I love, love, love Lee Newsome. He is a funny, kind, hardworking and a decidedly gracious man. He loves his wife to pieces and evidences a level of integrity across all he does that is comforting to those who appreciate genuineness and commitment to ideals.

I can’t say it enough – I love Lee Newsome. Now don’t let me give you the impression that Lee is without the ability to create mischief. He definitely has his moments and they are made that much more delicious because he is such a nice man. He is the one that tried at dinner on Wednesday eve to order Brandon ala mode for me for dessert (the cute waiter’s name was Brandon…this caused Brandon to smile and set his tip expectations high and me to put on a three-alarm fire blush). Lee and I (and all our comrades at the table) knew it was all in good fun, but that poor Brandon may need therapy…for years.

Lee and I have been working together since 2007. Our paths first crossed as members of the Emergency Management Roundtable. Since then we have had many outings at the Emergency Management Institute, the most recent being this past week. Over time, Lee and I have fallen into our own routine – we have a dialogue that is based on our collective interactions that has become more and more our own. And we laugh at the silliest things that are connected to past events, but that continue to amuse us (and likely create the impression in others that we are a bit loopy).

This past week I learned about a great Lee story that I want to share. It reminded me of a similar moment in my life as a mom, but I’ll save that story for another day. Today, I want to celebrate the humor of “The legend of the flying claw”. I’ll admit at the outset that this is best told in the first person by Lee, but I will try and provide herein as much of a visual as possible. I also will acknowledge that my memory of the story is punctuated by my own guffaws so some of the minor details may be lost in my dramatic re-creation.

The scene was as such: members of the NFPA 1600 committee were having dinner in a restaurant (for those of you unfamiliar with the acronym – the committee works with a standard that is used for emergency management). The NFPA 1600 group was a fairly large group that evening and but for a table of older ladies sitting nearby they were apparently monopolizing this area in the restaurant.

Lee, who is from Florida, took the opportunity to order what he viewed as a proper Maine lobster at this meal as Florida lobster are (as he tells it) abysmally small compared to Maine lobster. And so the stage was set and when the meals were delivered the lobster did not disappoint. To hear the tale it was massive and a feast to behold. Folks went about their dining and Lee set about to experience this culinary delight. Being a lobster of substance (referring herein to size not the lobster’s personal character), it took a substantial amount of effort to crack the claw. Lee had to really put some effort into it as this was, as you will recall comparatively, no Florida lobster but instead a hearty Maine lobster.

When Lee’s determination and strength finally won the day it was not without consequence. The result of Lee’s effort coupled with the fortitude of the lobster’s shell sent fluid spewing out toward the diners sitting nearby and sent the claw itself flying through the air. The claw landed unceremoniously in the middle of the nearby table of older ladies – much to Lee’s horror and embarrassment. He had to then go over and claim it (with profuse apologies) as he was not about to let this hard-earned battle go without actually getting to taste his proverbial victory.

After the flying claw, other diners with the NFPA group started using their napkins as spray shields to avoid further dousing. Apparently, the memory of this event is one that has lived long and strong in the collective conscience of the committee and is always good for a laugh. I am so glad that Lee’s fellow NFPA 1600 colleague, Terry Moore, let me in on this story so that I could share it with others.

So there you have it -”The legend of the flying claw” – straight from the Lee Newsome files.

I will see Lee again soon at a conference in Florida and will finally get an opportunity to meet his lovely wife Teresa. I cannot wait for the laughter and joy that will come out of that visit. After all, according to my math two Newsomes will double the fun! Thankfully, there is no plan for lobster interaction in Florida. If double the Newsomes doubles the fun then it also doubles the lobster claw/spray danger and that would require a proper shield for protection. I am not displacing necessary shoes to pack my riot shield – even love knows some bounds.

Day ninety-eight of the new forty – obla di obla da

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