So, a couple of years ago when my dad was just 100 years old, when he was leaving a VA (Veteran's Administration Hospital) appointment in Providence RI, he was "caught" by a red light camera, well, going through a red light. Some months later, he gets a summons in the mail to go to court. Thinking he's innocent (no sir, he's not...) he decides to show up anyway, maybe throw himself upon the mercy of the court.
As luck would have it, Dad finds himself in the courtroom of one Judge Frank Caprio. Little did he know that the court appearance was being filmed, and months later would appear on Judge Caprio's YouTube channel, "Caught in Providence". Let's say "it got a little airtime" then. Then, sometime last year, somehow "this episode" featuring my dad ended up on TikTok. Just a few months ago, it ended up being re-posted on [ultraconservative pundit] Ben Shapiro's website or some such. So, now, this video is being posted and reposted and like and what have you, on YouTube, on TikTok and on Facebook. Yes, in the past year it's gone viral.
As I'm not on these social media sites, I rely on what others tell me. Our friend and board member here David Robinson told me today that
my dad showed up in his feed today...and David echoed some stats: 20,000 "loves" on one post. 12,500 comments on another. My sister told me today that
one share had 3.4 million likes. It doesn't seem to be ending.
My sister could not keep up with all the notes coming in by Facebook Messenger to my dad thanking him for his part in liberating the Philippines from the Japanese occupation during WWII. She started answering them personally but had to give up as they were coming in by the hundreds.
Healthwise, Dad was doing OK until the end of last year, has been through a bit of a rough patch this first quarter of 2024, but is on the mend and is
on track to celebrate birthday number 102 on June 14, 2024. He gets up and out and is busy every day. Just this week he had two social engagements with Veteran's Groups...and who shows up at one of them?
Judge Frank Caprio! Now, the Judge himself has been stricken with cancer and had to retire recently...but Dad and the Judge had a nice chat, this time as friends instead of defendant and Judge. See the photo.
Thought my Pagoda friends might enjoy this as a "Way Off Topic" diversion...
The viral video:
https://youtu.be/4HnhjRrEXeA?si=i3bFZ9BwZYFrJEy-
