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To Continue



End of the semester hassles, preparation for the holidays, a great deal of work-related b*llsh*t, and a general feeling of malaise kept me from finishing the essay that is just prior to this one before it posted the picture. So, I apologize for the delay and the disjointed, unexplained image.

A very good mentor and friend of mine passed away on Friday (actually a week ago from this past Friday as I write this). He was a my barber for over 40 years (prior to his retirement), and he has been a friend and mentor much longer than that.

When "Wally" first opened up shop nearby, both my father and I would go to him. He was a very traditional, old-fashioned style of barber,. And, the talk in the barbershop was very traditional as well. A lot of hunting images on the walls, ashtrays filled-to-the-brim, hard-backed chairs (well worn) aligned two walls as men and boys sat in them and waited their turn. It was a very comforting spot.

When my father became ill and could not leave the house, I called Wally at home and asked him if he would be willing to give my father a haircut at home. He was much more than willing, and even though my Dad was gravely ill, he greatly appreciated his haircut from Wally.

During the many years since his retirement, I would often happen to see Wally as he and his very tiny wife would travel about town, going from store to store. It was always nice to see him and it was great chatting with him. I always reminded him how I especially missed how he trimmed my beard and moustache, and told him that I had to learn to do it myself after he retired, as I did not trust the barbers I have had since that time to not mangle me into looking like some sort of monstrosity like this fellow (although I admit I wish I had the darkness still in my own beard and moustache).

Several years ago, Wally had a heart attack, but he made a decent recovery. Next he had a hip fracture and replacement. That seemed to take some of the wind out of his sail, but he struggled back into acceptable health again. It was only a few years ago that I could see a significant decline in his overall physical demeanor. I had been thinking about him a lot recently as I had not seen him about nor gotten to speak to him since September. It was my wife who saw his obituary in the newspaper on Sunday morning. Yet, when my wife told me over the phone (I was at work, taking some measurements on my research animals (to keep the day as open for us to do things as possible, I went walking at 5:00am, and was in my lab/office by 6:30am). She called me and told me she had some "very sad news" to give me. Unfortunately, I guessed that it was about Wally before she had said anything further.

I will miss him greatly.

PipeTobacco