My mind flew back 50 years, remembering watching on television Julian Bond fighting to be seated in the Georgia legislature. He and I were the same age and I thought he was the handsomest man I had ever seen. I went on with my life, watching his career escalate as did my own.
Forty some years ago I was dining with my family in the
Holiday Inn in Wabash, Indiana. We were the only people in the place when out of the night two men entered the room. It was he along with another man.
I walked over and introduced myself. He was speaking at a local college. I tried to play it cool while engaging in secret hero worship. Julian Bond was polite,extremely gracious and just as good looking. After some talk he asked if I and my family would join them for dinner. I was blindsided. Never being able to think on my feet, I demurred saying thank you no but I was there with my family.
How many times since that night I have berated myself for not accepting his invitation. I always planned to write him but like many things that we put off, it is too late.
