go to sleep at night happy in the knowledge that I reached adulthood before
Facebook showed up. (As my brother Eddie says, “If we had the Internet when I
was a kid I wouldn’t have gotten outta grade school.”)
Facebook showed up. (As my brother Eddie says, “If we had the Internet when I
was a kid I wouldn’t have gotten outta grade school.”)
And this
story’s not about Boris. You can read an account of him here.
story’s not about Boris. You can read an account of him here.
This story
pertains to his only child, Adrian. Although Boris and I worked together at the
Elliot Lake Standard newspaper fresh out of school, we hadn’t been in close
contact recently so it wasn’t until yesterday that I met 21-year-old Adrian, a
third-year history student at the University of Manitoba. (Get this: When Boris
and I were in our third year at Carleton, his father, also named Boris, also a
writer and poet, was killed in a Christmas Eve car crash.)
pertains to his only child, Adrian. Although Boris and I worked together at the
Elliot Lake Standard newspaper fresh out of school, we hadn’t been in close
contact recently so it wasn’t until yesterday that I met 21-year-old Adrian, a
third-year history student at the University of Manitoba. (Get this: When Boris
and I were in our third year at Carleton, his father, also named Boris, also a
writer and poet, was killed in a Christmas Eve car crash.)
Adrian
looks like his dad and seems similarly soft-spoken and respectful. I asked if
he intended to follow his father and grandfather and pursue a life of writing.
looks like his dad and seems similarly soft-spoken and respectful. I asked if
he intended to follow his father and grandfather and pursue a life of writing.
He nodded,
adding that his dad had been mentoring him. Adrian would write stories and Boris
would look them over and advise.
adding that his dad had been mentoring him. Adrian would write stories and Boris
would look them over and advise.
Without as
much as a millisecond’s reflection, I asked if I could pick up where his father
left off. Adrian said he would appreciate that.
much as a millisecond’s reflection, I asked if I could pick up where his father
left off. Adrian said he would appreciate that.
Remember that
big gift I mentioned up there in paragraph number-one?
big gift I mentioned up there in paragraph number-one?
That was it.
Anybody who
knows me knows I’m a pushover when it comes to helping young people out of the starting gates. It’s my default position.
knows me knows I’m a pushover when it comes to helping young people out of the starting gates. It’s my default position.
Three weeks ago, Helena and I were in a
drugstore and I asked the clerk, who looked to be my daughter’s age, what her
chosen area of study was. She told me “dental technician.” My first response: “You
have to meet my pal Slawek. He’s been in that line of work for ages.”
drugstore and I asked the clerk, who looked to be my daughter’s age, what her
chosen area of study was. She told me “dental technician.” My first response: “You
have to meet my pal Slawek. He’s been in that line of work for ages.”
Somebody once told me I should post a sign on my door: “Free Inside: Hope.”
But Adrian added a grace note–to pick up where his dad left off–that made the whole thing seemed downright mythic.
It’s the
kind of idea you’d see promoted in one of those best-selling self-help
books about becoming the whole you. Something everybody should do.
kind of idea you’d see promoted in one of those best-selling self-help
books about becoming the whole you. Something everybody should do.
A chap I
met just a few weeks ago, Alex McKee, is a semi-retired investment banker, and
although I’m not even sure I know what an investment banker is, I do know that Alex
and I agree that helping young people is in our genes.
met just a few weeks ago, Alex McKee, is a semi-retired investment banker, and
although I’m not even sure I know what an investment banker is, I do know that Alex
and I agree that helping young people is in our genes.
In fact, Alex recently launched
a not-for-profit organization called MillennialXchange.com, designed to link
young people with veteran, experienced people who might be able to offer them advice or assistance.
a not-for-profit organization called MillennialXchange.com, designed to link
young people with veteran, experienced people who might be able to offer them advice or assistance.
The
platform is modeled on a dating service and Alex sums up his aim thusly: “I want to get all those
platform is modeled on a dating service and Alex sums up his aim thusly: “I want to get all those
 |
| ME&ALEX MCKEE: Helping millennials help themselves |
millennials out of
their parents’ basements.”
Alex and I
have talked at length recently about the deep satisfaction we get from giving
young people a step up. And I
believe that if two people think something, lots of others do, too.
have talked at length recently about the deep satisfaction we get from giving
young people a step up. And I
believe that if two people think something, lots of others do, too.
If you want
to know more about Alex’s outfit, check his website. And although I didn’t start
writing this blog with Alex in mind and I don’t want it to sound like an ad
for same, what the heck?
to know more about Alex’s outfit, check his website. And although I didn’t start
writing this blog with Alex in mind and I don’t want it to sound like an ad
for same, what the heck?
Alex is 76! He’s starting a brand-new not-for-profit
venture! This could help him get into heaven! (“Are you sure,” my late dad would ask, with a
laugh, “your friend Alex is not just cramming for the finals?”)
venture! This could help him get into heaven! (“Are you sure,” my late dad would ask, with a
laugh, “your friend Alex is not just cramming for the finals?”)
Never mind that. As far as I can tell, he’a going to do
everybody a whole hell of a lot of good.
I’d shill
for that. Maybe Adrian can write about
it. I’m sure Boris would approve.
for that. Maybe Adrian can write about
it. I’m sure Boris would approve.
PetesBlog&Grille 