Thursday, September 11, 2008
Dear Bobby, Rob, Becka and Kate:
I can hear her so ever endearing voice as I write, with its pronounced twang and howdy y’awl. It is indelibly etched in my mind. I first learned about this stunning southern girl when Bobby announced that he had decided to challenge his law firm’s policy of not dating or fraternizing with the staff and ask the stunning southern girl out on a date, all at the risk of jeopardizing his career at the firm. But how could any of the managing partners seriously object. After all it was a once in a lifetime chance for the young lad and well worth the risk. I’m sure the partners recognized his brilliance in the move with a probable comment, “I think we have a future partner here”. We, of course, were enriched by that decision for it gave us some forty years or more of her lovely presence.
The times I spent with you and Nancy are some of the best in my life, whether at 857 Beacon Street high on the top sixth floor apartment (thank God none of us fell to the sidewalk from that large arched unguarded window), or at Rawson Road, 3A or Powder Point, or, in between at all of our homes with the stacks of children in tow. She always made the event with her winning smile and gracious demeanor.
I can vividly recall virtually every hour of your beautiful wedding in Louisville as if it were yesterday. The southern hospitality that greeted us Yankees was overwhelming. Of course, in between the festivities, we took the opportunity of visiting Churchill Downs and wagering a few coins at Keeneland. The Southern hospitality was only once challenged when following the reception we visited a local establishment for a few pops. Michael thought it a great idea to ask the piano player if he could play “Southie is My Home Town”. The local red necks on the other side of the bar spared us no tolerance with their response, “Yankees, GO HOME”. We took the suggestion to heart out of fear of otherwise being driven out of town in the back of a pick-up. We never did hear “Southie”
Lucky for me that Nancy has been the only Southern girl I have ever known, so my impression of a Southern girl is only what I saw in Nancy, a. woman with extreme grace, class and charm, a radiant woman who always exuded warmth, happiness and thoughtfulness, who always expressed a thrill and excitement in seeing you. They can’t all be so fabulous, can they ?
I could think of the days ahead as being dark and frightening, but happily for me, you have merely stepped into the shadows, sweetheart, but overhead there is forever burning a bright and shining star that is you.
Love,
Jim Kickham
