The Awakening of H. K. Derryberry
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I know Mary would have loved her son, but I can’t fathom anyone loving him more than I do. A day never passes that I don’t think about him or mention him in conversation. He will always affirm my belief that God is still in the miracle business. I frequently consider how much better our world would be if everyone could see life the way HK does—through his heart rather than his eyes.
EPILOGUE
New Life Awakening
On an unseasonably cold, windy October morning sixteen years ago, a middle-aged man and a young, blind boy with disabilities, sitting at a window table in a fast-food chicken restaurant, began a life journey together. The man thought he had it all and lacked for nothing, but meeting this angelic-faced child with a sheepish grin, ill-fitting clothes, and braces on both legs shook him to his core. The young boy needed two good eyes, so he borrowed his friend’s. The crippled youngster needed two good legs, so the man carried him into worlds he never knew existed. Together they explored uncharted territory, and along the way were both awakened to see the world more clearly than either of them had ever imagined possible.
The man swapped his vision of a perfect life for a nobler one. The boy opened his eyes to a new world where everyone is your friend and you are on a first-name basis with waitresses, professional football players, newspaper reporters, and country music stars. The man discovered a new reality where the air is eternally charged with fresh innocence and filled with positive attitude, a brand-new world where God-given talents delicately touch every heart. Finally, he uncovered a realm of self-proclaimed fame, where women don’t look a day over eighteen and good-bye is no longer in your vocabulary.
Their transformations were profound and pervasive, yet both received an even greater gift—the young boy without a father found one. The man without a son did too.
Acknowledgments
Thirteen years ago, at the prompting of Karen Lowe, a local newspaper reporter, I began a labor of love on my home computer, capturing stories of my unlikely friendship with HK, and I want to acknowledge the tremendous support I have received in making the publication of our story a reality.
This project became a passion for my friend Andy Hardin, who spent countless hours adding the perfect touches to the manuscript. Without his support, dedication, and belief that we had an inspiring story to share, this project might never have happened.
Being a novice in the publishing world, I had no idea what to expect. I believe it was God’s divine guidance that led us to our literary agent, Frank Breeden at Premiere Authors. He willingly read an unknown author’s manuscript, confidently provided expert advice in shaping the story, and presented it to the gifted, creative, and dedicated professionals at W Publishing Group. My deepest thanks to the visionary W team, especially Debbie Wickwire, Paula Major, Lori Jones, Lori Cloud, and my coach, Tom Williams.
I’ll always be grateful to Pearl, HK, and Brenda for their patience, trust, and encouragement that allowed me to share our story with the world.
About the Authors
JIM BRADFORD began a successful sales career with the Xerox Corporation in 1968. He entered the apparel industry in 1983 as the division president of sales for a traditional men’s clothing manufacturer. In 1985, at the invitation of the British Trade Council, he had the honor of presenting a new line of English tailored clothing to HRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana, as part of their royal visit to Washington, DC. Jim has received Rotary’s Four Avenues of Service award and served two terms on Nashville’s Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities. He retired in early 2016 from UniFirst Corporation.
Jim lives in Brentwood, Tennessee, with his wife, Brenda. They have two grown daughters and two grandchildren.
ANDY HARDIN has known Jim Bradford for more than twenty-five years and was part of Jim’s Saturday-morning tennis group when Jim first met HK. Jim introduced Andy to HK early in their friendship, and Andy closely followed their adventures throughout the years. After reading Jim’s treasured tales of HK’s many anecdotes, Andy offered his help to further develop the story. Andy is a retired attorney living in Nashville with his wife, Connie. Their East Tennessee family includes a son, daughter, and six perfectly adorable grandchildren.