Hang Ten Homie...

I heard that Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer.
Bad times.
Bad, bad times.
In 1989, way back when I was still living in the Ghetto, two rather strange looking men happened upon our block.
They were white and they didn't have badges and they weren't driving ambulances so it was really weird.
"What, uh, watchu guys doing here?"
Yeah. I really talked like that when I was a kid. What can I say? I was a big fan of little Arnold Drummond.
(Dude... was that a Diff'rent Strokes reference? Yeah. I think it was...)
"We're location scouts."
A dull look spread across my face. I knew what a location was and I knew what a scout was but as far as putting them together like they were chocolate and peanut butter, I was clueless.
"A whozawhatsit?"
The men smiled benignly. Poor, unfortunate ghetto kids.
"Were looking for places to shoot our movie."
My brain froze for half a beat on shoot. The word shoot had (and still does have) a very different connotation where I grew up.
But the man said movie right after that.
"What movie?"
"Ghost."
"Never heard of no movie called Ghost."
A wry smile from our Caucasian guests. "That's because we haven't filmed it yet."
Excellent point.
"Who's in it?" I asked brushing away my previous insipid question.
I don't know why the man bothered to answer but he did. And even more remarkably, he did so honestly.
"Well, let's see... Tony Goldwyn.."
"Never heard of him."
"Demi Moore."
"Ain't never heard of him either."
"Demi is a woman."
"If you say so man..." Too busy playing Wiffle Ball that summer apparently.
"Patrick Swayze."
Now THAT name sounded familiar. Johnny something or other.
"Uh, the dude from Dirty Dancing?"
Finally, the hood rat recognized a name!
"Yeah, that's him."
Crap. I just admitted I watched a movie about dancing. This could ruin what little street cred I had. I needed to think quick.
"I didn't like that movie. Who else is in this movie?"
Ah. Changing subjects works every time.
"Whoopi Goldberg."
"For real!?!"
Yeah. The big news was that we might get to meet Whoopi Goldberg. Everyone loved Whoopi. She was big in Brooklyn.
They left and we didn't hear anything the rest of the summer. Most of us forgot about it. The baseball season wound down and World Series got interrupted by the San Francisco earthquake.
Anyone else remember that?
Then, right after the Series resumed, they showed up. Right before Halloween. Lights, cameras and all action. The highlight was when Swayze and Goldwyn showed up the film the scene where Swayze discovers that his best friend forever Goldwyn just sold him out to get his wallet.
I remember the nice red mustang and the train going by as Swayze flailed his fists at where Goldwyn would later be standing.
You remember the scene right?
"Why!?! You were my friend!"
Still gives me goosebumps when I see the scene.
Of all the people we met during the filming, he was without a doubt, the most down-to-earth and personable one there. My aunt still has picture he took with her on the set. It was with a heavy heart I read the news.
I will be praying for a speedy recovery for one of the nicest guys around.
Hang in there Bohdi.
Hang in there.