“Think of where man’s glory most begins and end. And say my glory was, I had such friends.” – W.B. Yeats There wasn’t but five dollars difference between the two of us. We met my first day on the job at the television station in Austin. I had moved up from Laredo, where I had been anchoring the early and late news and had accepted a position as a reporter at the NBC affiliate in the capitol city. Many hours of my spare time had been spent sitting on the wooden steps to our single wide trailer staring at northbound traffic on Interstate 35. It was the only time in my life I had ever dreamed of going north as a goal.
What a beautiful eulogy. Friendships, such as yours and Ken's, don't come around all that often. Thank you for sharing just a few memories and reminding me of what a pleasure Ken was to have around.
I,of course, did not know Ken, but I am happy to have this post humus introduction. Your writing is always best when it is about life, and love, and places, and emotion. And in your writing we can all feel his goodness, his impact, and also his pain. We are better off for knowing the stories of ordinary people. And then there is the cancer part….the cancer part always gets to me. I want to hug his wife.
This is a wonderful tribute by a talented man to a treasured friend. I too, knew Ken in Omaha and you are right, he was so easy going and optimistic... Being around him I soon remembered what I had long forgotten... that having ambition was a good thing but being sincere in word and deed and caring about others were infinitely better qualities to embrace and embody. As you say Jim, Ken "was always out there on the morning side of the mountain where wonderful things began every day." On more than one occasion he brightened my day. ...a blessing to know him.
Very touching. Nice!
What a beautiful eulogy. Friendships, such as yours and Ken's, don't come around all that often. Thank you for sharing just a few memories and reminding me of what a pleasure Ken was to have around.
Anything I have an appreciation for I call that love...and that includes this piece of writing.
A lovely remembrance.
I,of course, did not know Ken, but I am happy to have this post humus introduction. Your writing is always best when it is about life, and love, and places, and emotion. And in your writing we can all feel his goodness, his impact, and also his pain. We are better off for knowing the stories of ordinary people. And then there is the cancer part….the cancer part always gets to me. I want to hug his wife.
Yes, friends should be remembered and their stories shared. I'm glad you did. I bet Ken is too.
This is a wonderful tribute by a talented man to a treasured friend. I too, knew Ken in Omaha and you are right, he was so easy going and optimistic... Being around him I soon remembered what I had long forgotten... that having ambition was a good thing but being sincere in word and deed and caring about others were infinitely better qualities to embrace and embody. As you say Jim, Ken "was always out there on the morning side of the mountain where wonderful things began every day." On more than one occasion he brightened my day. ...a blessing to know him.