We Grow Good People
Tuesday morning I was woken by a call from my neighbor Jan. Her son, Eddie, had been killed in Afghanistan on July fourth. He was eighteen years old. I didn’t know what to say to comfort her then and I’m afraid I still don’t know. Instead I’ve listened to the neighbors talk out their shock and grief and I’ve coordinated a carpool with the older neighbors for his funeral.
What I do know is that Eddie Wood was a good kid who grew into a good man. And I think he’s exemplary of Nebraskans. We grow good people here.
The story that explains this best happened two winters ago. It was around 10:30 at night with lots of blowing snow and a good six inches of wet, heavy snow on the ground. My street is on a high ridge and for some reason I was driving the car rather than the truck. Do you have a mental picture?
As I approached the driveway (thrilled that I made it up the hill), I realized there was a big figure standing behind the truck. I panicked for a moment thinking that they might walk into my path or that they might be lurking with plans to sneak into the garage.
But in the next instant I realized the person had shoveled my walk and the side of the driveway leading to the garage. They were just finishing up the stretch of driveway behind my truck.
I parked the car with no problem and walked down the drive to figure out which of the neighbor guys was helping me out. And it was 17 year old Eddie.
Who shovels the neighbor lady’s sidewalk and ridiculously large double driveway that late at night when it’s that cold, windy, snowy and frankly miserable out?
These types of actions come from good people who have been raised by good parents in good communities.
In the past, Nebraska’s slogan “the good life” has annoyed me. Especially when viewed near one of Iowa’s university slogans “preparation for the great life.”
I don’t believe it will anymore though.
In thinking about Eddie during the last few days, I’ve decided that good is often a very solid but modest excellent. Because of this, good can be even better than great. We grow good people here…and sometimes they die way too young because of it.
