Thursday, May 7, 2015

Received degree today from WSU. On plane back, zsat behind an African American man and his wife/girlfriend. He looked around 60 years old and in great shape. I helped him open the upper luggage bin and our eyes met. He looked straight at me and said with a big smile: “Did you dye your hair gray so that a young man like you would look more distinguished?”. I told him that unfortunately it was age. He asked me how old I was and I told him 74. He smiled and said he was 69 and gave me a fist pump. I noticed a massive diamond-studded ring on his finger. He pointed to it and said: “Do you know what this is?” I said no and he said it was a Hall of Fame Ring. I looked at him and apologized and said I am very sorry, but I do not recognize you. He said: I am Lem Barney, Hall of Fame cornerback for the Detroit Lions from 1967 through 1977, and you are that wonderful doctor who does so much for the world. I told him how much I admired his play over so many years with the Lions. We hugged and shook hands for a long time. Wonderful encounter!