I am an old man now and recently I have lost 3 friends from childhood, all in my HS graduating class, and all lifelong friends. I just got an email from the wife of one of those friends who told me that Mickey Wade had died. He was in hospice care so we knew, but still this hurts like hell. The name will not mean anything to you but to me this was a man who was class act from childhood and as expected lived a rich and full life and had a distinguished career.
When Mickey was a sophomore at Bonham, Texas high school he ran what was then the half mile run. Almost as soon as the race for the Texas state championship started Mickey got clipped and receive a nasty gash in his lower leg. His coach told him to keep running, and he did, and he became the Texas state champion crossing the finish line with blood all over his legs. That is the kind of person he was.
This week I have been cleaning out old boxes and things we no longer need. I saw my career flash before me in old business cards, journals with some of my research, and all kinds of Vol things I had long forgotten. That was pretty much a gut punch and now Mickey. If you are old you will know exactly what I am saying.
Having a heavy heart is more than a saying, it is real.
I do not know why I would post such feelings on VQ but I guess I just need to write it down. Maybe it is to tell everyone, especially in these troubled times, to be sure you stay in touch with your old friends. I regret that I have not always done that with too many.
Thanks for listening.
When Mickey was a sophomore at Bonham, Texas high school he ran what was then the half mile run. Almost as soon as the race for the Texas state championship started Mickey got clipped and receive a nasty gash in his lower leg. His coach told him to keep running, and he did, and he became the Texas state champion crossing the finish line with blood all over his legs. That is the kind of person he was.
This week I have been cleaning out old boxes and things we no longer need. I saw my career flash before me in old business cards, journals with some of my research, and all kinds of Vol things I had long forgotten. That was pretty much a gut punch and now Mickey. If you are old you will know exactly what I am saying.
Having a heavy heart is more than a saying, it is real.
I do not know why I would post such feelings on VQ but I guess I just need to write it down. Maybe it is to tell everyone, especially in these troubled times, to be sure you stay in touch with your old friends. I regret that I have not always done that with too many.
Thanks for listening.
