|
"Want to go for a boat ride?" Force asks. "Hell, it's great day to
go out. I have this little boat. I'll show you my boat house."
The two cars traverse the area. One turn leads to another to another
until Force pulls into a side street and stops while the garage door
opens. This is no boat house; this is John Force's home.
"Don't put down the address," Force says. "I wouldn't want the neighbors
to get freaked out."
On the edge of a lake is a three-bedroom condo where Force lives. The
pride in his voice is obvious as he explains how he's remodeled and
reshaped the two-story dwelling. The writer and photographer each understand
how rare an opportunity this is, to be invited into his home.
"You know, I fancy myself as an antique collector," Force says during
the tour. "Hell, I don't know. Any of this may not be worth anything,
but I like it so I buy it."
He has stunning view of the lake from his living room and bedroom,
which are immaculately cleaned. If one didn't know better, it could
easily be considered a model.
Soon Force is back on the phone. He wants to speak with Compton, but
the line's busy. He wants to converse with Walker about the tax man,
who will be in Force's office later in the afternoon. Force is never
far from a phone call. But he puts that aside to go outside.
"The lake's stocked, so we fish right off this dock," he says. It's
a small area, but one Force and his team built. Nothing eases stress
like fishing, and the six poles are testament to the activity.
The boat is of the electric variety. Skipper John admits he's been
out on the lake just once in the past eight months, but is anxious to
show he can drive that as well.
Not even a pleasure cruise aboard the electric boat can slow Force down.
Where you and I might enjoy the afternoon sun, look at the ducks along
the shore or at the dogs that leap from the dock to the boat protecting
their territory, Force's mind is a thousand miles away.
"There's a guy in Detroit that I promised I would call in the radio
show," Force said, explaining the history of his involvement in yet
another charity project. Again, it's not a boastful statement but rather
matter-of-factly, his attempt to do the right thing. Memories of the
trailer in Bell Gardens have a long expiration date.
|
