"Two Ronnie Wolfe"

I know there must be hundreds of Ronnie Wolfes in the world.  I searched the internet once to see how many came up.  I could not count the number, because there were so many.  One of these Ronnie Wolfes was or is in prison, and he has a web site.  I do not know how one has a web site when in prison, but I suppose it is possible.

I have a second cousin whose name is Ronnie Wolfe.  He was a couple of years ahead of me in school, and he was (and I suppose still is) a very smart person.  We used to receive mail that the other one should have received, and sometimes we would be confused in school.

Ronnie was a good artist, and he would draw the pictures required for science class, and they were nearly perfect, copied from the science text book.  These pictures were nice to see displayed on the board in the hall of the school.  Sometimes people would tell me how well I did drawing those pictures, and I would have to say, "I didn't draw that picture; the other Ronnie Wolfe did."

Ronnie was a straight-A student, and I was not.  Sometimes people would think his grades were mine.  I hope they did not think my grades were his.  Although they were not that bad, they were not A's.  Once, however, in what we called an "arithmetic match" he and I were matched up in competition.  We had to add a long line of numbers to see who could get the right answer first.  Well, I do not hesitate to boast that I got the correct answer before he did.  Now, I cannot brag too much, because I know I could not beat him in most things.  This just made me feel good about myself.

When I had proposed to my future wife, Shirley, no one knew but the two of us about this proposal.  I had not even told my mother.  I lived with my mother at the time, and I went to Falmouth, Kentucky, to get my hair cut.  When I sat down in the chair, the barber, knowing me, said, "I hear you are going to get married."  I was absolutely shocked.  How could Shirley have come all the way to Falmouth and tell my barber (whom she did not know) about our proposal to get married?

I asked the barber how he knew I was going to get married, and he said he read it in the newspaper.  Well, I was so flabbergasted at this that I could hardly say a thing.  I knew for a fact that our proposal was not in the local newspaper.  I told the barber that he got the wrong person.  He said, "You play the piano, don't you?"  When I said that I did, he said that it must be my wedding the paper was speaking of.

After a little further conversation, I finally remembered my cousin, Ronnie Wolfe.  He, too, was getting married.  He also plays piano.  Wow!  I was so glad to get that settled.  I just did not know what to think!

A few years ago, I called or e-mailed Ronnie (I can't remember which one).  He has been teaching and working at Eastern Kentucky University ever since he got his degree there.  He is working in the administration now and is, I am sure, just as smart as he always was.  One day we may meet again.  Perhaps we will have another "arithmetic match."  I am not sure that I want to try that again.