I'm a Friend of Earl

ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease after Lou Gehrig, a hall-of-fame baseball player for the New York Yankees who was diagnosed with ALS in the 1930s.

In short, and I mean really short because it is incomprehensible to believe that the average "joe the plumber" could fully understand what ALS actually is scientifically. ALS damages motor nuerons, little messengers that swim through your body, sending messages from the brain to the spinal chord, and from the spinal chord to the muscles. Crazy shit. The messengers become weak and eventually non-existent, to the point where the individual is in fact, "paralyzed". However, someone with ALS, even at an advanced stage, can still see, hear, smell, and feel touch. The nerves that carry feelings of hot, cold, pain, pressure, or even being tickled, are not affected by Lou Gehrig's disease. The parts of the brain that allow us to think, remember, and learn are also not affected by the disease.

According to the ALS Association, about half of all people with ALS live at least 3 years after they find out they have the disease, and 20% (or 1 in five) live 5 years or more. As many as 10% will survive more than 10 years.

The legendary Gary "Earl" Hanson, a native Nahanter, has been living with the disease for twelve years, and is a testament to the love of his family and wife Cindi Hanson. I have to call him Earl, because although I don't know him personally I know his spirit, he gives each of us reason to live every day as if it were our last. He has touched everyone in town with his strength, and his family has shown that unconditional love can go a long way.

Earl, a former lobsterman, is the embodiment of everything that is Nahant. A small island town that living in, can only be truly appreciated by those who do it, and is everything that mainlanders think that it is, and more, "Summer in Nahant, Some Aren't".
You can't help but to look forward to the "Friends of Earl" One-Pitch Softball Tournament, where "yocal-locals" serve up ice cold Bud Lights and Bud Heavies, and some char-broiled hot-dogs. The construction of the sign, with the generous people's names who donated, is an event in itself, and reminds everyone who passes by it that the Summer is here. Since Earl, generations have gone through the tournament, an off-shoot of the Nahant Softball League, as many current players consider it the All-Star Break. The premise is pretty simple, donate to great cause, showcase your softball, ball-busting, and socializing skills, all while consuming copious amounts of hot-dogs, hamburgers, soda, and Captain's Pizza, a local favorite. The best part of the day is picking out your "Friends of Earl" tee-shirt. Every year its a new twist on the same favorite shirt with the Earl logo. If your really cool, you'll be sporting a 2002 "Friends of Earl" shirt to prove your faith to the cause. Long sleevers, tees, tanks, sweatshirts, muscle tees. This year they may have "Friend of Earl" rain gear. Its always a toss up, but no matter which one you pick you know your money went to a good cause, for Earl.

Everything on Saturday June 27 will be for Earl, even that first morning shit, shower, and shave, as you prepare for a day on the island. Earl has become more of a symbol for island life, as Nahanters do it big, as many will plan an epic Saturday lasting well through the weekend, into the next week, and spill into the fourth of July. A town where, for years had local laws limiting the distance that pedestrian traffic needed to be from a firework launch site, often times aiming directly overhead to inhance the "scare factor". I know Earl can see and hear me when I give him a casual "Whats up Earl" every year before I take the field. I also know Earl likes hot dogs and budwieser. I have an incling that our boy Earl also likes to play softball.

So this year, with my Bud Heavy in one hand, baseball glove and hotdog in the other, with a 1999 "Friends of Earl" Muscle tank on, I'm gonna tell Earl that, "If the guy on the hill gives me the inside cheese, I'm gonna hit the furthest fucking home run he has ever seen."