Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
I thought that the best story I would read today would be this one about a family that lived so remotely for four decades that they had zero outside human contact and didn't know World War II had happened. Yes, Soviet persecution of religious liberty is the key ingredient.
But this story -- about a group of men who have been playing "tag" for 23 years -- is just delightful:
It started in high school when they spent their morning break darting around the campus of Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Wash. Then they moved on—to college, careers, families and new cities. But because of a reunion, a contract and someone's unusual idea to stay in touch, tag keeps pulling them closer. Much closer.
The game they play is fundamentally the same as the schoolyard version: One player is "It" until he tags someone else. But men in their 40s can't easily chase each other around the playground, at least not without making people nervous, so this tag has a twist. There are no geographic restrictions and the game is live for the entire month of February. The last guy tagged stays "It" for the year.
That means players get tagged at work and in bed. They form alliances and fly around the country. Wives are enlisted as spies and assistants are ordered to bar players from the office.
"You're like a deer or elk in hunting season," says Joe Tombari, a high-school teacher in Spokane, who sometimes locks the door of his classroom during off-periods and checks under his car before he gets near it.
One February day in the mid-1990s, Mr. Tombari and his wife, then living in California, got a knock on the door from a friend. "Hey, Joe, you've got to check this out. You wouldn't believe what I just bought," he said, as he led the two out to his car.
What they didn't know was Sean Raftis, who was "It," had flown in from Seattle and was folded in the trunk of the Honda Accord. When the trunk was opened he leapt out and tagged Mr. Tombari, whose wife was so startled she fell backward off the curb and tore a ligament in her knee.
"I still feel bad about it," says Father Raftis, who is now a priest in Montana. "But I got Joe."
Best thing I've read all day.
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Comments:
Oct '11
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
Thanks for sharing, Mollie!
Mar '11
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
Another example of the difference between the sexes. I cannot imagine a bunch of women doing this; it's definitely a guy thing.
May '10
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
The very best part of that piece is right at the end. "Father Raftis".
Perfect.
Apr '11
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
Delightful!
Mar '11
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
The story of the family in Siberia is remarkable.
Oct '10
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
Just finished listening to Steyn, Goldberg and Long.
And now this. Mollie, our day is complete.
Mar '11
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
The story is awesome. I came here to post about it and saw you beat me to it. My favorite part is at the end when they point out the Priest is a "Sitting Duck" on Sunday.
May '11
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
Does "Phone Tag" count? I play that all the time.
Sep '12
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
Both delightful reads. Fascinating anthropology - in both stories!
Jan '11
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
I agree. The no tag backs provision makes it even better. Fr. R can't tag back with a blessing after distributing Eucharist.
Nov '10
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
This article made my subscription to WSJ (which I had to get for econ class) worth it. To show just how great it is, this was front-page news!
Dec '12
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
What treat this a pair of fantastic stories is to read! Thanks!
Nov '10
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
I am so torn on the subject of Smithsonian magazine. I've always enjoyed it when I've happened across it, to the point where I decided to subscribe. Then the first two issues came, and they included articles like this completely naive one about the papyrus with the word's "Jesus's wife"
and one about an electric truck that will "make a big difference in the battle against climate change" and I canceled my subscription. And now you send me to another great Smithsonian magazine article. Sigh.
May '10
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
That was awesome!
Nov '10
Re: Playing 'Tag' for 23 Years
Lucy Pevensie
I am so torn on the subject of Smithsonian magazine. I've always enjoyed it when I've happened across it, to the point where I decided to subscribe. Then the first two issues came, and they included articles like this completely naive one about the papyrus with the word's "Jesus's wife"
and one about an electric truck that will "make a big difference in the battle against climate change" and I canceled my subscription. And now you send me to another great Smithsonian magazine article. Sigh.
I hate it when that happens. You get the same thing with many of the history/natural science - type mags - National Geographic, Nature, History Channel magazine, etc; there's often at least one good article, but then the rest is filled with liberal "science" and/or revisionist history (and even sometimes gaming magazines!).