My friend Chad called me on February 18 offering me 2 tickets to the Knicks vs. Bucks game. I instantly invited a friend’s child who is a die-hard Knicks fan.
A few days later, on February 21, the Knicks made a trade and acquired one of the NBA’s best players, Carmelo Anthony.
The friend’s child was up early on gameday, dressed in his Knicks gear, ready for game time!
That morning my phone rang…
“Yeah Dave what’s up man!” Chad said cheerfully. “I just found out I could get $5,000 for those 2 Knicks tickets tonight…”
“I know dude! Carmelo’s first game as a Knick! Yeeeeeooooooooooo!!” I cheered while looking for my yoga mat so I could head out the door.
Chad continued, “If you don’t mind, I’d like the tickets back so I can sell ‘em. I’ll hook you up for another game soon. ”
I tried my best, “C’mon man, I’m taking my friend’s 8 year old kid. He’s already dressed for the game, he couldn’t sleep last night.”
“Yeah Dave, seriously bro, it’s 5,000 bucks.”
“OK. I’ve got an idea. Chad, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll split it with you, and I’ll buy my friend’s kid a Knicks jacket and donate the rest of the $2,500 you give me to charity.”
“Yeah Dave, No. I’m gonna come pick up the tickets.”
“Split it with me Chad.”
“No! Yeah Dave!”
I exploded, “Fine Chad, you can take your tickets, but give me back my Spiritual Gangster t-shirt! And tell your dumb wife to stop leaving early from my yoga class. And you’re ANNOYING!”
*****
On the morning of this terrible natural disaster, watching on TV over and over the massive Tsunami crush Northern Japan, one might think a bit differently about something like Knicks tickets.
God knows how many people perished today in Japan, hopefully nothing close to the 227,000 people who died in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. What I find eerie is that most of these people died at the very same time…as if Mother Earth wiped away a huge swath of humanity in much the same way you’d wipe clean a parade of ants marching through your kitchen.
*****
I’ve often shared the fascinating story of the Moken people who lived in a region hardest hit by the Indian Ocean. These Moken people are extremely primitive yet all but one survived that Tsunami.
How?
The Moken passed down from generation to generation a story of The Laboon. As described by Moken elders, the Laboon is “the wave that eats people and is brought on by the angry spirits of the ancestors. Before it comes, the sea recedes, and the waters flood the earth, destroy it, and make it clean again.”
A photographer snapped these incredible pictures of the Moken running for the hills when they saw the sea receding on the morning of December 26, 2004
That morning of December 26, 2004, the elder Moken saw the sea receding and screamed, cried, did whatever they could to get their people to run for the hills.
Something to consider this weekend when watching CNN replays of the Tsunami: the Moken were saved because of their respect for Something or Someone greater than…well…Carmelo Anthony, $5000, and 2 stupid Knicks tickets.
To watch the 60 Minutes special on the Moken, watch here
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