Journal six Cameron Watson

I decided to analyze the life and story of Johnny Tocco.  Johnny Tocco is both a boxing trainer and proud gym owner.  This is a story of a man who started out in the gym as a water boy.  Johnny was at the right place at the right time.  He had the chance to be ringside as a water boy as a fighter.  Till this day, turning eighty-three in July we should admire and remember the determination that Johnny Tocco withheld in order to be where he is today.  The theme of determination comes to mind.  Once he became a water boy Johnny Tocco never looked back.  From then on, till this day he trains fighters and teaches him of the same morals that he possesses.  The best part of this writing is towards the end.  The struggle of being old, and price it pays is tremendous. Tocco has had heart operations and has been given a pacemaker.  “But until then I can’t see me alive and not workin’ with the fight game.  I’d be lost

            While reading this book, many themes approached my mind.  That being said, no two themes have passed through my mind quite like uniqueness and eccentricity.  With each of these people in the book, without fail the individuals are out of the box and simply not normal.  Some may look at these people and categorize them as weird, crazy, and abnormal.  This is exactly what they are, but in the best way of the word.  With each person, comes a totally different and unique story along with him or her.  Through each of these people, eccentricity is a word that describes them all.  Eccentricity in my opinion is someone that without knowing it changes the lives of many around them.  These people in the book Holding On do so much and yet expect nothing in return.  If we take away anything form this book as a class, is to not judge a book by its cover whether the person is a hobo, or a folk doctor, or even a snake holder.  In the end we all bring something very unique and eccentric to the table, but some of us are still just trying to figure out just what that is.