By Steve Stricker

Columnist

Last Wednesday, March 26, was the birthday of my buddy and great guy, Norman Adcox, a talented writer, musician, song writer and businessman. Met Norm and his wife Sherry at a Thacker Mountain Radio Show in The Lyric where he performed with his band, the Shoe Birds.  Later at City Grocery over a beer, the three of us had a long chat and realized that not only did our personalities match but we also had a lot in common.

Norm graduated from Ole Miss, and they lived in Memphis where they worked together as marketing gurus but came to Oxford often, especially to Thacker.  One day, Norm called, said Sherry was busy and would I save a seat for him. Being car guys, he drove one of his favorite older BMWs for me to see.  He parked in front of City Hall on the Square and after the show we had one of “those” long talks where we got to know each other better.

Several times, Norm, Sherry, Mary Lou Williams and I got together on the Square.  Like me, they were laid-back, no egos, just comfortable fun to be around folks. At one Thacker, Norm brought me a personalized copy of his just published book, “My Dog, My Love, My Best Friend” about one of his beloved Whippet dogs that had died – it was filled with his unique sensitivity.

Norm, Sherry and I just clicked, and they felt like family to me.    I’ve never been a “buddy” guy but really looked forward to every time we were together.  They talked about moving to Oxford, and rapidly becoming best friends, excitedly knew we would be spending a lot more time together if that happened. Norm was that male best friend that I always wanted and Sherry was the icing on the cake.

On Tuesday, May 6, 2020, opened Facebook and immediately saw a post from mutual friend Scott Coopwood that left me stunned and puzzled. “RIP Norman Adcox.” What?! Norm was young, the picture of perfect health. I immediately called Sherry and she, sobbing said, “It’s true, Steve.  Norman had a heart attack last night and couldn’t be revived.”

There have been a few times in my life that news like this hit me square in the face like a 2×4 and this hit hard, very hard, and hurts to this second.  I especially hurt for Sherry for they had been together for decades, looked like Ken and Barbie, were truly best friends, man and wife, and business partners.

I talk to Norm often about stuff, especially car things.  On his birthday last Wednesday, thought about him the entire day as I spent a couple of hours changing the oil in my old John Deere riding lawn mower, replacing the fuel and oil filters, greasing, airing tires, all that mess and like everything else there was one issue after the other.  Like the day before, no start, thought it was just the battery needing to be charged from the long winter, charged overnight, still no start.  Asked Norm what he thought. Having replaced most things on this mower, from experience, wiggled the ignition switch and wires – started right up and mowed the yard for the first time this season. Good call Norm.

Then there’s those blooming swivel ball assemblies on my 1964 Land Rover that need replacing, all kinds of other projects, relationship stuff that only a close male friend can help with, “boy talk” with a trusted best friend, and just sharing a cold Guinness Extra Stout or swell bourbon. And Norm influenced me to purchase a Martin Ukulele….

It’s been five long, but eyeblink years since that horrible day and I still can’t understand why you wanted this great guy more than us, God.  Like Mary Lou and Snooky Williams, there will never be another Norman Adcox.  Happy Birthday in Heaven, brother and keep reaching out to me, I miss and need you.

Steve lives in Oxford and has his Ph.D. in Counseling from Ole Miss