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It was 1992 when, just retired, I stopped
by a picnic table under the trees in Briant Park. "Mind if
I sit down?" I asked the group of guys and one woman. Eyes
seemed to turn to the big fellow in a red baseball cap.
"Welcome, join us. We're just talking about who's going to
get the coffee. I'm Wally."
This obviously was Wally's domain and that was confirmed when I
heard guys refer to Wally's Grove. He usually got there first,
and heaven help anyone who took his end seat or put a lawn chair
in Clara's spot beside him. Blue eyes twinkling, a big greeting
smile for all, Wally seemed Mr. Serenity himself.
But when two o'clock came and no one had fetched coffee, the
Judge got agitated, making a show of digging out his coffee
money. Being a Swede like Wally, I too love coffee, but would
tease him sometimes by bringing a soda and saying , "I
guess you want to skip coffee today."
Wally was a tease himself, but usually winked while doing it.
"Mary! Give me piece of your cake. And have you met my
mother (Clara)?" Mary would mutter "Shut up" and
Wally would start all over again. I never saw him get any of her
pastry.
I will remember: Wally lighting Clara's cigarettes, sometimes
opening one and slyly eating the tobacco....Trying to learn my
trick of playing a tune by blowing into cupped hands....Wally's
great love and pride for Missy and April and gratitude toward
them and Wally Jr....His abundant thanks when I brought him a
new red cap and when I would visit him at his home on a winter
day....His teasing Clara that there were three football games on
TV he had to watch that day....His glumness when some of us
would talk computer jargon ("You're talking dirty
again!")....The colorful stories of swimming and
ice-skating as a kid at Briant Pond.
Wally truly was an Unforgettable Character. I am privileged he
was a friend. A gentle man and a gentleman.
Now, who's going for coffee?
...Jim Soderlind |
