Bryan Stevenson to play piano with Wynton Marsalis’ jazz orchestra

Honeysuckle Rose - Two years ago, Susan and I went to the Kimmel Center in downtown Philly to see the Wynton Marsalis jazz orchestra. We are highbrow imposters. Susan wanted to go to an event that didn’t include a ball. Cape graduate and “Just Mercy” author Bryan Stevenson and Marsalis are similar personalities, both soft-spoken and eloquent, both on a life mission to teach others. Here is where I mention I was Bryan’s high school track coach in 1977 at Cape, where he also played soccer. Bryan’s humbleness blended with intelligence makes him endearing, and he has a serious artistic side. A short story on a visit to meet Marsalis: Bryan asked if he could sit down and play the piano. Wynton thought it was a joke until Bryan started playing. Fast forward: Bryan will appear with the Marsalis jazz orchestra at the Lincoln Center Friday, May 21, where he will speak and perform, playing “Honeysuckle Rose” and “We Shall Overcome.” Maybe I’ll perform “Honeysuckle Grandma Rose”?  

The world turns - Sudden sadness and crushing grief stunned families April 6 when an ATV accident resulted in serious injuries to five and the death of a vibrant and talented, beautiful 16-year-old girl, Maggie Browne. I have written this column uninterrupted for 39 years. Tragedies happen in the village I’ve dubbed Sesame Street by the Sea, and I usually pause, not always to eulogize the person or preach life lessons. I just know that the loss of a young life is what is paramount in everyone’s mind. Words of consolation fall short, but we should try to buoy each other up. The Fred family has been there in that slow-motion surreal zone, yet the world keeps turning and people continue to move about. Words that come to my mind are, “Please pause the planet! Reverse like a ratchet! There’s been a correctable mistake. Someone please fix it!” Albert Einstein theorized if we can travel fast enough at the speed of blue light for a long enough time we can catch up to the past. We just have to decide where to jump off.    

Friends are forever - Cape graduate Sawyer Walker, a track and lacrosse athlete and freshman at Winthrop, posted this comment on the passing of her friend Maggie Browne: “I lost a very close friend of mine last night. I spoke with her a couple of weeks ago, and just caught up and said how much we missed each other. I just wanted to take the time to say cherish your loved ones because we never know when it will be their last. My heart is absolutely shattered. She was the best teammate I could have ever asked for, and I am super grateful for the memories we created on and off of the track together. She would always brighten up my days when I was low. Any time she walked into a room, she just radiated positive energy. I miss you so much, and you are loved by everyone. Fly high, beautiful. I love you.” 

Thompson Island Brewing - A virtual fundraiser for Sarah Hudson Layfield, diagnosed with ALS in 2020, will take place Friday, April 16, with 50 percent of dinner and raffle sales donated to the family to help defray medical expenses. Please contact Nelia@sodelconcepts.com to arrange pickup. I know more offshoots of the Layfield/Hudson family than I do my own. Athletes and coaches serving the community at all levels, it’s time to pitch in and help. And you get to order Beer Can Chicken online or over the phone. I don’t know what that is, but I’m going to find out. Go to thompsonislandbrewing.com for further information. 

Argumentative - A reader suggested I get off my soapbox and keep my opinions to myself, which is impossible to do for a columnist and I wouldn’t know a soapbox if I fell off one. It reminded me of my intellectual friend Joe, who graduated magna cum kielbasa from West Chester University. Joe got into an argument with a police captain, and the captain of security guards tried to end the argument by saying, “Look, everything gets down to a matter of opinion, there’s my opinion versus your opinion.” Joe 4.0 said, “That’s a self-referential, self-negating paradox. If everything gets down to opinion, so does that statement.” The captain said, “Do you have to tear the door off the hinges to fit your head into the house or do you just go in through the garage?” Joe went on to earn a PhD in nutrition and he got fat. Talk about a paradox.  

Snippets - Ian Robertson of Randolph Macon College was named to the All-ODAC Team for men’s basketball. There was one large all-conference team that included 18 players from 10 schools. Robertson was also an All-Academic Team selection. Phillies are out of the box at 5-1, but now have to face the same teams, the Braves and Mets, on the road. I’m expecting to see Odubel Herrera in center field before long with Roman Quinn traded or sent down to the alternate site, whatever that means. Go on now, git!