The Rolex

It's been an emotional week, for sure, and it all started with a trip to the attic. As some of you know, it took me almost a decade to clean out the closet that had some of Andy's clothes and things stored in it so it would come as no surprise that I have not looked in the bin that had "Ace" and a smiley face written in Sharpie along with the dire warning "DO NOT SIT" that had been stored in the attic.

This bin contained Ace's stuff from Iraq. There is a collection of Simpson bobble head figurines that look like they came in a McDonald's happy meal, pictures, Iraqi money and other items that I have not pulled out yet but the eye catching items were the watches.

There is a Marine Corps watch, an expedition watch along with two"Rolex" watches, a man's and a woman's.

If you knew Ace, you know he was a wheeler dealer so the watches could have been part of his bartering. Remember, this is the same guy who traded toothbrushes and Gatorade for chickens so he could have some eggs. Knowing his penchant for a deal, I called Pete, Ace's brother who also deployed to Iraq twice, to see if he might know about the watches. Pete immediately launched into a perfect imitation of an Iraqi man hawking knock off watches to a soldier!

Did I mention that after 11 years in a bin, the watch runs? When I wear it, all I have to do is look at my wrist and that watch brings a smile to my face as I hear Pete's voice and picture Ace.

The other event this week was the completion of a film documentary that began last summer. Two wonderful guys who own a media company, wanted to do a "passion" project about Cleveland and possibly the Cuyahoga River. They were introduced to me as I am one of the old timers that has been rowing on the river for over 20 years.They decided that they wanted to film me rowing , possibly use some parts with me talking about Ace and how rowing keeps me centered. Well, after we talked about Andy, and they saw the videos along with the footage he shot, it became more of a project about Ace and less about the river. I was not surprised. Andy captures the attention of most people that he is introduced to! Last week, we filmed the last sequences which had me reading Andy's letters from the first deployment. I had forgotten how well he was able to capture events along with colorful descriptions of people;Marines, Iraqis, Italians, everyone he met. The letters are funny and at the same time they are also heart- wrenching. Reading them is a lot like having Ace sitting next to me on the couch, relating the stories in person. Oh,what I would not give for that to happen just one more time; a live conversation with Andy.

For now, I will be as content as I can be, re-reading letters and perhaps tackling another box in the attic one day soon. Who knows what other treasures are hidden there?

Ace's Mom

"There is nothing to be unhappy about."~ Andy "Ace" Nowacki