A Happy Story in A Small World

Every class I have ever taken has had exams, tests, evaluations, whatever you want to call them. There needs to be some way to evaluate your progress. This morning’s Finance 345 exam was not going to be an easy one, so last night a group of Sport and Recreation Management students and I packed ourselves into a study lounge in Rose Library.

The studying went very well (at least I think it did, I haven’t gotten the results back yet) and as we were leaving, a classmate of mine that I’ve had several classes with over the last few years, Zack, said he was not looking forward to his ride home; he had ridden his bike from Urban Exchange, a downtown apartment complex several miles from the library. I drive my Uncle Jeff’s old Expedition, so I offered to put his bike in the back and get him a ride home.  We did to the bike and my car what we had just done to the finance facts and our heads and headed downtown.

We got to talking and I asked Zack where he had done his internship, which is a graduation requirement of all JMU SRM majors. He told me that this summer he had interned with the Brooklyn Nets. Knowing Uncle Jeff’s friendship through their high school basketball playing days with the Nets’ General Manager, I asked Zack “Did you get a chance to meet Billy King?” Zack responded with a yes and said something I did not expect. Billy and Zack’s dad also played high school basketball together.

Immediately, my face lit up and I nearly slammed on the breaks. “At Park View?!” Zack was stunned. I told him about my uncle having played with Billy as well and that Zack’s dad, Chris Graham, must have known and played with my uncle. For the rest of the car ride, I was halfway between shocked and excited. I don’t think I left Zack with a split second to respond.

I got Zack dropped off and started driving home. Still shocked and now in an empty car, memories of Uncle Jeff zoomed into my head but because I was excited, I couldn’t help but smile. The longest time gone and you are still helping me out; I truly can’t believe it.

Monday marks six months without Uncle Jeff and I miss him very much but remember this is a happy story because he just helped me make a new friend. Thanks Uncle Jeff! And Happy Friday guys!