How does a total stranger end up speaking at a funeral for someone he had never met or heard of before?

In Statesboro, all it takes is pulling into a gas station and making a 9-month-old baby scream — with laughter!

I had no idea who the young couple was. The young man made a comment about my Escalade after I pulled up to the pmups. That started the conversation. Minutes later, I met his wife and young son. They seemed tired. And why not? They had spent the last two days with other members of their family cooped up in a hospital waiting room.

The matriarch of the family was winding down her life of 70-plus years, and they had gathered for the long ordeal.

Everybody called her “Nannie.” Always had.

Nannie’s great-great grandson, a 9-month-old named Silo, was about to change everything. I asked his mom and dad if I could ask Silo something in “doubletalk.” So, with his mother holding him, I leaned over and started making no sense whatsoever.

Silo thought that was the funniest thing he had ever heard in his nine months of having ears.

And I had found a new audience — infants!!!!

His mom and dad laughed, too, and that was good. They needed to laugh. It was a refreshing break for all of us, especially Silo.

Before leaving to check into my hotel, I gave them a business card and a copy of my new biography — “Once You Step in Elephant Manure You’re in the Circus Forever.”

I wished them well. I never thought I would see them again.

About an hour later, my cell phone rang. It was SIlo’s dad. He had shared the story of what had just happened — that chance encounter at the gas station — with his entire family. He asked if I could come over to his aunt’s house. Most of his family had gathered there before going back to the hospital to keep vigil.

It all seemed so surreal. Naturally, I went.

They all looked exhausted and sad. I knew I had to make them laugh. The doubletalk worked on Silo. It was about to work on them.

They laughed until they cried. It was literally a purge.

I stayed about 30 minutes and said goodbye.

I thought.

I was already back in Atlanta the next afternoon when I got a phone call. This time, it was Nannie’s daughter. She thanked me again for coming over and told me the sad news. Nannie had passed away that morning.

Then she asked me to do something I will never forget.

She asked if I would speak at Nannie’s funeral.

So two days later, I drove 225 miles back to Statesboro to eulogize a woman I had never met.

A 9-month-old boy who has yet to say his first word made it happen.

Thanks, Silo.

And welcome to Durworld.