I spent about an hour with an old childhood friend last May when I was back in Boscobel for Memorial Day. His name was Roger Haney, and I knew Roger going all the way to first grade at Immaculate Conception School, continuing on to four years at Boscobel H.S., where together we won my only state championship (acting, of course). Roger was in his last days when I saw him. He died from brain cancer late last week and was buried today in Boscobel, Wisconsin.
I would have liked to have gone to his funeral, and felt very bad about not going. But our agenda was fairly set regarding Vonne Mei's baptism, and I had to get everyone back today, sick as many of us were.
On the plane home, I thought I should really get a card and send it to Roger's mom (something I still intend to do), because I wanted his family to know that his passing meant something to me.
Thanks to the Internet, apparently the Haney family did know.
Here's the story: I wrote about my hour with Roger on Memorial Day (Roger and me) later that night because it really did mean a lot to me and that's what I use writing this blog for.
Well, I got an email from my Mom when we got home tonight, saying that she had attended the funeral today, where, as part of the eulogy for Roger, my posting was read by his younger brother Ryan, whom I remember well as one of my better softball players on my I.C.S. team my eighth-grade year and a very good man all around. Seems his wife, based in Scotland (God love the Internet), had Googled Roger's name prior to the ceremony and had come across my blog posting. His family liked what I wrote so much that Ryan read it out loud at the mass. As my Mom relayed, he was so overcome with emotion that he had to stop at one point.
That's why I include the personal in this blog, because I love the connectivity it creates. I love the emotion it imparts. I'm grateful for the love it often puts on stark display.
My prayers go out to the Haney family. They are the salt of the earth, and they've been a significant part of my upbringing (mom Betty was my principal at I.C.S. for several years) and the sucess I've enjoyed over the course of my adult life. I make a point of never forgetting where I've come from, and the Haneys are where I came from.
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