35 years ago feels like yesterday.

Dear Pam, I got home pretty late tonight after being on the road the past four days for work. Overall, it was good trip and was nice to see several former clients I had not seen in over 10 years. However, despite the passage of time we all picked up like we had just visited last week. The thing is, I don’t even think of the folks I called on this week as customers, but more like friends as we had lunches and visited talking about our families, life challenges, where former co-workers were these days as well as several who are also in heaven like you. Today of course I was still in Columbus where we lived for a couple years and I swear at times when I was driving around town it felt like we had just moved there. I could remember exact locations and things we were doing in some of the oddest places. An example was when I drove past and old car dealership location which is no longer a dealership but I could remember how excited we were when we were there to purchase a brand new Pontiac J Car. It was a tan 4 door with all the bells and whistles you could get on a car in 1985. You would have thought we had won the lottery at how excited we were to get it. I remember the station manager made a call to the owner of the dealership and made sure he treated us right. Indeed he did, making us feel so special. The car actually ended up being one of the best we ever owned because I recall we drove it to over 100k miles and it never missed a beat. Of course in those days we also made it with just one car for several years before adding a second when our little family started to grow. Later after my meeting I drove out to the old station location which is now crumbled to the ground with an old broadcast tower still standing. Once again the memories seemed so fresh as I could remember you driving me out to the station each morning and dropping me off before you went to your job. I could then visualize me watching out the newsroom window after the 6 pm news watching for you to pull up and take me home. We were always so excited to see each other at the end of the day and I looked forward to a kiss and hug from you before getting in the car. I remember a couple of times one of the photographers would kid us and say something like…get a room you two. We would then drive home sharing details of our day. After we would get home you almost always had dinner ready and we would sit down and eat with our 19" color tv on in the background. Couldn’t tell you what we were watching but half the time we were talking so much we didn’t even pay attention. We would then clean up the kitchen and take a long walk in the neighborhood. Of course we continued those neighborhood walks after dinner for our entire married life. I remember when the kids got older we liked going by ourself because it was a time we could truly be alone and talk about things we didn’t necessarily want to broadcast throughout the house. To this day Lola still brings up those walks and says her and Keith always thought that was so sweet how it was such a part of daily routine. Indeed it was, and while I continue to take walks every day they certainly are not as much fun without you. Although I do talk a lot to you, but you don’t seem to say much these days. Then again, I know things must be pretty crazy in heaven and I can’t begin to imagine the beauty you must see on your walks there. Of course someday I’ll be there with you and I can hardly wait for you to show me around. I miss you Pam and I will love you forever and always, Jack. Here my daily stories thru my podcast, available from all the major podcast providers or simply click the link below.
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