Jody's dad, Jim, sent me me this card for my birthday in 2005. When I opened it, it gutted me. I actually sobbed. It still has the power to bring tears to my eyes. My birthday is five days before Jody's. The thought that this man could send birthday greetings to someone else's son, just days before the first one his own son would not be there for, is one of the most transcendent things that's ever happened to me in my life. Words failed me then. They still do.
I came out from work to make coffee this morning and saw this picture of Jody from his early years in college, collaborating on some project. Something reminded me of the card, and I realized that since I moved the digital frame over to the electric fireplace, there was room again for the card. So I took it out again and put it where it belongs. Where I'll always see it. And I'll always remember.
3 comments:
I'm speechless... you got it framed. The card is unbelievably poignant too...
That picture was taken about October 28th, 1996, when we were still in high school! Him and Brent Perschbacher showing their teacher how to use the terminal, proving they knew the technology better than he did. One of the workshops in Glorieta, NM, where we were supposed to "learn how to use computers". All good fun at the time. :)
1995, I mean. It WAS still 1995.
Well, it's not really framed. That's a digital frame. That photo, and hundreds of others (mostly of cats who've passed on as well) rotate in and out of my day and my consciousness on a half-hour schedule. I remember hearing, maybe 15 years ago, that Bill Gates had a frame on his wall showing different artwork, and how I thought that was a ridiculous idea at the time. Times change.
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