Remembering Johnny.

September 11, 2009 in Uncategorized

No, not THAT Johnny.

And not THAT Johnny either.

Nor that one.

Or that one.

(It appears I might have a thing for men named Johnny).

No, none of those. This one. He died September 11, 2002. He was 69 years old, working out in a gym, then gone.

I always looked up to him. I wore high top black sneakers in his honor. Wore a football jersey with "19" on it. For a time, I even sported his haircut. I met his center, Bill Curry, when he came to Malaprop's bookstore recently–and almost couldn't speak.

I dragged Jylene and Janey to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when I visited their fair town of Canton, Ohio, for a book reading. We had just a few minutes to spare.

A docent greeted us (his name was Roman, which I loved for its football-ness) and started telling us the history of football. "I'm sorry," I interrupted gently, "but we have only ten minutes to visit here. Where is the Johnny Unitas section?" A series of docents put on alert to the crazed white-haired woman in the lobby efficiently moved us from section to section: "Here's his helmet." The next: "Here's his jersey."

Childhood hero.

Remember Johnny.

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

3 comments to " Remembering Johnny. "


Rick

September 12, 2009 AT 7:46AM

Even with only ten minutes, Patti, I was touched that you and Jylene were kind enough to grab and then send me a brochure you picked up while at the Hall of Fame.

It is one of the cool things about you, that you remember your friends even when in the midst of a Johnny moment (not that anyone would hold you to your own standard if it was a Johnny D moment…just sayin’).

jylene

September 14, 2009 AT 6:43AM

you did have to drag me there, but once we were there i actually enjoyed it! if not for you, i would probably have lived out my life without ever setting foot inside that building. so thank you!

and rick, i’d happily go again if you’d come to visit!

Sunny Schlenger

September 14, 2009 AT 5:41PM

Oh, Patti, I grew up in Baltimore and shared your love affair with Johnny. Some of my happiest memories surround those Sunday afternoon games shared with the craziest of fans – my parents and my brother. Thank you! :-)