Black Bloods

A recent episode of the show Blue Bloods, which far and away has become my favorite, is a happy ending retelling of a true story of mine.

In the episode an honorable and good priest is slated to be thrown under the bus by the parish church he loves. He is to be removed from the Church despite his desire to be there. A woman has accused him of sexual impropriety and demands his removal. In reality, the priest counseled the woman - they talked and over the course of time a few notes and gifts (nothing inappropriate) were exchanged. The woman had marked emotional problems - the priest correctly surmised - she felt guilty or angry at herself when she realized that the priest wasn't advancing the relationship - thus her accusation reflected her self-made discomfort as opposed to anything the priest had done wrong.

Years ago I talked to/with a woman instructor/trainer at the Libertyville Centre Club - during nearly 3 years of training, in which I lost 80 pounds and got into the best shape in my life per her instruction. We exchanged some notes and presents - mine often included benefit for her husband and family (such as dinner certificate for 2 or stay at a hotel and 4 breakfasts meals in a Sheraton hotel in Wisconsin that that was owned by a friend of mine - for her family (nothing inappropriate). Her husband is from and he still has family in Wisconsin.

I was preposterously accused of sexual misconduct and my membership from the club was abruptly terminated (My wife and I were told by club management - "so you wrote a letter about pubic hair") by this woman, which was supported by the club. Two years earlier the woman's husband had stalked and assaulted me at my office. At the start he asked if I knew who he was - which was quite odd because I had talked to him both in a spin class and at a Christmas party to which I was invited by another instructor. During the party I had personally told him that I believed his wife saved my life. He had eaten on my dime with 2 other instructor's and their husbands (who knew me well) and I assume stayed with his wife and kids at my friend's hotel. Yet - he wasn't sure if I knew him.

He also very specifically let me know that he was capable of reading. Perhaps he was angry or embarrassed that his wife kept some or all of the letters I had written (my wife had seen them all - as well as every other wondrous heartfelt poem, article or Thanksgiving tribute I had written to/for she and other club instructors). Perhaps this instructor was embarrassed, guilty or angry - maybe she showed him all the letters because she felt guilty - maybe he found them and jumped to an absurd conclusion that she felt unable to correct.

As in the Blue Blood story - The Centre Club - like the church - faced a dilemma brought about - not by the priest (me) - but, by the shame, guilt, anger and/or emotional problems of their instructor and her husband. As in the Blue Blood Story - The Centre Club - like the church sought to replace messy reality with expedience - a quick removal (sacrifice) of both truth and an honorable man in favor of standing against the actual wrongdoing and dishonor.

In the Blue Bloods story - reason dictates that righteousness prevails - truth and honor will not fall to deceit, expediency or the misguided.

In my story - there is/was no such reason to be found at the Libertyville Centre Club.

G-d I like that episode; I surely hope that each person directly involved and/or who did nothing in any way to challenge their malevolent injustice -- might have the good fortune to watch the episode over and over again as well.