Sunday, December 9, 2012
I would have shared this story with you on Saturday, but couldn't seem to manage to get myself under control enough to stand up in front of everyone. But here goes now: Last Wednesday, December 5, I realized my wardrobe current consists pretty much of jeans and running pants, and had to get to the shops to pick up something for my journey to Denver. On my way home, I stopped at a little cafe to pick up a sandwich to take home. As I was sitting waiting for my order, I became aware of music playing in the background. Lo and behold, the song was "Shh-boom". Probably not a lot of you know but during he summer of 1954, Ron's favorite song was "Shh-boom" and I'd be sitting in his living room and he'd put the record on while his mom was in the back watching a White Sox ball game, Ron would dance around the living room belting out "shh-boom, shh-boom, yadda da da yadda da da da da da" off-key only as he could. Hysterical! Well, after the song ended this past Wednesday, I had a small smile on my face, the first in days, and here's why: Ron was there with me briefly. I swear. I'm not into that sort of thing, but folks, let me tell you, I heard him say, as clearly as if he were next to me - "hey kid" (and yes, I'm 74 and he still called me "kid") he said "hey kid - I'm okay". I believe he sent me that message with all my heart. And although I'll never pick up the telephone and hear his voice again, I'll never stop hearing it in my heart. And neither will you. That's the kind of man Ron was. I'm blessed that Ron chose me as a friend - his always friend. Now there's an empty space in my heart, one that will never be filled. And Im sure that's true for most of you. But take comfort knowing that part of who you are today, is because you had the privilege of being a friend of Ron Freund.
