Bob Mount: Good to have friends in times of need

It’s difficult to imagine an event in an adult’s lifetime more devastating than an unexpected loss of a spouse or child, and few things are more appreciated than manifestations of kindness and sympathy shown by friends to the family of the deceased.

When my son Robert Jr. died accidentally several years ago, the tragedy was compounded by making sure all his creditors were satisfied, the house and the two automobiles he owned were sold, and disposition of his pet shop, which included a variety of critters.

Among his creditors was Wares Jewelers, to which he owed several thousand dollars. I entered the store prepared to settle the account and was told, “We were deeply saddened about the death of your son. He was one of our favorite customers. Consider his account settled.” I was overwhelmed by the Wares’ generosity.

The most daunting task confronting me was the paperwork connected with his business. Robert tended to ignore paying income taxes and fees due until the very last minute, and I was at a loss to know how much was owed to the various governmental agencies. As a last resort I gathered all the records, letters and whatever else I found pertaining to his business, placed them in a box, and took them to my friend, Bennie Adkins, who is an accountant.

I told him, “Bennie, this is all of Robert’s business stuff. If you will do whatever is necessary to make some sense of it, I’ll gladly pay you for your time and effort.”

I saw Bennie a week or so later, and he informed me that he had completed the task. I went to his office, and he had all the paperwork organized and gave me a list of payments due. I asked how much I owed. If he had said “a thousand dollars,” I wouldn’t have been surprised. His reply was, “Bob, I know what you’ve been going through, and this is on the house.”

Bennie served as a Green Beret in the Army during the Vietnam conflict and received the Distinguished Service Cross for his selfless heroic actions helping his wounded comrades to safety following a fierce firefight. Records indicate that he deserved the Medal of Honor for his actions. A front-page article Friday featured Bennie’s military service and mentions an effort under way seeking to have him awarded the MOA.

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I envy some friends of ours, Todd and Vicki Miller, who live north of Loachapoka in a house overlooking Loblockee Creek. They are serenaded each night by Chuck-wills-widows, and occasionally a whip-poor-will joins the chorus. Barred owls sometimes contribute to the nocturnal ambience of the Miller property, but most remarkable is the abundance of lightning bugs. On some nights they illuminate the woods with such brilliance that along some roads driving without headlights is possible.

Aside from the fact that insecticides are not being used in the vicinity, the reason why lightning bugs are so remarkably abundant on the Miller property remains a mystery to me.

Bob Mount is emeritus professor of zoology and entomology at Auburn University and writes a weekly column for the Opelika-Auburn News.