Roy,

Last Monday you sent the Vamping Memo, which I enjoyed. That Monday night two very close friends of my family were our guests for dinner and laughs. We joked about me walking around the house all night quoting, “Ya got trouble, right here in River City.” They're both extreme introverts so they just thought I was nuts.

On Saturday, the husband, Brian had a freak accident and was electrocuted and killed while in his attic. Needless to say it's been several days of hard crying and difficulty as his family and wife have tried to process the grief. We've basically been at their house everyday since Saturday helping them to make arrangements, etc.

I tell you this because last night Tammy, his wife, says in the midst of making plans for the funeral service, “What's the name of that city?”

Confused, I said, “What city?”

Tammy chuckles and says, “Where they got all that trouble at!”

“River City?” I responded.

She says “That's the one! I need you to do it for me right now! Perform It!”

So I performed it and she laughed and she cried and recalled the enjoyment of her husband in one of the last memorable moments of their life together.

I wish I had a happy ending, but we bury the body of a great man on Friday. I say all this to tell you that what started out as an obscure reference in a Rabbit Hole of your Memo has ended up being a significant memory in the heart of a widow. Funny how something so simple can burn its image into your soul when the unpredictable winds of circumstance change the salience of an event.

I struggled with whether I should share this with you, but I think you'll understand.

Manley Miller