On the fourth of July, 2007 Caleb Potter was involved in a skateboarding accident.
He suffered serious injuries and continues to need all of our positive thoughts and prayers.
This blog is to serve as a space for updates on Caleb's journey of recovery.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Big & Little Slices



Hi everyone, Lisa B here (that's me on the left with Dakota in the middle and Deirdre on the right) to give respite to Sharyn and to share with you a little slice of Wellfleet and a big slice of Caleb…well, here goes….
I’ve known the Potter/Lindsay Clan for as long as they have been in Wellfleet, and one of my first recollections of Caleb was when he was a skunk in the Halloween parade while he was so tiny. I remember he fit into Sharyn’s arms like this furry little puppet, and he smelled like a skunk by the end of the parade because he had pooped his pants!
I owned a restaurant once called the Flying Fish from 1990 to 2000, and in that time had almost every kid work with me in the Fleet bustin’ suds, or prep cooking, or on the line, and Caleb was no exception. And he was a prankster! We had the world’s smallest dishwasher working for us this one summer, and Caleb and Jonah (Shaye’s bro) convinced this kid to climb into the laundry bag and when the Acme laundry guy came to pick up the bags, he jumped back and screamed when the bag started to writhe and wiggle. Afterward, Caleb offered to buy him breakfast, and apologized for laughing so hard. That guy talked about that for years! On another note, when Jesse was working at the Fish, just 4 months before he died at 19 of cancer, Caleb was so tightly in that kid’s pocket, helping him just keep on keepin’ on. What a tough time that was, and how humbled I was to be just a little adult corner of the kid fabric that held these growing Fleetmates together.
I currently teach at Nauset Regional High School right next door in Eastham. It’s where I graduated from, and where Fleet kids go to school. I teach World Music, and the second year of class I had Mike D, Caleb, Bags (Caleb P), Sky And Casey S in my class…all Fleetsters. We started what is now the Nauset World Music Ensemble, and our first big concert was the first annual Clothesline Concert where a few hundred people showed up at the high school for this fundraiser.
Now, none of these kids were “professional”. in fact, most had never really performed in front of this many people (well, maybe Sky had). We were supposed to fill about 15 minutes of the evening, and because everything we did was original, needless to say we had about 10 minutes of stuff, even including the cool thing Sky danced to, which she stretched as much as she could. Caleb, Bags and Mike ASSURED me that they could fill the other 5 minutes, 2 minutes before we went on. Ever have one of those moments when your career flashes before your eyes? When you know that the kids think they got it all goin’ on, and you are afraid because they grew up in Fleet…and…well…maybe etiquette is a little…uh… different here than in the real world, that perhaps you really won’t see a job in your foreseeable future after what was about to unfold? GULP. Just trust them (I whispered ferverently to myself). Okay. We go on. I introduce. The Ensemble plays, Sky dances…and… the three boys start in on this clap thing, hitting their bodies, their heads, their thighs, beating their chests to this crazy beat & rhythmically pounding each other like a Stomp / Blue Man Group gone haywire! Then Caleb starts that jig..y’know... THE jig with arms and knees and elbows a’flappin’..?
OHMYGOD they brought the house down!
The moral of the story? If you want laughs, love, tenderness, compassion, and general hijinx, well..it’s definitely alive and well in Wellfleet. It is where we get to bump into each other and bump dysfunctionally into ourselves in a BIG way. And soon again we get to bump into Caleb too….I love you guys.
Lisa
p.s. At 5:30 today whoever wants to help move the circle 3 feet to the cannon, we will see you there!

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lisa,

Great story! My eyes are barely open but that was my first task of the day to do! We are both lucky to have been able to watch all these kids grow up. Nice picture of you guys! Looks just like you all!

Kevin

Anonymous said...

WOW! This is the first time Ive posted - Great post Lisa! I love your description of Wellfleet, and of those kids, and yes, I remember watching them deal with the loss of Jesse too. They do everything "hard" including LOVE. I love livin here!

Anonymous said...

I always read the post first thing in the morning. I feel like I know you guys just from reading the blog.

What a great story. It brought tears to my eyes as many of the posts do. I am so glad Caleb is much better.

Anonymous said...

Hey Lisa B.,

Great job, love, love , love the vision of the Clothesline Concert, it's put a huge smile on my face this morning remembering that night. As you know, it has been Greg's mission each year to find "some really cool kid" to take down the house...with out fail, when you guys are preparing for that show, he brings up the year that Caleb did that "amazingly,cool dance" as we have come to know it is his jig...It is Caleb jigging that I envision each day as I light my candles for him, his beautiful face full of life and love. Lisa, you have been such a major force in the lives of these kids and have helped to create a generation of amazing young people. When one walks into your classroom, it is like no other, full of creativity and life. Your lessons taught are those of the real world and the kids are lucky to have an "elder" like you in their community to trust and love.

Much love-
Audrey (&Greg)

Anonymous said...

Lisa I don't know you but do recognize your picture. What an awesome person you must be and what a great connection you have to these kids. Thank you for being you and passing along your perspective on Fleet.
How cool that you grew up there and are now advising generations to come.

J

Anonymous said...

Lisa,

You are a gift to the town and to all the fleetsters who have been lucky enough to know you, my kids included. Thanks for the "slices"--so perfect!

Love,
Ellen Webb

Clance said...

Lisa, you are in a HUGE way Wellfleet for many of us, me especially. You have always been devoted to speaking up for us youth when we hadn't yet found our voices, and succeeded in doing so because of your compassionate, exact way about you. I can hear Caleb when he greets you: "Hey Lisa Brown." How lucky not only Wellfleet is to have you, but Nauset as well. Oh and Haiti, Mexico the list goes on.. you spread yourself so lovingly across the globe. Gracias mi mama/amor. Sharyn.. glad you can hand this thing over.. thinkin in you and Caleb always. Xo.

Anonymous said...

A lovely slice of life for washashores to view real life in Wellfleet..I know these are the people who were there to hold me up when I needed that. St.P Judi

Anonymous said...

Your a gem Lisa. Everyone loves you and Caleb. That is rare these days. Your doing everything right.

xoxo,settie

Anonymous said...

Love the memories Lisa, I was sick at the same time as Jesse and his mother was one of my nurses. He and I had many special hours sitting in OCHS waiting room in Ptown waiting for who knows what. How wonderful to know that Caleb was there for him. See you @5:30.

I wrote this yesterday sitting in my spot at Abiyoyo, thinking about life. (no customers were ignored during the writing of this poem:)

Time Lapse
Moving quickly
Clouds sweeping
Breeze blowing
Day to night to day again
flying weeks with wings
months that never stand still
Calendar spinning
years like months
months like days
Time stops only briefly
quick snapshots
Life is those nanoseconds
that pass us by when we're not looking
stop
smell
taste
feel
listen
live
Love

Anonymous said...

Lisa, You are very modest about all you have done for the young folk. I am glad Sharyn is finding time to do what she needs to do right now and that she has great friends like you to take some of the pressure of of her.

Anonymous said...

Oh , and Carrie, very good poem.

Anonymous said...

Hi Lisa,
Nicole Miner here. :)

That BLOG WAS AMAZING!!! You had me on the verge of tears...I was laughing SO hard. All I could do while reading that was reminisce of Ol'Nauset Highschool"DAZE". What a time it was...What a character Caleb was back then...And, who am I kidding...He still is a character. I was picturing him, Baglione, and Mikey D dancing around like "Nuts" on the stage. What a picture! That must have been quite a show to see....Hehehehehehe!!! That's awesome, and as I say all the time,"Wellfleet Boys are the best breed I know".

As I'm sure you know,the Wellfleet kids are definately picked on in School here by- teachers and students alike-for being "Not exactly the NORM". Well, you know, not exactly the norm is obviously the BEST thing to be if it breeds people like Bags, CALEB, Cedar, Mike, Kai, Max, Judi, Barnacle, Mia, Nicole, Clance, the Cavanaughs, and the list goes on, and on, and.......Who wants to be Normal anyway. SO BORING! ;) I'd much rather be an original soul like the Great Mr.Potter. Don't you think?

Well, Lisa....Thank you for having a part in the growth and development of so many Fleetians over time. Amazing job all you Fleetian woman collectively did raising your TROOP.

Nicole Miner :)

Tracy in the Berkshires, Ma. said...

kids that are raised in a community where friendship is not segregated by age live life in a bigger way.
That is why as a parent I all ways aprreciate a teacher/friend like you.
Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Shary
Although I've written often, today
I hit send! I have been following all the moments of your altered lives throughout the summer. I am one of the reticent ones that have never written in, but wouldn’t dream of missing a day of what is happening with you and yours. I feel that it has all been said before, by so many and so movingly. We are with you!
We are a summer family, and although we’ve been in Wellfleet for years and share mutual friends, nothing can compare to the wide circle of the "Fleetian families.
Your Kai was one of the first local surfers to be kind and friendly to my boys when they were new on the scene. My boys were also in the Fourth of July parade, but came away with their youthful exuberance intact.
Sharyn, you have written so eloquently for months now, and I am in awe how you do it. Everyday. No matter how YOU feel, because so many are now dependant upon your words. I know that it is therapeutic for you, but as you know, you give to us all daily. You have a definite cult following! Now I watch Caleb’s progress from off-cape, your updates and comments from the world keep me in tune with Wellfleet till I get back to town on weekends. As I read the emotional outpourings I am struck by so many people’s comments that are right on.
I have been silent until now due to the spiritualness of most of the comments. I lost most of my close friends when I was Caleb’s age and lost my belief in a God. However, I believe strongly in the power of the self, and the mother and child bond. Caleb and you Sharyn, share such spirit, and such power is evident with Caleb’s daily improvements.
We are all in agreement that Wellfleet has always been an extraordinary place. Whether it’s due to its unique people, or just being such a place of natural power, I don’t know, but I do truly appreciate it and envy the year around ‘Fleetians. Imagine what strength it takes that spit of sand to hold on and withstand the power of the sea. Yet the seas can also rebuild our favorite sandbars, renew our spirits, gives us passion, creativity and courage. You can if you will.
Jane McGinty

Anonymous said...

Lisa,
WOW, you really brought to life some great images and stories! Brought smiles and tears at the same time! Thank you!
Sharyn,
Thinking of you and sending love, strength, and positive energy!
DD

Anonymous said...

Probably noone would want to bother but it might be interesting to have readers just enter their city and state.
Wellfleet, MA

Anonymous said...

I check in daily and awe inspired by the guests sharing their intimate thoughts and stories about your town...thanks for letting us in...we are honored to get to know you...and I hope when I am on the cape next year...we might run into you all...awesome news about Caleb...faith and love...will see him through...he's one lucky guy...

A mom in Annapolis MD

Anonymous said...

Lisa, as I read your blog entry the word that came to me was "Sweet!"

Great description of a nice community.

Anonymous said...

Lisa,
Awesome post. I am a stranger, but, all of you guys make me feel like I know this family. Wish I would have grown up in Fleet....love that place.
Have a great day

Anonymous said...

Oh, man...I was all excited for college and now everyone's making me miss 'Fleet so much, even though I wasn't there for very long. You're really an incredible person, Lisa. I remember that you stood out to me at a lot of the prayer circles as being witty and brilliant and always knowing what to say, even during the very roughest times.

I never knew Carrie could write like that! Someone tell her that she's an amazing poet.

Love,
Mia

Anonymous said...

So is the prayer circle only moving to the cannon? I am confused. I thought it was moving to the church down the street

Anonymous said...

I feel so fortunate to have become acquainted with so many people of Wellfleet over the years and especially since working in the market over the past three. The people here make me so proud to be a member of this wonderful community. I miss seeing and talking to so many of you since I've left the market. I'm glad now, though, that I'm able to read the blog on a regular basis to keep up with Mr. Caleb and the likes of that wild woman who is his wonderful mom. Lisa, your story was great and I remember that performance. I think it was the first time Jeff and I attended something at the high school when he worked at the Cape Codder. Wow, it was an electrifying performance! Love to all.
-Denise Hyer

Anonymous said...

I was living in Truro.. Year of 1991, summer of hurricane "Bob".. Just a short time before I was to move to the hollow in Fleet.
It was a shock to the cape to be literally "shut down" in mid August and caused much disruption and damage to many people, trees, plants, boats, houses, ect. but so many of us where thinking "it was like playing hookey from school"!!!! Imagine not having to go to work on the Cape in August!!!!
so as the hurrican came pounding upon us, We dove into my "76" Ford truck and started driving the length from Ballston beach to Lecounts...I'll never forget how amazing
and daunting it was to feel and see the power, strength, resilence, and ultimitaly the forgiveness of mother nature!!!!!
Your love for Caleb, Kai, Max & extended friends remind me of that day..
as always.... peace, thoughts and love

p.s.,,, great to hear that You & Caleb will be getting the yes for outdoor adventure soon, just be careful on the river.. No water fights, it is not as clean as the city perpends it to be!!!!

Anonymous said...

To answer the blogger with the prayer circle question...Yup..it will be moved up to the cannon..still central, but up off of the ground. that was the democratic general concensus that was SO appreciated about a week ago..i got a lot of feedback from many many bloggers and it really helped! i am sure it will be spruced up for it's piratey cannon debut at the o'fest! thanks for asking.

Sky said...

what a blast from the past! thank you for the words lisa and for ALL that you do! where would i be without you??? have a great time with "the move" today. is anyone on documentation crew? video//photos? i'll be dancing away the night tonight. will be thinking of all of you!
love, sky

Anonymous said...

Lisa,
Great post! For those of you that don't know Lisa, I cannot say enough good things about her. When I first heard of Caleb’s accident a few weeks after it happened (it took awhile for word to reach NY). I called Lisa to see what I could do. The first words out of her mouth were "You should come up here. You have to see how this town has come together. You have to be a part of one of the prayer circles its just amazing". She went on to open her home to me and so I left NY two days later and went up to stay with Lisa and Deirdre, attend some prayer circles, go to Caleb’s wicked Jag at the Wicked Oyster and see some friends I had not seen in a while and a town that I always hold close to my heart. Lisa’s property or as I call it the compound is my favorite place to stay in Wellfleet. While there I brought up some funny pictures from back in the Painters/Flying Fish days. You see I was lucky enough to work with Caleb in both those restaurants we laughed as we saw pictures of Leb at like 15 hanging with all the 20-30 year olds. He always knew where the party was and was open to inviting me and my crew even though we were a lot older. As we exchanged stories I reminisced about days and nights I spent hanging with Caleb where he took me to some of his secret spots such as the commode the slanty shanty and many, many more. He would really love the memorial set up at Town Hall. I guess that’s why he was trying to get there yesterday. I agree with what Lisa had told me on the phone, that this summers Caleb/Love fest was like nothing else I have ever encountered. As is the tight knit town of Wellfleet, it is just amazing. Keep the love flowing! I will see you at the oyster fest!
Love,
Kim

Unknown said...

hello,i say this guarded,because i feel i have made a mistake.to all the fleet mom's i must ask for your forgiveness and understanding.i was rash to spend you with my vision.it was not the real perception of a small,and innocent blog.had i e.s.p. i would have known better.the truth is,the mom's cameout united to defend one of their cubs,no matter what the cause or conflict.they say that hindsight is twenty-twenty,well i see now how easy it is to judge and make snap judgments.i ask for your forgiveness in a time where we are all highly emotional and overly protective of our family,friends,and neighbors.to all the fleet moms,thank you for rearing your children so well,you have made them engaging,adventurous,and extremely luvin and understanding.my hat is off,my glass is tipped,and i am saluteing you all.i am sorry!i awould name you all but that could take a week.so i'll just say to lisa b.you are also a fleet mom.you didn't raise many fleetians,but you carried them to the zenith.as for the lebster,stay put for now we will always be here.you don't need to prove anything to us unless it has to do with patience,healing,and luv!sharyn,i miss you and caleb very much.you are one of thoses moms that share with us all.caleb,i will see you soon.thanx and much luv . scro

Anonymous said...

oh lisa brown, I second third and fourth that notion.. you have me in tears as also as I read this to soleil who remembers the ensamble night and I remember being pregnant at jessie's memorial ..... and I know that everytime I EVER saw Caleb he ALWAYS has a warm open smile as do you thank you...that is healing in itself.. and the love grows on.... cody

Alycia said...

Awesome posts from Lisa B and Judith! What a special corner of the world Fleet is! It is so fortunate to have you all, and you are all so lucky to have each other. How I envy you! And that is indeed a splendid poem from Carrie. Peace and love to all, especially to Caleb & Sharyn. Thanks for sharing the magic of your extended family. Alycia from Sherborn MA

Anonymous said...

Hi Lisa,

Forget the 6 degrees of separation-- I think it's more like one or two. We were vacationing in Truro right after Caleb's accident. We didn't know what had happened but I remember thinking this guy Caleb must really be important to people here because every time I turn around there would be flags and then more flags. The intensity of the outpouring was almost like an electric current in the air. I remember thinking "I wonder what happened, it can't be good but I couldn't bring myself to ask anyone, it just seemed way too rude and kind of a private affair". We did finally hear about it on the radio and whenever we would walk around town (out of the corner of my eye)I would catch my 11 year old pulling out his vacation money and shoving it in a Caleb jar. He would then stop and stare at Caleb's picture for a few seconds. When I asked him about this he said "I was just kind of talking to him cause he looks likes someone I'd like to talk to"
(A note to store owners in town...my 5 year old's spending on trinkets more than made up for her brother's generosity)
A few weeks later I was in Cambridge, driving home from yoga when my friend Leslie (the one with the 4 kids and the smashed up car) called and I happened to say "does your sister Deirdre know that Caleb guy?" Well I had to pull over because Leslie proceeded to give me a summary of how Deirdre's with Lisa and Lisa's from Wellfleet and.... well you guys from your neck of the woods know the rest of that spiel but the circle widens because I knew Deirdre a long time ago when she was DeeDee and July 4th had a different meaning to her than it does now. It's a very long story but just another example of how one event that happened to one person from a small town in Cape Cod can create a circle that expands for miles and miles!

From our little circle of Pirates in Arlington Heights.

Anonymous said...

Lisa, Great stories. I remember that concert- wild and moving. One has the feeling in your part of the school/life experience it really is all about the kids. The result is commited kids of all ages to each other and the world. Thank you for sharing your stories- I know there are more and I look forward to hearing them. Moving the circle to the cannon felt right tonight. Dinner at the fish afterwards, thinking of feeding Sharyn and Caleb some healthy/vital foods. Prehaps we could deliver a special meal ? I know institutional food isn't always great. Looking forward to Oysterfest and supporting many in the community having fun,and listening to great music. With gratitude, ann m.

Anonymous said...

hmmm, who is the woman who was with my sister?
wow, this was an OMG night on cc. perfect really except for the reason we were there.
we...lb, me, ennie, cedar, ann m, kevin, jack, audrey, greg, ch & kimmy gathered @ 5:30ish. audrey suggested to greg that he sing in honor of doing what must be done. so he sang his do what must be done song. so sweet to sing along w/ greg in the leb's honor. very cool indeed. after a rousing yaarrrrrrrrgh we set out to move every little thing. little things first...all a turn around away.
it was so fun & easy. like exactly what needed to happen & what did happen was that the altar now has a bigger focal point. multilevel. all cleaned up, lit up, buffed up. the flags fit nicely into nooks & cranies of the cannon. a flag in each corner of the square...funny i was thinking 2 night how the altar went from a circle to a square.... after moving every token...searching for tiny tresaures in the grass, and finding lots, down to the last one...beads, crayons, disintegrated paper pirate patches...and...a smokey glass heart.. rubber frog, tiny red plastic ladybug...a tiny orange kid bear face with the words love ella mae...i was tickled to see that, how bout you ella mae?
small change (small change)...large change (large change)...twisted rusted iron stake, a pirate guy hanging on for dear life on one stretch of beads...a card board ship and this's & that's......
after eating at the juice...the BEST meal i've had out ALL summer...YUM...the whole night, talk was of caleb & beautiful wellfleet boys...get audrey & lisa together...they've had 'em ALL.
after dinner i made my way back up to "town hall". the evening tonight is still. calm. delightful. i stood in front of the shrine, it's beauty & confirmed what i thought earlier when moving it... we upgraded the altar... we took great care in all the decorating details. placement, that crazy super twisty spirally plant that looks like some new years eve party favor. .
i stood alone before the facifully decorated cannon. the air is calm tonight so the candles are gently pulsing in the air...all 76 of them...i counted. just me and all that amazing energy.....what an honor, there is magic in that space...
HEY...you all know the shifty story of how the cannon got to town hall to begin with!!!!#&$)$%&^#*&@)(#)(#_)@(+@#_+)$)(%&R*^($_#)(@
now there's a tale...i'd love to know the real story...
caleb...we imagine you here taking the altar down & doing with it whatever you like....soon, my friend...the night was for you.
xoxoxoxoxxooxoxd

Anonymous said...

Hey to Lisa B...and what a crew we share !!!!

thanks for the memories...for steering a wide open ship throught the waters of the high school...for our kids..for many many years..

what a sweet song we shared on Town Hall lawn this evening before...."the move"

Thanks to greg for his song....and the singers who didn't hold back at six pm on the town Green!!...

and thanks for the dedicated enthusiasm with which the collected bits and pcs of Caleb's candle circle were re-placed into the cannon's square. NICE move!!

when I returned at nine...all the candle flames were dancing out their prayers and good wishes...the lawn grasses and plants seemed liberated and happily taller than the walked on surroundings...all our collected "circles' and circum-ambulations since July 5th have worn an indelible pathway/passageway/heartway at the center of our town....and a part of many many of us who pass by every Day...

Heal on , Caleb...and to all his strong circle of mates.....

the flames shine ever brighter as September turns to October...as a few drumbeats and a few shucked oysters were offered up to the Moon for Healing for all......

Peace and Gratitude....from the center of Wellfleet...light!ly...ch/dad

Anonymous said...

p.s.
tracy v, carrie & gretchen where there too! OOOPS, i didn't mean to leave you helpers out!
xoxooxd

Anonymous said...

It indeed was a very sweet night, I agree, the altar has taken on a new life, although just a few "baby steps" away from it's original space, it felt very parallel to Caleb's recent progress...one step at a time and we will bring this boy home. For me, it was a pleasure meeting our fellow bloggers face to face, I will now hold you all in my mind's eye as we continue to support and love this beautiful community. It all seemed so fitting to sing in honor of Caleb and to share a meal and great stories in honor of Caleb. The night filled me up. I look forward to the next great Caleb celebration...the homecoming!

Audrey

Anonymous said...

Lisa,
Nice post and great insights...I'm glad to have a place to thank you for teaching my kids at Nauset. It's not just the Wellfleet kids who are better for having you as a teacher....OK...I've always wished we had washed ashore just a little bit further north. But close counts.
World Music ensemble, music for drama club plays, trying to diffuse trouble with the office, lending a Celtic harp for a year of independent study...all helped to shepherd my kids
through to graduation. I didn't have many good parent-teacher conference days from 1999 to 2005, but the best was visiting with you and being thanked for giving birth to my three interesting, talented
(sometimes difficult) kids. I'm sure you've done the same for many more families, from all of the surrounding towns.
Wellfleet is amazing...especially Caleb and his ever-widening circle of friends...and I'm happy to see folks becoming more inclusive.
peace,
janet
north eastham

Anonymous said...

Good day Lisa,

Your blog is most charming and uplifting. In fact all the "guest" blogs have been wonderful. Light,airy and loving. Keep up the great stories.

Best wishes, Penny on St.John PS:
I moved over the weekend to a different part of the island called Fish Bay and my pirate flag flies freely in the balmy south easterly breeze.