John Livermore was a proud member of the Retired Warhaven Firefighters’ Association. His faculties were better than most. At age 73, a widower for five years, he still had wit, and would lively polka at the Senior Center with any willing widow. Perhaps his mental vigor was attributable to his conscientious work of forty years at the physical science and physics teacher at Warhaven High School. Perhaps it was his status as Master Gardener or that he and his departed wife, Louise, raised three strong-willed children through schooling and into successful careers.

Regardless, Mr. Livermore, as most of the community respectfully referred to him, was a staunch believer in Newton’s Laws of Motion. One might say this was his religion. Livermore was beginning to experience challenges with balance. John, for better support, swapped out his nondescript gray Hushpuppies for a pair of kelly green hi-top Converse All Stars. He felt like a Boston Celtic! He had had a few minor falls which became clarion calls for a stronger defense. He second reaction was the donning of wrist guards, because the elderly were thoughtless in a fall and put their hands down to protect themselves. Often this proved a bad decision. John began wearing knee pads throughout the day, for which he took some ribbing. John would say, “You know what Sir Isaac Newton said about knee pads?” The respondent shook his or her head. “Nothing,” he parried and would turn and walk on, smiling.