Oh my. This is harder than it was nearly three years ago.
speaktherights.com was in its fledgling stages in October and November of 2014. Just four months in. Today we mark post #350.
In a month’s time, between October 25 and the end of November 2014, I chronicled my grandmother’s sickness (leukemia) and her final days on these pages. I rarely look back at anything I have written here. I wish there was time. I wish I cared more. But now and again when I am feeling wistful and think about Granny, I look back at those posts from 2014. Wow. Time flies.
Two days ago my Dad was in my garage. My Granny’s stuff, what is left of it, has been sitting in a corner of my garage since she passed away. Granny died in Ramsey, Indiana. She was buried in Shreveport, Louisiana. Me, nor my siblings, attended her funeral in Shreveport. We did participate in a wonderful memorial service I chronicled on these pages. What my siblings and I did after that memorial service was clean Granny’s apartment while Mom and Dad were in Shreveport.
On Tuesday, Dad looked at and kept for his keeping many photos and artifacts Granny had left behind.
He took his time inspecting many a fine treasure and few pieces of junk.
Believe me, Granny kept everything.
I am glad she did. This old boy found some treasures. One was a 1966 Woodlawn High School (Shreveport) High School Football Program. Can you imagine having one high school where a 4 time Super Bowl Champ and NFL Hall of Famer would be followed by a future NFLer that played longer than his high school predecessor. It happened. These were those players.
I think Joe Ferguson, he handed the ball to O.J. Simpson in 1973 when O.J. was the first player to gain 2000 or more yards in a season, finished his career as an Indianapolis Colt. He played a LONG time.
I also found this historical artifact…and was humbled by it.
My Granny always loved football. Thankfully, my Mom mailed her newspaper clippings of her son, my Dad, who coached football at both Brownstown Central and North Harrison High School. My dear friend Jim Brown is featured in one article here. It was written by Jim Plump. He too is a good guy.
Enjoy. I sure have.
Oh, the ELO played at Hirsch Coliseum in 1978 and the tickets were $8.50.
I’ll tell you what I have always told my students: WE ARE NOT HERE TO HAVE A BAD TIME.
I do know that I am blessed in this category….but I believe it to be true.
Last order of business…
I am taking my dear wife, Carrie, to Nashville this weekend to The Ryman Auditorium to see The Moody Blues. I need her to see the Days of Future Passed show. It is amazing.
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson