A Motivating Moment

I hope that I am not the only nut in this world that does this but have you ever while laying in bed trying to fall a sleep think of some great idea that will change your life and the world and when your feet hit the floor the next day that idea is not as great as it was when you were half  asleep.

I have thought many times  that the summer of 1963 for me was one of those summers that Hollywood would pay big bucks just as soon as I write it all down and contact the right person. I have several times in the past took pen in hand( this was before computers and started writing).  Two hours later and twenty fives words written down and my novel was history and my note in the trash can.

I have just gone through one of those nights where inspiration hit me and when my feet hit the floor the idea was still as big as it was the night before.  I have come to realize that this is 2012.  Next summer will be 2013 and the 50th anniversary of my great novel will still be undone.

Those of you who don't read this column everyday, I was bat boy for the 1963 Ahoskie American Legion Post 102.  I believe that it is the only time they have ever won the league title before or since. If I don't hurry up and write this great novel which by the way I have titled "View From The On Deck Circle" I will probably be dead  so time is running out.

I found some telephone numbers of a couple of the players and left messages but I did get an answer from one call.  I called the home of Bobby Hall.  1963 Bobby was a  sophomore who played at Plymouth High school  and the only place to play baseball in 1963 in the summers  was come to Ahoskie  for the Ahoskie Legion team.  Bobby played first base and right field.

His wife Kate answered the phone.  I have to admit since the last game of 1965 when Bobby was a senior and left the Legion team I have not seen him since.  Can you imagine someone on the line asking if this is the home of Bobby Hall formerly from Plymouth and worked for the State Credit Union, well that was my introduction to his wife who before we were through had a very pleasant conversation with me telling stories  about Bobby that she  had never heard.

If the name Bobby Hall does not ring a bell for you Carolina fans once Bobby graduated from Plymouth he headed to Raleigh on a football scholarship in 1965 and before he left Raleigh was the starting wing back in Earle Edwards wing-t offense at N C State..  Once I had finished my conversation with a women that I had never met before and she had given me Bobby's work number I was disappointed to have to leave a message with his secretary.  I'm pretty sure he  is one of the Big Wigs these days with the State Credit Union in Raleigh because he has his own secretary instead of voice mail.  You got to be high up the ladder to be able to do that.

Shortly before five my cell phone is ringing  and lo and behold Bobby Hall is calling me. You must remember I was ten years old in 1963 and Bobby 16 and a matter of fact Happy Birthday Bobby as his birthday was Wednesday.  Bobby Hall don't know me from Adam but from my message he knows I want to talk to him about the summer of 1963.

It was as if we have been friends for life.  The only contact that we have had in the last 47 years is me watching him run for the Wolfpack or him being part of my conversation with any one willing to listen to me talk about 1963  and Jimmy Hunter, Freddie Combs, Francis Combs or Bobby Hall.

I am now inspired to write the great novel.  I have Bobby's e-mail address and he is going to help me remember.  I hope as I make contact with others  still living from that team that they too fondly remember that year and want to talk about it.   If my fifteen minutes conversation with them is as enlightening as mine  was with Bobby Hall then my great novel could be in bookstores soon.