...influences that helped shape The Scorekeeper

JULIE and JOHNNY

Little girl to her friend: "I'm never having kids...I hear they take 9 months to download!"

Nine months to download...and forever to unload! But that can be a good thing. Diane and I were very fortunate in that we never had any issues with our kids. No terrible twos...no twisted teens! Plenty of 'normal' in-house nonsense...healthy, sibling rivalries...but nothing that spilled over and went public.

...they cleaned up well!

Julie was born in St. Catharines 3 years after the birth of Philip. She was a wonderful addition to our family...and continues to be so to this day. Philip watched over her and protected her...like a big brother should...he was very gentle and attentive...and never once threw up on her! As Julie grew and matured, she became his protector. He was never denied access to her friends...she included him in all of her tea parties and pool parties. Sleep overs?...okay...then he was sent to his room! Philip was never a threat to Julie's girlfriends...no ogling or leering...his daily medicinal 'cocktail' - the doctors assured us - kept his libido in check ( Diane often wishes I would partake of that 'cocktail'! ).

Julie and Johnny got along so well (heehee)

Three years after Julie was born, Johnny came along. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario, where he resides still...single...good looking, AND AVAILABLE! Diane's pregnancy with him was uneventful...but the day of his birth was not.

Sunday morning, August 18, 1985...Diane and I are attending a Canadian Football League Hall of Fame Brunch at the Hamilton Yacht Club. She is full term...still healthy and active. I'm up at the podium doing my thing and she's at our table...'in labour!'. A good friend sitting with her is timing her contractions- he had just gone through this with his wife. At 11:30 Diane suggests we leave...I go out to bring the van around...find it blocked by the bus that had brought the Inductees to the event. I find the driver...minutes are ticking away...Diane's dilating ( I'm guessing )...and we finally leave for home. As we near St. Joe's Hospital, she suggests we go in 'just to be on the safe side'. We approach the reception desk - we're dressed in tux and gown - and inform the nurse on duty that, "we're here to have a baby". (she must have thought we were there to buy one!) She takes us upstairs and 15 minutes later Johnny was born! I missed the birth as I had been instructed to go out and get my 'greens' on. When I got back into the delivery room, all I saw was a smiling wife and this blob of 'after-birth' on the table (and I thought Philip's birth had been traumatic!...thought I was witnessing an alien resurrection!). Fortunately a very healthy baby boy had been taken into the next room and all was good (phew!). Diane lay there looking radiant...ear rings still on...hair, makeup and lipstick intact. We could easily have returned to the Yacht Club!

Philip loved the camera

Research is rife with case studies of the negative impact siblings of 'special needs' kids experience in dealing with the challenges they face. Our family was certainly blessed...we never encountered those issues. If anything, we enjoyed a very wonderful and meaningful family environment. Julie and Johnny embraced Philip and his condition with exceptional love and understanding. They showed him only the greatest respect and treated him like any other of their friends. He was always included...he was one of the gang...and they did so with great pride! They never missed one of Philip's ball games (Johnny was hard pressed to match his big brother's reputation on the diamond!). While his behaviour at times could have/should have proven embarrassing, they never let on. Philip reacted well to discipline, and if his attitude or actions needed 'checking', he was very accommodating in his response...even though his younger sister or brother were doing the chastising.

Philip and Johnny were always 'pooling' around!

Our kids were often referred to as the '3 stooges'...their shenanigans brought us much laughter and joy over the years. The relationship the 3 of them share to this day is remarkable...and while Julie and Johnny certainly proved to be very constructive and positive influences in Philip's growth and maturity...he was likewise a very influential commodity in their lives.

This past summer we spent 2 weeks in Ontario visiting family and friends. Knowing Philip's obsession with wrestling, Johnny insisted that Philip join him and his buddies at Johnny's place to watch WWE on their big flat screen tv. Philip thoroughly enjoyed the evening and Johnny thoroughly enjoyed introducing his brother to his friends...with great pride...unembarrassed! A week later Johnny and his friends ordered pay-per-view for Philip and had him back to their place...with an ample supply of pop and snacks. Philip had clearly sensed their approval the week before...and this time, as he entered the room...filled with Johnny and his friends...he boldly declared..."Hello boys...I'm back!" (one of his favourite lines from one of his favourite movies - Independence Day). He obviously knew he was welcome!

Philip and Julie enjoying a couple of cold ones in Newfoundland!

Last night the Dallas Cowboys played the Philadelphia Eagles in the Sunday night NFL game. Just prior to kick-off, the phone rang. It was Julie, checking in to make sure we were watching. While I was chatting with her, Johnny called in...he too wanted to make sure that, even though 3000 miles apart, the family was doing what we always do best. Thinking of each other...supporting each other...loving each other! But more important...jumping and yelling and screaming and rejoicing together as the Cowboys very decisively trounced the Eagles! Life is good!

Only one missing was Emmitt!

The End!