In Remembrance-Parrion

In Remembrance of Dr. Robert Fluskey, Jr., D.C. aka Lord Captain Parrion the Predator, or simply Parrion, gone but not forgotten, dream well, my fallen brother, may the wind in thy sails always blow fair.

His obituary in the paper: Robert Edward “Dr. Bob” Fluskey, Jr., D.C., passed away Sunday, November 20, 2011. Born June 24, 1957, in Oak Park, Illinois, he was the son of the late Robert Edward Sr. and Joan Arlene Fontana Fluskey. Dr. Bob” is survived by his wife, Jessica “Jessi” Harville Fluskey, whom he married May 16, 1999; one son, Jacob “Jake” Gibson and wife Ari of Hillsboro; two “adopted” sons, Patrick Cooper and Shane Dyer, both of Morehead and one grandson, Aiden Gibson. Additional survivors include two sisters, Lynda Newman of Georgetown and Deborah Koreneff of Visalia, California; other relatives and friends. “Dr. Bob,” a graduate of Palmer West, Palo Alto, California, has been the owner of Quality Chiropractic in Morehead since 2001. He was a Mason and attended area lodges, was a member of S.C.A., and was a swordsman. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially boating.

In remembrance of a man who died as he lived, with a quiet disregard for his own safety at times, with the quiet abandon that life is to be lived and savored, and that in the end you are your own person. He was known to many as “Dr. Bob” and to others as Parrion. He was a chiropractor, a fencer, a master Mason, a teacher of fencing, a squire, a bard, a court jester, and most of all he was a friend. He was born in the Chicago suburbs, raised in New Zealand, educated in California, and practiced his trade in rural Kentucky. In the S.C.A. he was known for many things, as a fencer and a heavy fighter, as a bard who sang many different types of songs (some not fit for polite company), as a storyteller who often referred to himself in his stories as “self,” and most importantly he was a friend to many. At the end of this article, I included the lyrics of one of the songs he was famous for singing, including a bit of the back-story of the song.

Often when you go to funerals the person delivering the eulogy does not often know the deceased personally but last night the gentleman knew him well. He expressed anger and pain at the way “Dr. Bob,” as he knew him, died. He related stories of his experiences with “Dr. Bob” at Pennsic, in his chiropractic office, at his home, and watching football games together. He told stories of “Dr. Bob” and his attitude towards life, his favorite quotes from young Frankenstein “The only way this could be worse is if it were raining” and “walk this way (along with the limping walk),” and how he was always willing to help others. It is often said funerals are for the living because the dead care not and by the end of the eulogy you had laughed, you had cried, you had come to terms that he was no longer among the living, and you had a sense of peace.

I only knew him from his S.C.A. persona and seeing the “other side” of his life only affirms my belief that our persona’s are just an extension of ourselves wearing different clothes, the only thing we change is our outward appearance not who we truly are. My first experience with Parrion was of course on the fencing list, having moved to a new area and attending my first practice with the local shire. I had been a heavy fighter but due to health reasons, which prevented me from ever heavy fighting again, I was learning to fence and struggling to transition those martial skills to another martial form. After a few minutes in the list he walked over to me, stood next to me, put his arm around my shoulders as if we had be friends forever, he told me “don’t to get frustrated we’ll make a fencer out of you yet.” Later when I found out he had been a youth champion fencer in New Zealand, I took a moment to reevaluate my skills and realized that I did not fail I was just practicing with someone whose skills had been honed by a lifetime of fencing. Even though I never bested Parrion in the fencing list, I always enjoyed crossing blades with him, both as an opponent and as a compatriot in arms.

Just a few quotes from those who knew him:

LadyCaptain Gwyn of the Lost Boys: Dream well, my fallen brother, Lord Captain Parrion of the good ship Ed O'Bannon, may fair winds find you safe to the place where Admirals rest. May peace and joy of memory bring comfort to family and crew still on the shore. Sail on through memory sweet and unhindered by mortal coil.

Andrew Gooding: This greatly saddens me, as he was my fencing mentor in the SCA.

Carrie Uihlein Nilles: The few times I met him he was so generous with his time with me and my children. I am saddened that we will not hear him sing again.

Melissa Reeves: A true bard, swordsman, and friend. He will be truly missed.

Jennifer Young Anderson: The last song I heard him sing was "Two Little Boys" and the last story I heard him tell was his poaching the deer story. I feel sad that he is gone. He is one of those people who I always looked forward to seeing at events or just around the campfire if nothing else. The SCA world had lost a dear friend and events for me will always be a story short. Perhaps, though, when we all see him again, he'll be able to tell the best story of all.

Donna Maria Christina: With heavy heart, we say goodbye to a friend.

Kathy Kemmish: Raise a glass to a man who never put his down, to Parrion, as fast with his wit as was with his rapier.

Lastly, from me: He reminded us what it is to be, and that life is a full contact sport, expect bruises and laughter along the way.

And now, the lyrics from a song he was famous for singing and one that always brought a tear to your eyes.

Two Little Boys

In 1969, during a tour of Arnhem Land with his wife and daughter, Rolf briefly stayed with a man called Ted Egan. Ted sung him this song, which Rolf recorded on tape. When he got back to England and talked his television producer into using the song, Rolf discovered he had lost the tape! Rolf rang Ted, twelve thousand miles away in Canberra, and got him to sing the song over the phone. Alan Braden arranged the song for the TV show, and the audience reaction was so marvellous that Rolf decided to record it. This song was top of the hit parade for seven weeks over Christmas 1969.

(Morse - Madden arr. Braden) H. Darewski Music / EMI / Redwood Music (P) 1969
Cond. Alan Braden - Produced by Mickey Clarke

Two little boys had two little toys
Each had a wooden horse
Gaily they played each summer's day
Warriors both of course
One little chap then had a mishap
Broke off his horse's head
Wept for his toy then cried with joy
As his young playmate said

Did you think I would leave you crying
When there's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Jack and don't be crying
I can go just as fast with two
When we grow up we'll both be soldiers
And our horses will not be toys
And I wonder if we'll remember
When we were two little boys

Long years had passed, war came so fast
Bravely they marched away
Cannon roared loud, and in the mad crowd
Wounded and dying lay
Up goes a shout, a horse dashes out
Out from the ranks so blue
Gallops away to where Joe lay
Then came a voice he knew

Did you think I would leave you dying
When there's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Joe, we'll soon be flying
I can go just as fast with two
Did you say Joe I'm all a-tremble
Perhaps it's the battle's noise
But I think it's that I remember
When we were two little boys

Do you think I would leave you dying
There's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Joe, we'll soon by flying
Back to the ranks so blue
Can you feel Joe I'm all a tremble
Perhaps it's the battle's noise
But I think it's that I remember
When we were two little boys