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Useless Trivia The world's first passenger train made its debut in England in 1825.
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Member Biographies :
Member Biography
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| Title: |
Andy Walker |
| By: |
John Prichard
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| Bio: |
Jan. 19, 1998 Coffee Clatch "Hey! Wade a Minute"
Grandchildren, I may have touched on Andy Walker before, but now I must relate another vignette from that microcosm of life, the "Coffee Clatch". For proper understanding, a little background. Eighty three years ago Andy Walker was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. of immigrant Irish parents, whose established and tenacious faith in the American dream impelled them "West" First Canada, then California. Along with unflagging faith was that brand of Irish Arrogance - Arrogance here is really not the right word, for it implies to some extent at least, a closeness to the king; I don't think Andy was ever close to the "King". The Yiddish word "Chutzpah", is better. Yes! "Irish Chutzpah" - That's Andy Walker. Partially blind, Andy comes to the Coffee Clatch only once a week. He holds forth Fridays, in the grand manner. His wit, charm and joke-telling have made Fridays attendance the best. O yes! there's one more thing - Andy always brings a box of a dozen doughnuts for coffee clatcher's Friday pleasure.
Gordon, I don't even know his last name, is a more recent Coffee Clatch attendee. He too is old, somewhat disheveled and bent. He slinks. He slinks in, he slinks out. His voice is soft-spoken, sometimes inaudible. He is not pitiful, but you wonder. Some members think of him as an intellectual, but that assessment may reflect on those members. He is a friend of the library, and he reads a lot. They say he was once a writer, an editor or something like that. He does admit to loving horses, steady horse-track attendance, and a knowledge of the para mutual system.
So here at Coffee Clatch two forces collide; a retired Irish banker bringing doughnuts and a disheveled race track habitue whose hand is out for doughnuts. I sat between Andy and Gordon, the most reliable seat for the encounter. Gordon had entered, slinked in, sat and taken one of the box of a dozen. This was duly noted with a gracious smile from Andy. Ah! the Irish can be magnanimous! Conversation ensued, topic on topic, for about thirty minutes, when a stealthy hand began manipulating the box, half empty now, Gordonward. "Hey Wade a Minute"," You only get one". Andy's lightning quick grasp of Gordon's coat sleeve froze the moment. And the short lecture followed. "You greedy bastard, You only get one; I bring these so that every one can share; if there's any left over, I take them home to my wife. One week ago I saw you take two and I was determined not to let it happen again." The deathly silence of small groups, broken by the embarrassed utterance of a member somewhat distant along the table. - And the slouch and slink of Gordon.
JEP
4/12/98 Gordon Williams died about four weeks ago. He will fade into the oblivion of the Coffee Clatch collective memory.
JEP
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