Summer of 1977- Greg Vanderhorst
The yellow Wagoneer pulled into the Barracks on Whallon’s Bay as my Mom and I shared lunch on our porch.
“Looks like the Allen’s are here” I said
“Is it Lawson and the girls?” she asked
“Yep didn’t see Clint get out” I replied
“Must be just Lawson and the girls. “Hmm she paused…. that Clint,
“He’s a bolt of lightning and a ray of sunshine”
She would always characterize people with weather analogies. I think all those summers watching the weather transform over Whallons Bay in Essex NY, lead her to think of the complexities of every individual, that, like the weather, people are complex and ever changing.
I just wanted to share some memories of a bored 16yr old that Summer, and how Clint was indeed a bolt of lightning and ray of sunshine. He has forever changed the Vanderhorst family. Hope it can put a smile to your face.
1977 Best Summer Ever
I asked Clint about his sneakers with big NB on the side, he said “you like them?” “Yeah, I said, I’ve never seen that brand before.” What size are you? He asked, 11 I said. “Ok they are yours. “Ray of Sunshine
After doing a double take of me holding your babysitter, Bit Dustin’s hand in the back of your boat he said I need to talk with you when we get back. Upon our return he pulled me aside and said what the fuck is that? I said we were “kinda” seeing each other. “If you get her in trouble, I will see you have no teeth.” Bolt of lightning
After a night at Ada’s pub with you and Clint, my parents returned in sheer awe of Clint’s ability to play the piano. They had no idea of his musical abilities. Stony Bailey, who managed the place, asked me if that guy would consider doing weekend gigs after the locals raved about him. Ray of Sunshine
I stopped down to Barracks on a crappy rainy day. Cramped inside the young girls were fighting and screaming. Bit said, “not a good time” Clint, in his larger than life voice, says “Look girls we have a visitor.” He says you know what’s good to do on a crappy rainy day? In an excited voice he said, “Corn Patrol!!” Those girls were so excited you would have thought they were going to Santa’s workshop. Ray of Sunshine
I see Clint storming up the driveway asking where my Dad is. Wes, “what the Fuck did you do to the water, we have no god damn water in the Barracks!” My Dad said,” its probably the valve to the Barracks is not turned on.” “What fucking valve?” Clint yells Dad said the one under the house that pulls from the lake. They head down, they go under the house, Dad turns it on. Clint goes in the house comes back down under the house with a beer, hands it to him, laughs as only he could, and said “ I had no fuckin idea where the water came from.” Bolt of lightning and Ray of sunshine
I come in from my boat with Dana cursing and see Clint on the beach. He asked “troubles? Dana a wiz kid mechanic, says alternator is shot. The only place that had the part was in Plattsburgh. I had no car to get there. Clint said,” give me the number to the Marina parts store in Plattsburgh.” Over the phone I hear him saying, “yes the airport, yes I know it’s for a 1968 Mercury part, really? Well how about this I’ll give $20 if you show @ the airport with that part….” he turns to me and says,” Ever flown on a Cessna 172? No? Well young man your about to.” Ray of sunshine
No one was a better storyteller than Clint. I think my escapades with Dana and our boat issues, made me cry in laughter every time he retold that story. As Clint, with his Cheshire grin would say, “Seemed normal for a couple 16ysr old to use pliers to short an engine to take girls out for a boat ride. Clint took that scenario and made it gold, mimicking Dana getting shocked, and me saying are we good?. With Clint’s adult perspective, keen insight, and larger than life story telling, made it one of the most memorable, and funny stories in my life, and he shared it, and made it better, every time we met. Ray of sunshine
I was fishing off my dock and Clint comes down to get some stuff on the beach. He asks, “ I meant to ask you. Did you see Kim Prince when he was here?” I said, “oh yes”.” Did you see his ’72 Volvo convertible?” “Oh yeah, cool car” I said. “Did you see his girlfriend?” “Oh yeah,” I said, “she was really hot.” Well, “he says, “ if you work hard, commit to it, you can have all that stuff...… well maybe not Kim’s good looks” Ray of Sunshine Bolt of Lightning
I see a little Smart Car in the driveway, and I asked Clint “You really drove that thing?” He says “yeah, good for the environment. Plus it moves. I just got a speeding ticket on the thruway doing 90 in it. When the state policeman comes up to the car he is laughing at me, says how in the hell did you get that thing up to 90mph? Told him “skill” and he let me walk. Bolt of lightning
I had my buddy Bill down to the beach and we hear Clint strumming the guitar on the Barracks porch. We yelled up what are you playing? He said come up I will sing it for you. It was the funniest song written about the famous Harold Tart Grocer in Essex, including some graphic lines about the NY Times costing $5.50 in 1977, and beer for $12.00 a six pack. “I hate and love that guy” he says. Ray of Sunshine Bolt of lightning
Thirty- five years later I asked Clint for ideas on how to help Greg Jr. get into Harvard. “Well is he smart?” “Absolutely” I said. “No, I mean is he really smart, like your Mom or your Sister? Again, I say,” for sure, top of his class at Nichols” “Good,” he says, “I can work with that. “ I pause, and say, “what’s that say about me? “ Well, as your St. Lawrence degree has taught you, you’ve had to work twice as hard” Ray of Sunshine bolt of lightning