Sept. 21, 2012 —
Someone recently asked me for advice on giving a eulogy for a close friend.
I reminded her that most funerals are religious services so she shouldn’t risk getting in trouble with the Lord by saying the person was always a saint, especially if they weren’t.
It was five years ago that I delivered a eulogy of a dear friend, a retired professor, whom I said sometimes was as warm and cuddly as a porcupine.
He could be sarcastic and standoffish, even snooty. He sometimes refused to pull into the waiting area at a fast food drive-thru.
But to those he cared about, he could be incredibly loving, generous and patient.
He was the kind of man who would provide a comfortable home and personal, lifelong care for his mother and an aunt.
He was the kind of man who would provide a trip to the beach for their kindly caregiver who had never seen the ocean.
He was the kind of man who would provide $100 worth of tickets and a free trip to the big city for a teenager and her boyfriend who shared his love of Broadway music.
He was the kind of man who would provide free use of his condo or frequent flier miles to help a young couple have a real honeymoon.
He was the kind of man who would spend hours doing chores for an exhausted young mother who was recovering from an operation and whose husband was away on military duty.
He was the kind of man who would reach out many times to a troubled teenager who saw him as the only adult he could trust.
He was the kind of man who would take small-town college kids to New York and to the great cities of Europe on study tours to build their confidence for living in today’s global village.
He was the kind of man who loved to make homemade ice cream for a family with eight kids, enjoy their backyard cookouts and share the joys and sorrows of their lives.
He was the kind of man who could endure 10 operations and become partially disabled but never lose his sense of humor or zest for life.
He was the kind of man who never stopped courting his wife with gifts and trips and other signs of his affection.
There is a Jewish saying that he who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure.
In that spirit, I want to thank him again for making my family rich.
Friday's Post
Celebrating the lives of our departed pals
- Friday's Post
-
-
Vain as a peacock, cool as a cucumber
He was a bright, witty and dapper man who did his best to look as young as he could for as long as he could. His sense of humor and competitive spirit left indelible impressions on me. I know that he crammed all of the living he could into 76 years.
-
Flashbacks revive memories of a tragedy
I remember the day like it was yesterday – Dec. 15, 1967, a few minutes before 5 p.m. in Ironton, Ohio.
-
The greatest singer sang the greatest song
Within 10 minutes, four of my children called, emailed or texted me that morning to express condolences on what they knew would be a personal loss.
-
‘42’ more about fairness than baseball
One of the first major league baseball games I saw in person as a young boy was when my beloved Cincinnati Reds hosted the Brooklyn Dodgers at Crosley Field.
-
Fake sounds or not, ole Waite was the best
I was listening to a Cincinnati Reds baseball game on radio while driving home when I had a flashback in the 1950’s.
-
Great food way ahead of its time
The first time I saw one it reminded me of a deflated football or a toy boat by its shape but seeing it was not nearly as memorable as eating one.
-
‘Out of the mouths of babes’ comes humility
My most recent humbling experience started innocently enough with a phone call from my middle daughter, the mother of three.
-
Realities of life told in country music
We’ve been warned for years that some rock music, if played backward, would bring forth a dangerous, even devilish message. On the other hand, some folks say they believe that if you play a country song backward, you’ll likely get your job back, your doublewide trailer will be returned by the bank, your wife and/or girlfriend will come back with the kids, and the finance company will give you back your pickup truck, dog and all.
-
Try unwinding with a John Wayne movie
Some folks go for a walk to decompress after a tough day. Others listen to soft music. Still others fight stress with a quiet dinner. Not me! I reach for a John Wayne movie, sit back and relax.
-
At my house, Rodney’s gone but not forgotten
The late and very funny Rodney Dangerfield made lots of money telling the world that “I don’t get no respect” from the people in his life.
- More Friday's Post Headlines
-
Vain as a peacock, cool as a cucumber
