A City-Wide Man Hunt... Monday, July 1

It is Canada Day and though I'm not very patriarchal towards Canada I definitely miss the Canada Day fireworks.  We'd line the hill at the local public school, bring a picnic blanket and then watch as the city put on a beautiful display.  My father has a pure fear of june bugs and I remember one year he had taken me and my two brothers to the local school.  At one sight of a june bug near his head, he was totally out of there.  Down the street ran my cute-as-a-button little Polish father with his arms waving in the air.  It's a scene I've never forgotten nor have my brothers or I ever let go.  I even went so far as to name a teddy bear "June bug", just to tease my dad.  Anyways, later, after the show every year, we'd head back home to do sparklers in the backyard and other random fireworks.  

For some reason this year I am really missing the Canada Day celebrations but ironically enough I've been feeling much more patriotic and connected to Korea and in particular my members at our boxing club here.  It's no secret, our boxing club has its far share of gang members but it's almost as if our membership has become kind of one big Hulk gang -- we all train together but we also all stick together.  Proof of this idea was evident when Panty Boy Jr. showed up close to midnight to ask Snickers for help.  As the story goes, his parents were out drinking and ended up getting into some kind of scuffle with a young 26-27 year old male.  Next thing they knew it they're being pushed around by him and he even went so far as to grab Panty Boy Jr's mother by the hair.  She ended up going to the hospital actually; pretty intense for a nice night out -- not very nice at all.  Panty Boy Jr's immediate reaction was to come to our boxing club and tell Snickers.  The two talked outside and I joined them for a bit when I saw Panty Boy Jr's father leaning against a car.  When I returned into the club one of our members pulled me aside and asked me if I needed his "help".  I wasn't quite sure what his help meant but considering what I know of him and his boys I was sure I didn't want it and was too nervous to ask.  

Snickers is convinced he's going to find this mysterious 26-27 year old guy who made quite the problem tonight.  He's never seen the kid nor does he really know what he looks like or know any other details but if there's anyone who is connecting in Cheonan then it's Snickers.  He's one of those people that knows people other people don't even know and in less than 6 degrees of separation is he connected to all here.  We take it quite personally when someone harms our friends, especially this particular friend who was one of my first teammates at UP Boxing and who has remained a close friend and training partner ever since.  

Returning home from work consisted of calling around to numerous people, trying to get more details about the incident, and it was amazing just how much we found out by 2am.  Honestly, I'm hoping this turns out like the case of my stolen scooter.  Upon finding my scooter that was stolen, Snickers and his buddies set up an around-the-clock 24/7 surveillance of my scooter and this went on for about two months.  At the time it was winter holidays so all the university kids were back in their hometowns, we're pretty sure the same was true with whomever stole my scooter.  I was ticked that my scooter was stolen but relieved when Snickers never found the culprit.  If Snickers gives dirty looks or snaps at people who look at me when I'm in the van then I can only guess as to what he'd do if he ever found out who stole my scooter.