Coss shows the courage to come back
ALL THE WAY: You swerve to avoid a deer. The resultant accident puts you in a coma for six months. One of the six- month- old twins in the vehicle with you has a sixday coma induced. You awaken, braininjured and physically disabled, and must learn how to go to the bathroom again, even how to eat. It’s assumed your walking days are over. Would you call all that the best thing that’s happened to you?
That’s what Michael Coss told Courage To Come Back Awards chair Lorne Segal at a recent nominations launch for the April 25 event. Coss, who was cited for physical rehabilitation last year, had something to tell onlookers, too. Leaning on a stick, he said: “I am proud to say I have been out of my wheelchair for the last eight months.”
Not out of wisecracks, though. Grinning, the Quebec- born former multi- sports jock and hockey goaltender said: “I had so many pucks hit my head, I should have been braininjured.” Then, regarding a 16- kilogram weight loss since his 2006 accident: “If you want to lose weight, try the brain- injury diet.”
More seriously, recalling news of his award: “When I got the phone call from Lorne, I broke down in tears of joy. It was the best thing since my injury … ( which) has made me a better person.”
Self- admittedly “outspoken,” he turned that characteristic, as many able- bodied folk have, to writing. The result was a book titled The Courage To Come Back. “I took the course, How To Write A Book In 90 Days,” he said with a straight face. Then, shaking with laughter: “It took me three years.”
• UP PARRYSCOPE: Ordering a Red Rascal at Earls won’t bring a Doonesbury comic- strip character to your table. What you’ll get is house wine from the Okanagan’s CedarCreek Estate Winery. There’s White Rascal, too, of course.
• VROOM AT THE TOP: AllWest Insurance Services CEO Paul Zalesky returned from a recent California trip with more than a tan and a bottle of duty- free. In his 1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello coupe were three trophies — one track, two show — from the Ferrari Club of America’s North American Field and Driving Concours at Palm Springs. Zalesky shipped his eighth Ferrari there rather than distress it with a 4,400- km return drive. Presenting awards was Derek Hill, son of the late F1 world champion and three- time Le Mans winner Phil Hill. “I’m in the wrong business,” Hill père once said. “I don’t want to beat anybody.”
• BY A NECK: Developer Peter Wall usually provides odd diversions for pals and pols invited to his Wall Ball in the Sheraton Wall Centre hotel. They’ve included live Holstein cows, fog- wreathed Dr. No- style telephone booths, and a miniskirted female elf whose stroll across the ballroom’s glass ceiling strained necks below. The ball’s recent running featured the even longer neck of a beribboned ostrich that peered somewhat unnervingly at the host and guests like Christy Clark. Attending for the second time, the premier knows the Wall compound for ostrich- sized golden eggs laid there, including the $ 2 million turf devotee Wall and 24 chums raised at a private dinner Nov. 6.
• HOLEY ORDERS: Repairs at our local dry cleaners are undertaken by a moonlighting church minister.
• REAL HORSEWIVES: With Robin Reichman joining the cast, a local TV series may soon feature more scenes from the show- jump ring. Reichman is a former Texas beauty queen, R& B singer and barrel racer who enlivened Southlands Riding Club events in 1999 by importing 17- hand chestnut Gigolo from a German stallion stable. Still a housewife then, the authoritatively voiced Reichman jolted Southlanders by yelling, “Booger! Come!” when her so- named Weimaraner cleared several jumps, too.
• LET THERE BE BITE: Granville Street’s Vancouver FanClub filled to the mile- high rafters Tuesday. Attendees sampled chow and gargle from some of the 200 participating restaurants and supporting vintners who’ll participate in the Jan. 18- Feb 3 Dine Out Festival. The host joint’s own fare is of the pub variety. Still, chef Josie Dib’s brisket, chicken and pulled- pork sliders vanished by the tray load. As for gourmet growlies, Edible Canada trotted out leg of elk with marrow, crispy grits and hunter sauce, Cibo’s duck- liver toscana was all it was quacked up to be, and Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts shelled out scallops with apple cider- infused beet purée. Maybe City Hall will rename our burg Port Foody for next year’s prix- fixe festival.
• WITH A TWIST: Imagine the hospitality- industry eruptions if City Hall’s food- cart Visionaries took a notion to licence booze buggies, too.
• STRINGING ALONG: If he brings it, former Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Mark Fewer’s six- string digital violin would enliven his and pianist John Novacek’s gig at West Van’s Kay Meek Centre Jan 18. Ranging down to cello territory, the trick super- fiddle gives Fewer more reach into classical and jazz repertoire, as well as jigs from his native Newfoundland.
• DOWN PARRYSCOPE: Late Sun columnist and Greenpeace co-founder-president Bob Hunter said he’d support the right to bear arms if there was also one to arm bears.