A Song for Earl
A Song for Earl

As the song says, he was a hero to my boys. However, truth be told, he was a hero to me also. Long before I ever knew who he was, I remember many summer days being thrilled to see his yellow bi-plane pass just above the tree line while spraying the field across the river from where I grew up. "It's the yellow bi-plane!"

I am fortunate to have lived in a location that allowed me to see his plane so often and to experience my kids getting the same thrill that I used to get (and still do) when his yellow plane passed over head. "It's Earl! It's Earl, Daddy!" Those words will be missed.

Some people you know that you are fortunate to have met. I am fortunate to have met Earl and his wife Cora. My first tour of the shop included a visit to the cockpit of the plane where Earl explained to me how the GPS and data logging systems worked. Since I am always interested in the technical aspects of any topic being discussed, we headed to the barn where I was shown the various applicators and told of their usage. Lastly we went to look at the collection of Moto Guzzis and of course a conversation of hunting developed along the way.

I once spent a morning at the shop with my kids. It was a thrill for them to get to see the plane coming in and going out. It was a very important day to them and one that is discussed often.

I wrote "A Song for Earl" the day after the accident. I was so impressed with the compassion that my kids were expressing. So many things were said that seemed beyond the years of a 3 and 5 year old. We were all experiencing an emotional time and something just hit me. A melody jumped into my head and words began to flow. I did not know if it was my place to write it, but it was coming out so strong that I just had to. I gave a copy to Cora the following day and she asked me if she could play it at the funeral. Of course I said yes. I decided to include it on the "Lonely Days Passin'" CD because I feel this song is very special. Not often am I so moved to write.

Earl's yellow planes have always made me smile. He will be missed.