"He Cried the Day a Friend Came Calling"

[Mr. Checkers]

"In memory of my dear friend Asa Long". Having a good friend is more precious than a pot of gold or all the other treasures here on earth. Tom Wiswell once told me that a person is lucky if they have just one good friend during their lifetime. One begins to realize that the value of havng a dear friend means much more to them than all of their accomplishments when the facts of life start to set in--as their health starts to fail-as they struggle each day in an attempt just to care for their own personal needs, as they find themselves just living one day at a time--as they find themselves alone--as they think of what their golden years should have been but are not. One of my close friends from years ago (who was a multl-millionaire and has now passed away) shared this with us at one of our early morning coffee and breakfast times together--"fellows there is a lot written about how wonderful these golden years are suppose to be, but the only thing that I have found to be golden about them is my urine". Back in the 1990's I made many trips back and forth to Pa.--each trip going or coming I would stop and spend a few hours with my dear friend Asa Long. Without a word being spoken Asa would always give me a big hug that seemed to last forever as the tears poured down his face--that meant more to him than anything else in his world and --"he cried the day a friend came calling". Mr. Checkers

[Lindus Edwards]

I thought that post was beautiful. I know what you mean about Asa Long. He used to give me a hug each time he saw me and would say, "God loves you and so do I." My father used to say of Asa, "What a lovely human being and what a player."

[Patrick Parker]

meekness and humility ...i wish i could have met him

[Mr. Checkers]

Asa was truly a rare one of a kind human being--a gentleman in everyway and you were proud to call him your friend because his friendship was genuine in everyway. I will always remember that winter day when I stopped to visit Asa (which I had done many times before). Outside they were having a blizzard in Toledo--there was at least 3 feet of snow on the ground and the snow was falling so heavy that one could barely see his hand in front of his face. I knocked loudly on Asa's door and when the door opened a look of amazement came across his face. I said to him--"are you ready to go?". Asa's favorite place to go out to eat was Bob Evan's restaurant and I had taken him there each time I came to visit. He could hardly believe his eyes to see me there and that I had travelled several hundred miles that day to come to see him. I said lets go Asa--I am hungry, so he put on his coat and boots and we ventured out into the blizzard each holding tightly onto the other to keep from falling, which was like the blind leading the blind because Asa was very frail and I was none to steady on my crutches either (for on a good day the wind blows me over). Fortunately we made it to the restaurant and back home that day. It was a special time spent with Asa, which meant so much to both of us--and in years to come we both joked about how foolish we really were in venturing out that day. Mr. Checkers

[Lindus Edwards]

Hi Patrick,
Mr Checkers is indeed a fortunate man to have known the great Asa Long and other greats of the game. I first met Asa when I was a young man way back in 1973 at Bournemouth, England during the Great Britain versus USA International Match. I met him several times after and had the pleasure of playing him in 1983 during the Great Britain & Ireland versus USA Match at Petal, Mississippi. The man had a heart of pure gold and was a gentleman from head to toe. I am proud to have his autograph written in one of my checker books with the words, "To Lindus Edwards, my very good friend. Asa Long."
I am sure that Mr Checkers must miss his great friend Asa Long so very much.

[Mr. Checkers]

Lindus please let know when you receive the draughts materials that we sent to you. Please have a nice day. "Mr. Checkers"

[Lindus Edwards]

Hi Mr Checkers, I will let you know immediately I receive the parcel.
Lindus.