Took just a little time off from my busy schedule to drop by the one and only Stroker's.. Since I haven't been around for a while, I made my usual "howdies" to all the guys and ladies who work in the dealership, bought a few little odds and ends, then stepped over to enjoy a good, greasy hamburger with a coldbeer. Rick's mother get that beer colder than anyplace in town.. She makes a good hamburger and as usual I ordered one with grease on the side.. There was the usual sprinkling of customers, some shooting pool and some just sitting around visiting.. While I was rumbling in and parking the Green One, there wasn't anything remarkable about the assortment of motorcycles in the parking lot.. Just a few decent looking Harley's .. The weather was perfect to sit out on the patio and enjoy my coldbeer and hamburger, so that's where I chose to sit.. Some of the guys were familiar, we spoke and nodded to each other.. Some of them were accompanied by their ladies.. Nice evening .. nice people .. good hamburger and a coldbeer.. who could possibly ask for more.. The table next to me had several people around it and we'd briefly nodded to each other.. I couldn't help overhearing one lady talking to the rest about "knowing" me.. Finally she noticed that I had obviously overheard her conversation, so she spoke to me.. "You are Bill Walker, aren't you ?" "Yes ma'am" I replied.. She said .. "We went to school together in Benton, Ark." She kinda giggled.. By this time, I was really looking at her hard, but try as I might, I just flat out couldn't remember that lady.. We continued the conversation for a few minutes longer and with all the reminiscing about the couple of years that I'd gone to school in Benton.. sheesh ..that was a long time ago. I finally snapped .. I was talking to this nice lady, and it hit me that she could have been one of the prettiest little things in town.. at the time.. She was a couple of years younger than me.. that would have made here around thirteen at the time, and her brother.. about my age was a gifted athelete who played sports like a professional.. We chatted and laughed together, her husband joining the conversation ..She commented several times that except for the grey hair and the mustache, I haven't changed that much.. With all due respect and affection, I was sorry that I couldn't make the same statement.. Damn.. this lady weighed close to two hundred pounds.. My memory of her was of a very pretty little girl .. petite, dark curly hair with a smile that was a breath of sunshine.. Very doll-like in the way she dressed and a personality that was bubbly .. The years have taken their toll on us all.. but.. I left there depressed as all get out.. The changes in that lady were really hard for me to deal with.. With all due respect and affection for the past, sometimes we move on and forget the ones that we leave behind.. This one, sort of left me thinking that even though the years had not been kind to her, she'd lived well ..She'd shared with me a bit of her life.. She'd married a couple of times.. Once shortly after she'd graduated, which didn't work out and then later, she had met a fine man and married well.. raised two fine sons.. and lived with style and grace.. Who can ask for more.. Reminds of the guy that said. "If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself" I cranked the ol' green Vulcan, said my goodnites to everyone and rode back to la Casa.. carefully.. My thanks go out to the lady who shared some of those old memories of a time long gone.. But.. damn.. that ol' girl sure did get fat.. Your friend in Irving Bill Walker
