As Tears Go By - Three short days ago I reported to you that Bobby Gray (NHS Class of '69) and I had just had a wonderful phone conversation about life, its challenges, and the way Bobby was carrying on in his battle with cancer. Bobby cast his sword aside and gracefully left this life earlier today. I am confident he had a smile on his face and in his heart. In the past few years Bobby and I have enjoyed a renewed friendship centered around the shared experiences as teens in Newport in the late 1960s. I will forever cherish the day we spent together cruisin' around Newport in the spring of 2005 snapping photos of favored haunts from our high school days, imagining places no longer there, and remembering people gone from our line of sight. We laughed a lot. Bobby put the photos taken that day to music of the '60s on a CD for the NHS Class of 1970's thirty fifth reunion. What a treasure that is! Family visitation will be held at Weston Funeral Services located at 510 Illinois St. in Harrisburg, AR from 6:00-9:00pm tomorrow (Wednesday, August 15). Bobby's funeral will be Thursday, August 16 at 11:00am at the First United Methodist Church in Harrisburg. I know all of you will join me in holding Bobby's family, especially Pam, his wife of 31 years, close in thought and prayer. As he was watching the sun cast its light upon a new day last week Bobby sent an email message to me (and others) that closed with these words, "I am watching as the sun begins to ease up in the eastern sky and false dawn is giving way to the real thing. Good morning to all and have a blessed day. God loves you."
Sweet Reunions - As a reminder, the NHS Class of 1967 will gather back in Newport for its fortieth reunion one month from today (September 14-15). And the Class of 1977 is getting together in the sacred city of our youth for its thirtieth reunion on October 19-20. Go home! Laugh some with your friends!
It is the evening of the day
I sit and watch the children play
Doin' things I used to do
They think are new
I sit and watch
As tears go by
I wish you love and laughter!
I'm Miles from Nowhere . . .
joe
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