The date was September 8 and the place was Pueblo. The guy is a very good friend of Sherman's named Steve Vallejo. He and I chanced to meet and since it was my first visit with Cleo since she had gone to her new home way up north, I wanted to take her for a nice walk along the levee like we used to do when Sherman was still with us. Steve was kind enough to accompany us. Cleo does not like to have her picture taken, but Steve was good at tricking her.
Me not so good!
And what in the world is that out there on that rock in the middle of the river? We decided for argument's sake that it must be a heron. Sure was not a goose or a duck. The more I did to it in Picassa the worse it got. It's neck got longer and it became more blurry. Hell, it might have been a sea creature for all I know.
Steve and I walked almost up to Union and back. It was a very nice walk. Cool and a little light breeze. I had not met Steve when Sherman was still with us, but I had heard his name many times and knew he was a good friend of his. Sherman had many good friends and I never met most of them until just recently. I know that is sort of like closing the barn door after the horse is gone, and I certainly regret not taking a more active role in that department, but isn't that how life goes? When we are young we are invincible and think we will live forever. There is always tomorrow.
Mother used to try to teach me the one about, "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today." Some how that was never very important to me. Something else mama used to tell me was "Let's see you get that toothpaste back in the tube!"
This is one of those things I wish I had handled a little differently. When he would say, so and so was coming by, I made myself scarce so he could visit with his friends. Little did I know that he and his friends would have welcomed my presence.
Mama was very wise. And so to all of Sherman's friends that I have met since and the few I met before, and the one's who I have yet to meet, I would like to apologize and tell you that you were all very important to him and he bragged about every one of you to me. I do understand after the fact that maybe he was a little proud of me also. I will hold you all in my heart and I thank you all for the part you played in Sherman's life to make him into the man I came to care so much about in the twilight of our lives.
And look, Steve! I think she posed for me! When Dana snapped the leash on her after the sale she looked at me and walked straight to his car as if to say "OK, time to go. See you Lou. It was nice, but I have to go home now." Just like Sherman. Everyone has gone home and the party is over.
It is time to move on.
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