In the Blink of an Eye

By Jerry Mack Grubbs

His name is Richard Day but we called him Dick. He came into my life as my brother's best friend. At least Bill and Dick were best friends until Patsy; a well proportioned cheerleader performed a few cart wheels in front of my brother. She was a real looker but so was my brother and somehow he snagged her on his fishing line. If you have ever fished, you know the thrill that comes when you feel the tug on your line. All your attention is focused on getting that big one in the boat. As my brother was struggling to get Patsy in his boat, there was time for me to slip into Dick's life. What a blessing that was for me.

Dick's father died when he was young but a loving mother made sure that he was plowing a straight course. Actually, I think Dick had an inborn tendency to do the right thing regardless of whether anyone was watching. He never spoke ill of anyone. He found no humor in hearing or sharing off-color jokes. Dick loved trains and photography. He once enticed me to be a two-day hobo. We hopped a freight train to Saint Louis, Missouri. Before jumping on the train I removed the heel of my shoe and hid $40 inside. The money did little good. You can't buy anything to eat on a freight train. We didn't even take a water bottle. My Saint Louis experience consisted of washing up in a dirty bathroom of a gas station located near the train tracks. I rinsed out an empty whiskey bottle I found along the tracks and filled it with water for the return trip home.

We had quite an adventure: dirt, flies, meeting real hobos, hopping the wrong train home and having to bale off when it took an unexpected turn North, sunburn, windburn, and hunger. But in the blink of an eye I can open that memory and the joy of being with Dick cascades across my mind and a smile forms on my lips. That says it all. I took his companionship for granted when I was young but I always knew the value of his friendship. It is a friendship that remains in my heart to this day although I haven't seen him in years.

Dick's other passion was photography. He carried a camera most of the time and he captured much of my life in print. Dick created a book of my high school years. Under each picture was a personalized caption with his unique comments and humor. After high school graduation he gave the book to my girl friend, Karen Young. When I asked him why she got the book, Dick said, "If I gave it to you, you would look at it once and forget where it was. This way, you will always know where it is." Well, Dicks comment was prophetic. I know where the book is but I can't look at it, hold it, share it or even misplace it. It just never occurred to Dick that Karen and I would go separate ways.

Although I don't have access to the high school photo album, I can access the memories of my experiences. I am continually grateful for the ability to remember the past, reflect on the present and look forward to the future. I am thankful for the good friend Richard Byron Day was to me. He encouraged me to be my better self; not by his words but by his example. In the blink of an eye I am drawn back in time to a place where I can see his contented smile, relive our shared experiences and express gratitude for his friendship.  
Richard has contributed two articles to the Point to Ponder section of our family website.

"Journey to Life"
http://www.grubbsfamily.org/ponder/item?item_id=20227

"What the Railroad Taught Me"
http://www.grubbsfamily.org/ponder/item?item_id=18755