by Ted Hayes
Yep. Here it is, like yesterday, but some five and a half decades later, and I can still see Virgil from our childhood,
…through our teenage years, when we played sports on the same teams,
…beginning with Pop Warner, Six-Man Football.
Yep. When on the football field, Virgil was the quarterback, and on the Aberdeen High School varsity basketball team, the Eagles, he was the Point Guard.
I had the habit of always looking into his eyes as he would call and make plays in both sports.
Yep. When not in the sporting arenas, Virgil and our other mutual best friend, like the late, Luther Scroggins,
…and too many more to name here, also on the same teams, we just hung out together,
…laughing and teasing each other as young, good boys do.
Unfortunately, I had not seen, nor been in touch with Virgil, et al, since leaving Aberdeen for Southern California,
…where I still reside in Los Angeles, until a few years ago when visiting my younger brother, Leon at his house.
Yep. Over the next few years, but especially in these last days, he and I spoke by phone
…up until he was finally relieved from his physical sufferings and went home to Heaven
…to be with our Heavenly ABBA Father and LORD Jesus.
Nonetheless, I was so thrilled to learn that Virgil had achieved his childhood-teenage dreams,
…even becoming of legendary status, one being, coaching Aberdeen High School basketball varsity team,
and onto college coaching, which I was so proud to hear about.
Yep. I can still look into his eyes and watch all of the fine play-action faces he’d make,
….indicating the moves for me to make on the basketball floor or football field.
In those days on this earth, every time that he and I would speak on the phone,
…despite his suffering, Virgil was so much an uplifting inspiration to me,
…that I often spoke of him to my Los Angeles friends.
What a testimony and legacy that my childhood friend has given to all of us.
Yep. I can still see Virgil!