A tough year for the Knuckleheads

As I wrote a few posts back, one of the Knuckleheads passed away suddenly a few weeks ago. It was unexpected and tragic, but apparently not all that the Knuckleheads would have to endure. At the funeral, we found out that one of the older guys, Don Ryan, the sixty-ish father of two of the charter Knuckleheads had discovered 3 lesion on his lungs that needed to be biopsied. The results of the final tests are still pending, but we already know it's cancer which will require chemotherapy and radiation treatment. We are all now assuming that Don will not be able to play in the tournament in June, so we will need to find two alternates to round out our group of 12. Well maybe 3....

I found out yesterday that another Knucklehead has been hit with tragedy. Jim McAllister has participated in Seaview for the last 8 or 9 years. He is a good friend and contemporary of Don Ryan's and is also in his sixties. I've always enjoyed Jimmy's company. He is a jovial Irishman that's quick with a smile and is easy to talk to. He owns a business that sells, delivers and assembles wooden sheds of various sizes. He has been married for over 30 years with three grown children. I've never met his family, but we've often discussed his children and Jim's frustration that neither of his two sons have any interest in joining him in the business. He's always spoken very proudly of his daughter who is a med student in Boston.

That's right folks, Jimmy's daughter is Megan McAllister -- yes, THAT Megan McAllister! Jimmy, Megan and the family are holed up in his home in New Jersey. The media attention has been brutal -- TV trucks have surrounded his house and they are now captives in their own home. I can't imagine what they are going through, but I've got to believe they feel lucky that the wedding never took place and that they dodged a huge bullet. Only time will tell how this all turns out, but one thing I know for sure, Jimmy's life will not return to normal for quite some time.

They say things come in threes, so perhaps the Knuckleheads are now in the clear, but it has been a difficult time for this group of my friends. Please keep Don and Jim in your thoughts and prayers -- they both have some difficult times ahead.