THE BULL
Lifetimes leave so many tracks along the way, some good, some not so good, and better yet, some are over-thetop fantastic. I had one of my lifetime “fantastic” occasions over the course of a week when former news editor Kris Moody, his wife Shea, and their children James and Evelyn returned to the area to visit their family in the Hastings area.
Moods Man, as I often called him when he led the Clay County News editorial side of the paper from 2009 through 2014.
Kris had given me a heads up that they’d be returning to Nebraska from their home in Baltimore, MD, for a little time, but I couldn’t remember what week it was going to happen, and sure enough, he pulled off a shocker for me on Friday, April 3.
I was plugging away at writing some sports and other news items late that morning. My face was buried deep into my computer, with one paragraph left to write on the final track story for last week’s paper when I heard the front door to our temporary office open up, I heard feet shuffling, and when I looked up, there the Moods Man stood, and man did he get me.
I can’t say in here what my reaction was, as it would have to be edited out, but man oh man, that moment on that Friday took the day from “just another day,” to an unbelievable day.
Lots of people have left an impression on my soul and heart, Moody, though in my lifetime, didn’t have a lot of time in my everyday, but he certainly left an enormous impression on both my soul and heart.
Almost like a son, but for dang sure, as a lifelong friend.
Not many of the people in my life left the same impression on me. Kris was always kind, easy going, gentle, and witty, but most of all, he’s super intelligent and can fit into any group of people without much effort. He’s just got that personality, as many of you reading this grew to know during his five year tenure with the CCN team.
Kris and Shea were able to return to the county for a little extra time last Wednesday (the 8th) for a little social time and certainly more talking and catching up on their lives, as well as them catching up on our lives.
I’ll never forget the day Moods Man drove off for a new life with his wife, then without children. It left a big hole in me personally, and it certainly left a big hole in the personality of this newspaper.
His work ethic is like no other. His willingness to stay late and come in early...never being late made him one of those people that I learned over his time with us that he is a rare find, first and foremost as a person, but now seeing him as a father, a leader in his field of work in the Baltimore Metro area. Like me, Moods Man has grayed over the years, but his personality hasn’t changed one bit. He’s still the steady-minded, low-key man, and father, and husband, and certainly a lifelong friend that he became and will remain.
I didn’t realize how much Kris affected my everyday until he was gone. And on the Moody family’s rare return to South Central Nebraska, it puts a definite extra step in my day, like it did when he got me good, and I mean really good. Heck, I was even on the verge of getting a little emotional when we shared a hug, and I don’t get emotional much, but that “kid” can make that happen to me.
Kris, Shea, James, and Evelyn, thank you so much, all of you, for blessing my life, because you guys have, and Moods Man, thanks for simply just being you, an amazing person, husband, father, and friend!
