Something special......

The late and great Jimmy Valvano famously said, "If you laugh, you think,

and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven

days a week, you're going to have something special..."

I'm up in Virginia this weekend, riding around the old haunts and 

visiting old and dear friends. In a way, it's been an emotional

marathon.  

The first of Jimmy V's Big Three came in the form of tears when I

visited my parents. It was a gorgeous morning with

a brisk breeze. As best as I could tell, I was the only living person

on the grounds. I took a knee in front of their marker and offered them

my thanks. And I offered them my apologies.

I've known my friend Dan since third grade and lunch with him provided

the final two components. We sat near the shore of the James River

and swapped memories of goofy kidhood. We shared knowledge 

of classmates that have done well and others that have fallen

on hard times. We talked a lot about perspective.

Dinner found me at a famous hot dog joint for a rendezvous

with an old radio buddy from the mid 70's. Steve and I kept

our lips flappin' for almost three hours. I knew we had matured

since the old days when we discussed taking the high road in life.

Any chat about "high" back then meant something else.

We closed the place down and stood in the parking lot

takin' selfies and convulsing with laughter. Laughter to the

point of tears. 

It was a heck of a day...