A Norvell Note
April 15, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 15
Class Reunion, a Long Drive, Family, the Eclipse, Work,
a Concert, and the Masters
What do all these things have in common? Memories
Class Reunion. As I made the almost seven-hour journey from home to Hope, Arkansas, my mind drifted back fifty-four years to when I was a senior in high school with only a few weeks before graduation. In 1970, I had many questions about the future, what finishing high school meant, saying goodbye to friends and family, and leaving home for college. As I drove, memories flooded my mind. Fifty-four years later, I still have many questions about the future, what finishing life means, saying goodbye to friends and family, and leaving this world when the time comes.
A long drive. During the last two hours of the trip to Hope, I asked Siri to play music from 1969. I heard Touch Me by the Doors. I remember Jimmy Alford sitting in the old Piggly Wiggly parking lot one night with that song playing at full volume. I played it again at full volume. I listened to The Uniques sing All These Things. And I was that In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was 16 minutes long. I’m grateful that music can transport us to the place and time where we first heard the song or where we heard it for the thousandth time.
Family. I’m grateful that I could spend time with my brother and some of his family on my way to and back from the class reunion. We shared good food, relaxing time, and memories of our life.
The Eclipse. I put on my safety glasses and joined the millions of others who saw the dramatic images and experienced the world turning dark at 1:30 p.m. I remembered a similar experience on a deserted golf course in Nashville for the last eclipse. The transition from darkness to light reminded me to be thankful for sight and light. And the light of the Lord. (By the way, do you know what God does when the sun looks like a big toenail? Eclipse it.)
Work. On multiple occasions last week, I prayed for families and stood nearby as they said goodbye to their loved ones. And I listened to their stories as they shared memories.
A Concert. For an hour and forty minutes, Lauren Daigle hopped and bounced all over the stage as she sang her songs of faith, Hope, joy, and the love of the Father. Some of her songs bring back more recent memories. And being there with Kim created a new memory for us.
The Masters. I watched and remembered the opportunities I had to walk the course during practice rounds, meeting Jim Nantz near the 13th fairway, hearing the roar of the crowds, and the thrill of seeing some of the greatest players of all time. And I remembered sitting in our living room watching and dreading having to leave to go to Sunday night church before it ended. So grateful when DVRs made it possible to record it and watch it later.
I’m thankful for my memories, and I can still remember and enjoy them. And I thank my God every time I remember you.
Tom
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