I received a special card in the mail.  She never fails.

Paula Lincoln is a friend of mine.  I have known her since I was in high school.  Our first official introduction was when I looked at Mick Rutherford as an announcement was coming over the school intercom.  Mick and I were in English class and we just happened to have a substitute teacher that day.  An announcement came for all the choir members to report to the gym for a picture.  I looked at Mick and cleared my throat like any good choir member would.  I gave him the nod and he followed me out of the room.

We were not in the choir.  He asked where do we go now?  Paula Lincoln, listening to two brash 9th graders looked in our direction and barked “GET WHERE YOU BELONG!”  I swear there was fire coming out of her eyeballs when she said it.  We scurried back into English class and told the sub we decided to quit the choir that day.

Paula Lincoln turned out okay.  We got past that first meeting.  She was a great teacher and an even better friend.

Paula is sitting to my right in this picture.  Her husband Walt “Old Sport” Lincoln is to her right.  To my left are Kelly and Nancy Samons.  kKelly and I met in 1979. Jerry Brown, a guy who knew me long before anyone else in the picture is to your far right.  This was my birthday dinner in 2014.

Paula Lincoln always sends me a birthday card.  Without fail.  I turn 49 on March 18th.  She sent me another card.  She always does.  Though I have not kept all the cards she has sent me over the years, I have held on to a few that I will share with you.

In earnest, I think this was my 40th birthday.  I keep it not far from where I am typing these words.  I consider it a classic.

This was the one I received this year.  I hope I can Golf-a-Lot this year.  I hope the back holds out.

Some of the other cards I have gotten over the years are…

This was the 40th birthday.

This above was given to me when I graduated from college.

In the late 1993 the Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Team was taking a beating from the media because they were beating foes up and did have a relatively weak schedule compared to other schools and other conferences. I was sick of the criticism.  I say down and wrote Coach Tom Osborne a note of encouragement.  This was in November for sure.  In December I was delighted to receive this card.

Two summers ago I was inventorying football cards.  I came across some cards from 1990 or 1991.  Jack Elway was coaching a World League team…the Frankfurt Galaxy.  I had about five football cards of his.  I looked at them and decided then and there that these cards need to go to John Elway, Jack’s son.  A month and half later I got this card in the mail…

Below 2014 on the balcony at The Ryman to see The Moody Blues.

A few days later…

That day was in the cards, for sure.

Speaking the rights.

Danny Johnson