Since January 1, the title mentioned song has been meandering through my mind.
For music novices, the song was recorded in 1966 by Napoleon XIV, also known as Jerry Samuels.
The song hit its peak in my brain on February 13, 2025.
I was visiting Banes and Noble Booksellers at 52nd and O Streets in Lincoln. I was in the bookstore’s bathroom, minding my own business, so to speak, when a stranger began talking to me about President Trump. He opined that the USA uses too much coal, and that the president should do something about reducing our coal production.
I simply smiled and said, “okay” as he walked out the door.
I wanted to tell him that I resided in Alliance and that coal is mighty important to our community – aka BNSF Railwayville.
So, you’re coming to take my coal away, ha, ha, he, he, ho, ho.
This exchange took place roughly one hour after I had testified against a bill during a hearing at the Nebraska State Capitol in front of the judiciary committee.
LB 216, should it pass, would take away Box Butte County voters’ selection of a district court clerk and place it in the hands of the State of Nebraska. In other words, the state would run my office.
So, you’re coming to take my office away, ha, ha, he, he, ho, ho.
Earlier that morning, I stopped in at the Husker Gift Shop at the
Pinnacle Bank Arena. It was my annual trip to purchase a Husker Men’s Basketball Guide. I have collected every guide since 1967.
When I entered the shop, four college students were together chatting at the checkout stand.
“What can we help you find?”
When I expressed my desire to purchase a men’s basketball media guide, the answer — that I have been fearing for three or four years — was shared.
“The University doesn’t print them anymore. You must read the guide online.”
However, the 2024 football guide was still available.
“No, I have that,” was my response. “I have every one of those since 1963.”
So, you’ve come to take away my basketball guide, ha, ha, ho, ho, he, he.
It gets worse.
Since January 1, these Cornhusker icons have passed away.
Jack Hoffman of Atkinson, the young boy with brain cancer who captured the country’s heart with his 69-yard touchdown run during the 2013 spring football game, died on January 15 at the age of 19.
Calvin Jones of Omaha, who rushed for 3,166 yards during his playing career at Nebraska during the early 1990s, died on January 22 at the age of 54.
Jones, also an NFL star, was homeless.
Greg Sharpe, who announced Nebraska football and baseball games on the radio for 17 years, succumbed to cancer on February 14 at the age of 61. Sharpe’s survivors include his wife and three beautiful daughters.
It’s as if someone or something keeps working harder to come and take things away.
And there is no ha, ha, ho, ho, he, he that can be mustered.
The past two months have reminded me that there are only two things certain not to be taken away, and that’s death and taxes.
Well, allow me to include two more certainties.
Love and God.
No one can take those away.