Once Around
A couple weeks ago I talked about my fondness for manhole covers and hydrants. You wanna know what else I love? Roundabouts. Or “rotaries” as we call them around here.
What really got me into ‘em was the Richard Dreyfuss movie Once Around. In the movie, Dreyfuss plays a slick salesman named Sam Sharpe who's a real piece of work. Always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. But underneath it all he has a heart that beats.
The title Once Around refers to the spin around the rotary Dreyfuss’s character would do to salute a friend or relative who died. I love that zippity-doo-dah idea..
Years ago, after a friend who bought the farm was safely in the ground at St. Jerome’s, I drove to the South Hadley rotary and pulled the ol’ once around. I think I did it three or four times. Then a police cruiser lit up my rearview mirror and pulled me over.
The cop asked me if I knew where the hell I was going. When I told him what I was up to, he gave me a police escort, flashing lights and all, for one more loop. Way to go, Deputy Dawg.
St. Jerome’s, by the way, is where Harry “The Hat” Ford rests. Buried with his hat on. So next time you’ve gotta say the fond farewell, find a rotary and give ‘em a proper sendoff.
Keep your dukes up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2rDb4Ur2dw
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