Gym Cracks By Jim May 31, 2003 FRIENDS FOR LIFE Still old buddies after remarkable recovery from bicycle accident By Jim (Babe) Berryman MissingNebraska.com Western Nebraska Marcia and I made the 330-mile trek across the lush green Nebraska Sandhills to Ord this past weekend to attend Father Bob Rooney's 40th ordination anniversary into the Catholic priesthood. Some say it was a miracle Father Bob was able to walk to the altar with 22 other priests. Last August while Father Bob was bicycling north of Ord, he was struck by a truck. Marcia and I first visited him in Kearney's Good Samaritan Hospital a couple weeks after the accident. He was in a coma. Although he didn't acknowledge our presence that day, we knew that he knew an old friend and his wife had paid him a visit--like real friends should. In November we visited him in the Madonna Home in Lincoln where he was undergoing physical therapy. How painful, to see him bound by restraints that were designed to keep him from hurting himself even more. His body was still not functioning like it had before that terrible August morning, but his spirituality had not left his mind and body. Marcia said it brought tears to her eyes when he kept saying, "Let's say Mass." While we were in his room at Madonna, the telephone rang. Father Bob was unable to reach the phone. I answered and gave the phone to him. After a short conversation, he said he had to hang up because his old-friend Babe was visiting him. Old friend! Yes indeed! Father Bob and I go back 50-plus years. We grew to adulthood in the village of Greeley. We were opposites in many ways. Father Bob was charismatic and gregarious with an infectious smile. I was laconic and shy, painfully so. He was an honor roll student. I made the upper-half of the class possible. Father Bob was on the speech team. I rarely spoke at all in public. Girls had a crush on him. I didn't have that "problem." I was the oldest child in a low socio-economic Methodist family. He was the fifth of seven children of a middle-class, devout Roman Catholic family. Since we both were tall and slender (better word than skinny), we competed for the same positions in sports. Starting at first-base on the American Legion team and forward on the high school basketball team was a priority for each of us. On an occasion or two, tempers flared between the two of us. After high school, Father Bob went to the seminary; I joined the Army and later attended college. When he was in the seminary, Father Bob and I corresponded and did "party" occasionally when we were on summer vacations. Father Bob took the vows for the priesthood. He provided people of all faiths with spiritual help. I was married and had a family, but, still over the decades, we have kept in contact. We still banter with each other as real friends do. Father Bob has purchased a domicile in Kearney. I haven't informed him yet, but Marcia and I are planning on relocating within 50-miles of Kearney. Probably coffee or lunch on a weekly basis will become a part of this half-century friendship. Our friendship will last until one of us dies. The survivor will still have the great memories this friendship has produced over this period of time. Feedback Previous Gym Cracks: 05-19-03: Spurs And Cubs Gym Cracks By Jim 04-29-03: L.A. Delay Gym Cracks By Jim 04-16-03: What's In A Nickname? Gym Cracks By Jim 03-28-03: More March Madness Gym Cracks By Jim 03-14-03: March To Remember Gym Cracks By Jim 03-07-03: Tall & Tough Gym Cracks By Jim 02-26-03: Zingerland Gym Cracks By Jim 02-19-03: Cuss The Bus Gym Cracks By Jim 02-09-03: Ratings And Recruiting Gym Cracks By Jim 01-31-03: Hoops Elite Gym Cracks By Jim 01-24-03: Nebraska's Super Connection Gym Cracks By Jim 01-15-03: Hometown Hits Big Time Gym Cracks By Jim 2002 12-30-02: Count The Numbers Gym Cracks By Jim 12-18-02: Cream Of Coaching Crop Gym Cracks By Jim 11-28-02: The Big Picture Gym Cracks By Jim 11-18-02: 2 For 2 Gym Cracks By Jim 10-25-02: Sweet On Switzer Gym Cracks By Jim 10-17-02: Best Time Year Gym Cracks By Jim 10-11-02: Odds And Ends Gym Cracks By Jim 10-04-02: The Rating Game Gym Cracks By Jim 09-22-02: Fans Panned Gym Cracks By Jim 09-12-02: World Herald Calling Gym Cracks 09-05-02: Bit By Baseball Bug Gym Cracks 08-29-02: Caring Coaches Gym Cracks 08-22-02: Nebraska "Storm" Hits Colorado Gym Cracks 08-15-02: Cubs Win, Wallet Drained Gym Cracks 08-08-02: To Coors For Cubs Gym Cracks 07-25-02: Major League Madness Gym Cracks 07-18-02: Nebraskans In The Majors Gym Cracks 07-11-02: Kile Death Sheds Light Gym Cracks 07-04-02: Couch Potato Parking Gym Cracks 06-23-02: Top 10 Nebraska High School Nicknames Gym Cracks 06-06-02: Better In The 50s Gym Cracks 05-30-02: Dangerfield of Nebraska Gym Cracks 05-16-02: Baseball Sneak Aways Gym Cracks