Gifters & Grifters

A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing.
― George Lucas

Never mind June bugs, June gloom or June brides. On the eve of celebrating the arrival of an awesome gift 21 years ago (now tall, passionate, free spirited) I revel in the unlikely, the uncanny, the yet to be determined. And all manner of gifts…

The most gifted natures are perhaps also the most trembling.
– Andre Gide

Gifts arrive in all kinds of packaging – or none. Two weeks ago, like thousands of other horse lovers (and/or gamblers) I witnessed Victor Espinoza guide American Pharoah (yes, spelled incorrectly on his Thoroughbred registration papers) across the finish line to one of the greatest accomplishments in horse racing. In spite of going into the Belmont Stakes at 3/5 odds after winning the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness in heavy rain, his story began with less than favorable odds. Consigned to the Fasig-Tipton sales as a yearling, his owner bought him back when the bids failed to reach the minimum reserve. Like his mount, Espinoza had a similar start. He grew up in Mexico, the eleventh of twelve children. At 17, he drove a bus to make enough money to pay for jockey school. When he came to the US looking for rides, he slept in the tack room. But on June 6, 2015 the symbiotic pair never looked back as they flew down the home stretch to capture the Triple Crown – a feat not achieved in 37 years and only 12 times in history. At 43, the gifted and determined Espinoza goes down as the oldest jockey to win the Belmont and the first Latino.

Ok I’m getting to the gift –

Espinoza always donates 10% of his earnings – this time he donated his entire Belmont Stakes winnings ($80,000) to the City of Hope.

Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.
– Francis of Assisi

I bet now you’re wondering about the grifters – assuming they hang with the bookies on the backstretch, when actually many of them sit comfortably in the box seats infiltrating every social strata. Gifters/grifters – they sound so close as to be easy to confuse – they can even appear the same. When I look back at the long stretch, I wish at times I had been more discerning – sifting gift from graft – gifter from grifter.

But I also can’t fathom how waking up to U2’s Songs of Innocence freely gifted into your iTunes library could provoke such ire. I confess my iTunes Biblioteca may not be as well organized with thoughtful selections as these angry recipients, but many people spent considerable energy denouncing this unsolicited gift of music (for which he has since apologized to those offended). But it’s not as if the practice of giving never occurred to Bono – he has established an unparalleled presence in rallying massive aid (funding gifts) for global humanitarian causes – by making use of his natural gifts. Not so bad…

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough, we must do.
– Leonardo da Vinci

One of my students, driven to get his newly published cautionary tale into the hands of even those who might otherwise not have access to it, created a website to gift the book, where anyone can turn the pages. Another client (almost 90) with stellar achievements in art and business reflects on the precious gift of time in his compelling memoir, poised to hit the shelves and downloads this month.

A few days ago a gifted actor/now screenwriter client gifted me with Story, Robert McKee’s classic on screenplay structure. Several times I mentioned I should get it, so on her way to meet, she picked up a copy rather than waiting to order it online. Thanks to her spontaneous generosity she ended up paying full retail!

So yes, I love the thrill of an unexpected gift. I also cringe at natural gifts left unattended. And OK – I’ve drifted with the most skilled of drifters and tangled with charismatic grifters – but I deeply admire those who use their inherent gifts – to gift – and get it done.

Happy Birthday – Gemini gift!

The words of my book nothing, the drift of it everything,
– Walt Whitman

Photos above:

L & R – the Gemini
Center – at the Forum with gifts of tix 4 U2