It has been many years since I last saw Lora. It is just a fact of life that somehow, someway, even in today’s connected world, we still sometimes lose contact with people we know from an earlier time and place. Lora was one of my college professors. She taught public relations and journalism courses. One semester I took a reporting class in order to flesh out my broadcasting degree also knowing the class provided an opportunity to write for the college newspaper. Even after the class ended, I continued to work with the newspaper. During my senior year, with Lora’s encouragement, I began writing a weekly column whose spirit matches the tone of this blog.
Lora wasn’t out of graduate school long when she stood before us sharing public relations concepts and pointing out the intricacies of law in the world of journalism. Lora and I clashed some, never in a mean or malicious way, but, always in a good-humored manner. It’s hard for me to not like someone who can be just as sarcastic as I can be even in disagreement. Being slightly obstinate, one semester I determined part of the work she gave us each week in class was “busy work” and that I was, in fact, too busy to make the effort to complete it. It was a model case of stubborn student meeting stubborn professor. Stubborn professor won as Lora responded by giving me the grade I earned for not turning in part of what she expected.
Lora also proved to be loyal to those who worked on the newspaper staff for her. I know on more than one occasion she was called to task by the school administration for letting something go to print they weren’t happy seeing in black and white for the whole world to read. On at least one occasion, some of my work in print was behind a trip she had to make in order to do some explaining about the newspaper’s latest issue. Lora though got through that and never blamed me or my efforts for the newspaper even though in reality I was at least partly responsible for the matter.
Today, particular memories crash through from that time. I remember going into Lora’s office and hearing her singing along to Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt’s version of
“Those Memories of You”. I recall numerous times writing, then, at Lora’s urging rewriting articles as a deadline for the newspaper approached. I also think back to a certain article I had written and turned in to Lora in the days before spell-check discouraged the use of a dictionary. In this article I had used the word “governor” multiple times. Each time I used that word, my north Georgia accent apparently came oozing through the keys on the word processor and I left out the first “r”. Lora approved of the piece as it was written with the exception of the oft-misspelled word. When she returned it to me I saw she had spelled “G-O-V-E-R-N-O-R” in giant letters above the article title. Since that day I don’t believe I have ever misspelled that word again although I almost always stop and search for the first “r” when I type it making sure it is present and in the right place. I also recall being in one of Lora’s night classes. It was a challenging multi-hour once-a-week class discussing law. It was also the only class I had anywhere in which the whole class, Lora included, took regular breaks at the local Dairy Queen.
The last time I really remember seeing Lora was at my own graduation. I may have seen her after then but if we did cross paths I don’t remember it. I know we exchanged some email years ago and sent greetings to one another through mutual friends over the years. I do vividly recall my own graduation though and Lora being there in faculty regalia. I had an aisle seat for the ceremony. I walked the stage that day and received my diploma. I then sat down and watched the rest of my classmates receive their diplomas noting various faculty members, including Lora, sitting in the rows ahead of me. After the ceremony came time to walk up the auditorium aisle and out into the much-hyped full-blown world of adulthood. As is custom, the faculty walked out before us. As they marched by, I saw Lora approaching my row. As she neared, she stopped, smiled, joked, laughed, then hugged and congratulated me. This is the last time I remember seeing Lora. It is also the Lora I will always remember.
Earlier this week, Lora passed away after several battles with cancer.
Now not only do the memories crash through but the lessons learned from Lora become even clearer. Lessons such as knowing people can have professional disagreements yet still work beside one another in an enjoyable manner. I learned what you receive is usually equal to the effort you do, or don’t, put forward, and that when that is the case it typically means that the payoff you receive is truly deserved. I learned to appreciate how loyalty from a superior is a gracious gift especially when you may feel that gesture may not be totally justified. I also learned that writing, reading, rewriting, reading again and rewriting again is just part of a process that sharpens and focuses what you are trying to say and, ultimately, is a very good thing. And of course, I learned how to correctly spell “governor” without the use of spell-check.
Others knew Lora during her struggle against cancer. I am sure they can pinpoint lessons learned from that time. From what I know, she faced her battle in typical-Lora fashion, head-on, full-speed ahead and determined to win the battle. Those of us who knew her, even from years ago, expected nothing less from her.
I suppose that is another lesson learned from Lora. Winning the battle is important but striving to win the battle is more important. The attempt has to be made because in that effort are other good things which can be discovered…renewed hope, stronger faith, untapped strength, deeper friendships, even the simple realization that in the trying, no matter the outcome, the effort really is worth it.
Lora, thanks for the memories and the lessons learned. May God surround your family and friends with love and peace.
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(With a special nod of thanks to Scott S for remembering how we always ended the articles we turned in to Lora, a lesson learned through Lora’s use of the Associated Press style book.)
