In Memory of Toby Keith

So, over my first cup of the day, I read the headline about Toby Keith’s passing.

This news has had me reflecting most of the day – the memories of his songs and the places I first heard them and the people I was with. Noting the fact that he was younger than I am, and that for probably the first time in my adult life, I’m thinking of my own mortality on the horizon. How morbid a thought is that? There’s no reason for me to go down that particular path today, but there it is.

I’ve been hearing about his life through everyone who has ever been a part of his world, even briefly. They are dredging up long forgotten interviews with him when he was just starting out, paying tribute to him through posts and speeches and songs, and sharing their favorite memories of him. And then I hear that he was a born and bred Okie. I’m grinning at that.

And then something else I didn’t know – he was married for over 40 years to the same woman – how come Hollywood or Nashville didn’t report or comment on the coolness of that, especially in these times?

And finally, tonight, I heard that multiple Oklahoma townships and even our Governor had the flags flying half-staff today in remembrance of Toby, and that does my heart good.

Toby sure lit up our world “…like the Fourth Of July…”, and he will be sincerely missed.