Paul Harvey … Good Day.

Henrietta, Texas, 1960: When I was a senior in high school, at lunch I’d run to my car and drive quickly down to the Lo’ Boy drive in, to order a BLT sandwich and coke, and then … on with the radio.

Paul Harvey. One day he said, “Sniffing glue. All the kids in Texas are doing it.”

Because my high school, and the Lo’ Boy, were located in Texas, I was dubious about that particular story. I knew he was full of beans.

But most of the time, he was so on. And then one day he said he’d be speaking at the VFW hall in Vernon, which was less than an hours drive. I vowed to go.

In chemistry class, I mentioned my trip to Vernon to the Chemistry teacher, Mr. Blassingame.

“Can I go with you?” he said.

Well, heck yeah. So me and the chemistry teacher went and heard Paul Harvey speak live. It was a magical event, it-

Actually I do not remember anything at all about it. I have a vague picture in my mind of the building, but I couldn’t pick Paul Harvey out of a line-up, and have no clue what he said.

Yesterday (2/28/09), I learned that Paul Harvey is no longer on this planet. He has moved on. I’ll miss him, and I bet lots of people will miss his unique delivery, his voice, his quick turn of events, and really-cool unknown stories about famous people in history.

Of course, back then, in high school, the voices on the radio, like the voices of my schoolmates, were eternal, as were our dreams, and life itself.

After my big trip to Vernon, for the rest of my senior year, I had an investment in Paul Harvey, and the BLT sandwich, the coca-cola, and Paul Harvey kept me company every lunchtime at the Lo’Boy. And what he’d say at the end of every program was …

… Good Day. …