…I believed I was monopolizing the conversation. I wanted to know where my new coworkers were from, and what schools they attended. Two were brother and sister who grew up in the Brewster Douglas Projects across from the medical center. They were both graduates of Cass Technical High School, and premed majors at Wayne State University. They were quick to point out that Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, and Lily Tomlin all grew up in the Brewster’s. They seemed very proud of that. I informed them I had seen Stevie Wonder in concert at the Olympia with his Wonder Love Band and it was an amazing concert in 1974. I paid 14 dollars for two tickets, and my date thought I was the greatest taking her to see “Stevie.” He was one of her favorite musicians.
…My friends smiled and then Ernie spoke up informing me that he had graduated from Cass Technical High School as well. He was from Southfield, but his parents worked with the Medical Center and University. He was enrolled and graduated from Cass Tech. They wanted him to get a good education and thought it to be a better school than the High School in Southfield. He enjoyed it. He was elected to the student council, and played on their football team. He was also enrolled at Wayne State University, and was hoping to get into their Law School after completing his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He was admitted to Wayne State University on an academic scholarship. His parents had hoped for him to go into premed but he was more interested in the business world.
…My other coworker was nicknamed “wild George” and he was definitely an anomaly. He graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School. His personality preceded him. He was overly enjoying working at the medical center and pulled pranks on everyone he came in contact with. Our supervisor was constantly correcting his behavior. “Wild George” always promised to be better. One day I saw him wearing a gorilla mask and white hoodie taking supplies to one of the nursing units. He rode one of the robot elevators, which we were not allowed to do, and scared the hell out of one of the nurses. He exited the elevator undetected. He then turned around, handing her the supplies the unit requested, and after seeing him she screamed. The nursing supervisor happened to be at that unit and “wild George” was quickly reprimanded. Our supervisor put “Wild George” on notice. He was going to be assigned to the decontamination room were he would have little access to other hospital staff.
… I got to know him pretty well, and he was definitely an extrovert. He held parties at his house in Pole Town and many of the hospitals students would gather there on weekends. He loved that house and did everything in his power to make sure he had one of the best stereo systems in it. I was told he picked up the house real cheap and for a young man in his early twenties the pride of ownership showed. I was glad for him. He seemed to have a lot on the ball. He was also enrolled at Wayne State University on a scholarship in Chemistry. I was shocked when he came in one day pretty upset. He announced that the city tore his house down by mistake. His beautiful stereo system was buried and crushed by the ruble. Everything he owned was buried in the debris. It took him another three months to sort out how the city was going to compensate him. The medical center put him up in the medical apartments and I thought that was real nice of them to do that. They liked him.
…Finally, John and Emma, both from the Brewster Projects were not following the scholastic world. They were graduates of Murray-Wright High School and both liked the party life style. John liked listening to Richard Pryor and would often quote his jokes. He gave away the punch line by laughing before he delivered it. The one joke I remember to this day was the famous, “That Boy Could Lie.” I repeat it only for posterity: Two men stopped to urinate over the side of a bridge crossing a river. The one man said to the other, ” that water is cold,” the other man shook his head yes and said out loud to his friend, “and it’s deep too!” I remember it only because I had heard later in my career that John was killed in a gang shoot out. It was a shock to me. He seemed to be fun loving and humorous. Emma stayed with the hospital and worked as a supply coordinator. She loved working there. I understood that. They made us feel wanted and valuable. John 20
>>>My Life’s Journey To Be Continued>>>>
MJ-Way 