Do you Remember

Where you were when Elvis Presley died? (August 16, 1977) That was the question I was asked when I walked into Ike and Jonesy’s to meet a group of folks for a beer on Thursday night of this week. Technology had just delivered the news to a fellow’s phone that Michael Jackson had died.

Earlier that day (June 25, 2009) on a country road in Southern Ohio I heard that Farrah Fawcett had surrendered to cancer. Someone said it was tough day for those of us that grew up in the 70’s.

I did remember where I was when Elvis died. Athens, Greece around midnight and I was sending messages out of the Comm Center I was assigned to for the US Air Force.

Etched, certain times simply get etched into our lives. Like the day in first grade and we had just rolled out our nap maps for afternoon rest time. My teacher came in crying and said the school was closed, President Kennedy had been shot. (November 22, 1963). Sadly the same day the world lost C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley, but I didn’t know whom either of those guys was till much later in life.

I walked home and remembered the black and white TV playing nothing but the news coverage of the event for next three days. I was too young to know what the loss of the president meant, I only knew it cancelled Saturday morning cartoons.

Then there was the night the phone rang and immediately upon hearing my sister’s voice say my name, I knew that my father had died. (December 13, 1979). I cried as I listened to the Neil Young Harvest album over and over and thought of my dad. Here is where I recently took two of my kids to visit. I remember him, I miss him and I am thankful for the years of good memories he gave to me.

ACTION POINT: Remember someone special today.