Farewell to a friend

Coach Eddye Calhoun passed away last Thursday morning.  Ann, his wife, woke me up with a call around 5:40 am.  It took a little while for me to figure out what she was saying, because of her emotional state.  I had talked to him just 12 hours before, and he said he was really sick and was sure he was going to be in the hospital.  I told him to call me when he gets a room and I would be up to harass him.  When she said "Eddye's gone" I was of course stunned.

Coach Cal and I were not close friends, but would have ended up that way.  We got to know each other better during spring break and had made plans to do several things together.  I had previously spent a lot time with him trying to help resolve some problems he was having with the school over his contract.  He told me that they had came to an agreement and I will be watching to see that it is honored. 

What is really weird is that coach and I had a discussion about eulogies.  We talk about how they made the person that had died sound like a saint and it was usually delivered by someone that didn't really know the person.  When he left us, I felt obligated to write something.  But I failed his wishes because I didn't know him well enough to write about his faults, which he said were many.

I don't have very many friends--probably due to my wonderful personality--so when I lose one it is very difficult for me.  Coach was just a super nice guy that I liked being around because he wasn't a cynic like myself.  So long Coach Cal.