I believe we leave traces of ourselves everywhere we go and among everyone we meet. Over a lifetime these fragments of others meld with our own essence to create the people we are.
My special friend, Terry Nelson, has apparently died. I say apparently because it’s something I can’t yet accept. It just doesn’t make sense.
Of all the people I’ve known Terry is one of the few whose very existence inclines me to believe in God, His goodness and His famously mysterious ways.
I wish I could tell Terry that. He’d laugh like hell and say, “Man, we need to get you another drink.”
Terry is one of those rare people I’ve known who always wears a smile. Always. I never saw him down or angry. He speaks with a persistent and infectious chuckle. He pays attention to every word I say, nodding his comprehension and agreement. He responds with a sterling compliment: “Dave, that’s exceptional”, he’ll say, and then give me a brief, positive reflection on what I had told him. He often leaves behind a nugget of revelation.
A few moments spent with Terry always makes me feel better about myself.
The eddies of life as they are, swirling, mixing and moving apart, I haven’t seen or spoken with Terry in years but the traces of him that migrated to my soul have made me a better man.
I guess the reason I can’t believe he’s gone is that he isn’t. He lives large in each of us who loved him.
More Terry Nelson tributes, memories and recordings of his on-air work can be found here, at the KROY Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/112381452000/
The 1240 KROY website: http://www.1240kroy.com/
I’m so glad you wrote this. It’s a beautiful tribute.
That is one of the most profound tributes I have ever read. I am sorry to learn of Terry Nelson’s passing from this life, for you and for the countless others whose lives he touched. Although he was unknown to me, I found your words about people leaving traces of their lives on our soul, to be eloquent and true. I too believe that our lives are influenced by those that we have encountered on our life’s journey.There are so many who have left traces on my heart and soul, and you are certainly among of them.
Dave Williams said it best he was an original.Nobody like him.Everything Dave Williams said about Terry Nelson is True .Thank you Dave you said it all.I am ever so grateful I got to know the Terry Nelson That Dave Williams knew.my name is Bobby Box and I am proud to say that Terry Nelson was the driving force that allowed me to do my morning show with the confidence to succeed.Love ya Terry.God Bless you in heaven.
Bobby, thanks for your kind comments. I was trying to explain to my wife my relationship with Terry and why it’s so hard for me to come to grips with his death. As I said in the blog I haven’t seen him in decades. I finally just decided that some special souls supercede normal relationship limitations. Terry is one of them.
By the way, when I left KROY you took over the morning show. I heard you. It was a nice upgrade. Glad to have a chance to tell you.
Stay well. Be happy. And as TN always reminded us,, “Keep your finger dry”, whatever the heck that means. ?