| A Eulogy to I Remember Hamlet written by Bob McDonald |
| I am one of the “Silent Majority” who read I Remember Hamlet (IRH) and now sit in disappointing shock at webmaster Russ Lancaster’s announcement to shut his site down but can certainly understand his reasoning with all the hard work, time, and effort required to monitor and maintain such a popular and frequently visited site. I grew up in Rockingham but have lived in Hope Mills for the past thirty years. I do not physically visit Richmond County often but mentally returned daily through IRH. I have been “silent” for the past five years and have “spoken” only once with pen since becoming a member sixty days ago. Like so many of the out-of-town members and visitors to IRH, I will miss my daily trips to Hamlet. I am a baby boomer and tend to be nostalgic. As many my age, I have a tendency in today’s troubled world to look back at the good ‘ole days before drugs, bankruptcies, mass murders, rapidly rising divorce rate, NAFTA, school teachers/clergy rapists and too many heinous crimes to mention existed. I have no interest in city or county politics other than the names of the individuals I might have known as a kid. I am merely an outsider looking in. Likewise, I can look at CNN or read U.S. News & World Report if I want expert opinion on national and world politics. The local opinions of Richmond County mean little to me. Yet, the accounts and reflections of days-gone-by found on IRH drew me to my computer daily like hunger draws a new born pup to his mother’s bosom. Russ was such a talented writer and storyteller. Anyone who grew up in any small town in the South during the truly enchanted childhood of the baby boomer generation can place himself right smack dab in the middle of the one hundred and eleven real-life adventures found in Russ’ Hamlet Tales. I too can still remember as a kid “Playing For Keeps” and losing all my marbles to the older boys at Roberdel Grammar School. I too can still remember as a kid the thrill of catching “The First Fish” out of Ledbetter Lake. I too can still remember the special fifteen-year bond between my dog Zeke and me as I read “Spot and Bologna Rings” and “Rags to Riches.” I too can still remember as a high-school kid “Basketball … the way it was” in the 1960s in Rockingham High gymnasium. Yes, it was the same game played on the mirror-image building of Hamlet High gymnasium. I too still remember as a kid climbing up in the stands for the “Rockingham-Hamlet Football Games” year after year. I too can still remember as a kid “Summer Nights” watching the county’s best playing Legion Post 49 baseball and after nine innings “Cruising and Dragging” as my friends and I would circle Tom & Sarah’s and “drag the Hub.” I too can still remember as a young college kid the first time I stuck my thumb up in the air as I was “Hitching a Ride.” Yes, I too can still remember as a young father with three girls “Sleepless Nights.” I cannot comment on the enjoyment and pleasures of IRH without mentioning The Insider. Reading his postings was like sitting on the bench in front of the Mayberry Barbershop with Floyd and Andy catching up on the neighbors’ joys and woes. I will miss The Insider. Other members have also done a great job carrying me Back to the Future through their writings. I am sure Russ’ Hamlet Tales inspired them to write as it did me on my one and only posting on IRH. Russ gave great advice when he suggested “support your local newspaper and share your memories with one another to keep all the memories still alive.” Russ’ Hamlet Tales also inspired me to write the life and times of Bob McDonald growing up in Rockingham, North Carolina - a small textile town in the South in the ‘50s & ‘60s. I posted these episodes on rockinghamremembered.com, the website of Joel Bailey located on the other side of the tracks. By the way, my friend Joel credits Russ a ton for assisting and advising the set-up of his successful website. Joel’s website makes very few political statements but is overflowing with memories. I am sure I am not speaking out of turn when I say Joel would welcome all the Red Ram childhood memories and compositions of the IRH members. Give rockinghamremembered.com a try. In fact, one of the staunch contributing members of IRH was a ’66 graduate of Rockingham High School and a classmate of mine. Robbie Hassler and Red Rams everywhere give Joel a shout. After all, a memory is a terrible thing to waste! As a result of the genesis Webmaster himself with all his hard work and dedication to IRH, always I will remember Russ Lancaster. But, most of all … I remember Hamlet. |
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