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Dalton
Roberts |
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We all require different healing times to get over the deaths of our friends. It has taken a while for me to deal with the loss of my former staff attorney, Jerry Turner. His life was a continuous success story and we do not expect habitual winners to die. He was successful against odds in getting the job as staff attorney. I had six applicants, five were democrats and I was a democrat. Jerry was the only republican. All I can say is that at the end of the job interview I knew in my bones Jerry was the quality candidate. Within weeks he proved me right. He came in one morning and asked, “We are not going to be killing and scalding any hogs here, are we?” I said “Of course not, “ and he said, “Well, I was washing my hands in the men’s room and the water almost scalded my hands. I checked all five county buildings downtown and the hot water heaters were all set on high.” Then he showed me the many thousands of dollars we would save during my first term by simply setting the heaters on medium. He said, “You can use this in your re-election campaign to show how you have searched for savings.” There’s no telling how many people had almost scalded their hands at all the lavatories in those five buildings but only Jerry Turner had the good sense to see the folly of it and the wisdom to explore the savings in simply changing those settings. Nothing short of death can stop a man with that kind of mind. When he left my office he was a success as a private attorney. It was all I could do to keep from begging him to stay with me. I had total confidence in his work and his opinions about law and politics and I couldn’t imagine not having access to his first-class mind. His goodbye note moistened my eyes when he said I had been a father figure to him and given him faith in the power of honest politics. But he explained that it was time for him to test his skills in the highly competitive field of law. He said, “I’ve got to see if I’ve got what it takes.” He did. He may have wondered but I was absolutely positive he had anything and everything any job would ever require of him. I was there when his personal world fell in on him. He was crushed and I feared he would not recover. He did. He adapted to single life until he met Cathy and remarried. Their love and loyalty for each other was as beautiful as love and loyalty can get. Exactly one year ago today, he called me to come to his Lakeshore condo and told me he had tumors on his pancreas and liver. I felt like someone had parked a Patten tank on my body but his attitude was completely upbeat. I don’t mid telling you I cried hard all the way home but out of respect for his faith and spunk, I had to believe he might succeed one more time. He didn’t if you mean beat death. That’s one thing we all fail to do. But no man could live a better life than Jerry. No man could watch his life cut short with more calm and courage. No one could savor his last days more completely. His early entry to heaven will work to the advantage of any of us who are able to make that scene at the end of our days. By the time we make it, Jerry will have shown St. Peter better ways to keep the pearly gates shining and the golden streets clean and skid-free. St. Peter will be able to submit a reduced budget to the Lord and still run it better. That’s how much faith I have in Jerry Turner. You'll enjoy Dalton's website at www.daltonroberts.com or browse his gathered writings at www.ipsfeatures.com.
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