Bud

My Friend Bud.
Arthur Eldred Bauer, Jr., known to his family and friends as Bud, died on Sunday, October 28, 2007, at the age of 92! He would have been 93 on January 25, 2008. Bud was my friend! I think he was the friend of everyone he came in contact with - because he was friendly. I have never met anyone who was closer to his family than Bud. They supported each other, and liked each other. There is nothing Bud would rather do than be with his extended family. He was so proud of each of them.

Bud and I were big sports fans - he bigger than me. We were both partial-season ticket holders fro the Oakland Athletics baseball games. While we didn’t have exactly the same plans, we did attend many of the same games. We rode the Vallejo bus - Bart link - in to the El Cerrito BART station, where we caught the train which took us to the Coliseum station. In fact, during one of these trips, is where I met Bud. We sat together many times afterwards - both on the bus and onBART. Bud did most of the talking, because I would always ask him what was new with his family? He surely knew what was going on in the family, and he would tell me about their promotions, travels, what was going on in their jobs, the marriages, masters degrees, and other interesting events. Some people would not cozy up to such talk. But, I really enjoyed it. His tone was not one of bragging but just pure pride. I can still see the gleam in his eyes and his face light up, when he mentioned that all three of his sons - their wives - and two grandsons - were all - not only college graduates - but most of them also had their Masters degrees! Bud finished college and joined the Navy during World War II.
I would take a sandwich to the A's games, but Bud would just have a small bag of peanuts in his pocket. I thought that he just skipped lunch until he told me that he liked to get a sandwich and drink in the Westside Club.

Bud was at the October 17, 1989 World Series game, between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletic, when the big Loma Prieto earthquake hit. He gave me an eye witness account of his experience.

The new Carquinez bridge was dedicated not too long ago. At that time, Bud told told me that he saw the dedication of the old 1927 bridge, that it replaced, from the water beneath the bridge. He was 13, and his dad rowed him underneath the new bridge as it was being dedicated!

Bud had a zest for life! He didn't let a hernia operation in his 90's, or a pacemaker, slow him down. He went to Virginia last summer to attend a wedding of one of his nieces. Then, in September, he went to Colorado, to attend another wedding of another niece.
When BART announced that the train would be operating to SFO, Bud suggested that we ride to the airport and check it out. Then, we could have lunch at the airport. I told that it sounde good to me. But, we never gotto take that excursion.

I would like to quote from his Obituary:- “He was a kind, gentle and generous man. He was always ready to laugh, and his love of sports was only surpassed by his great martinis, and fun-loving spirit.” That says it all. While I never tasted one of his martinis, I can vouch for his kindness and generosity, and his love of sports. He was a season ticket holder for both the Oakland Athletics as well as the Oakland Raiders! At 92 - with a pace maker - he seldom missed one of the games for which he had a ticket. When we walked over, from the Coliseum BART station to the Coliseum, on the pedestrian viaduct, there usually was a man sitting legless, on a skate board. Bud would always stop and greet him, and hand him some folded money!

When Laura was alive, the two of them, and Marie and I, would get together for lunch. After Laura died, Bud and I would occasionally meet for lunch Laura, the love of his life - and wife for nearly 64 years - died on April 12, 2006. They were very close and devoted to each other. She was a great lady and uplifting to be around. Bud was never the same after that sad separation. He was so lonesome and melancholy! His heart had been ripped out with her death. The family surrounded Laura as she was dying, and they were there at Bud’s bedside, that Sunday - not long ago - when he left this world to join her.
Bud’s son Bernard lived in Fresno. He was a raisin broker. I knew when Bud had been to Fresno, or Bernard had been to Vallejo, because I would get a phone call from Bud saying that he wanted to make sure that I was home, and he would be right over. He would bring me a large package of raisins! I haven’t had to buy raisins for my cold cereal since I met Bud!
I am so glad that Bud’s and my paths crossed in this life. I am much better for it, And I like to think that he benefited too.
Ray L’Amoreaux.
November 14, 2007. Edited 11-23-07.

Jane and Jim

JANE and JIM
I had a great afternoon today! My friend of 70 years - Jim Leslie - and his daughter Jane Brown, stopped by to see Marie and I. I am really flattered - that anyone, who will be 85 on December 7th, said that he wanted to see Marie and I - this was the primary reason that he flew out from Detroit.
Jim has been a loyal friend since July, 1937. My Dad had been transferred from the New York Central Railroad’s Cleveland office to their Detroit office. This was at the tail end of the Great Depression, and the Railroad was consolidating their District offices. I met Jim shortly after we moved from Berea to Ypsilanti. He was in my brother Bob’s high school class of 1940. Bob was a good athlete with a great sense of humor. He made friends easily.
I was working at the International Radio Company in Ann Arbor at the time. The few people I met were my fellow workers. So, I started hanging out with my brother Bob and his friends. Jim was among those friends. Of course their acceptance of me might have been influenced by the second hand Model A Ford that I had just bought. Subsequently, I played a lot of golf with Bob and Jim. (Bob was on the Ypsilanti high school- golf team.) Jim and I played about the same caliber of golf so it was always challenging and interesting. We also did a lot of bowling, pitching pennies and playing cards together.
I am very proud of my three daughters - Mary, Joan and Sue. They really stepped up to the plate today when I needed them. They responded to my request that they join Jane, Jim and I for lunch. (Marie was sick and couldn’t make it.) They added a lot to the occasion, and helped me entertain my friend. They made our get-together that much more enjoyable.
Jim has been a very loyal and supportive friend through the years. He attended my brothers Bob’s and Jack’s weddings. He was always there, supporting the family, when my Dad, Mom, sister Jeanne and brother Bob died.
So, thanks Jim, and Jane, for coming to see us. We appreciate your thoughtfulness. Thanks, too, Mary ,Joan and Sue for all of your support and friendliness to my friend Jim, and his daughter Jane.
After lunch at the Front Room, Jim removed his University of Michigan “maize and blue” tie and gave it to me for an early 89th -birthday present! Thank you very much, Jim.
After we returned home, Jane brought out Jim’s Argus C-3 camera. It brought back memories when I worked in Ann Arbor assembling Argus cameras. I used to put in the shutter- release pin assembly
when I worked at the radio factory in Ann Arbor - before WWII.
Parting was quite emotional for me, as they left for Reno. When I said “Goodbye Jim”, I suddenly realized that this is probably the last time that Jim and I will see each other.
(Note: For more on Jim, see “My Friend Jim” on page 217 of my book.)

JULIO.
I was reading an article on Julio Franco in this week’s Sports Illustrated. He has played major league baseball for nearly thirty years! He is only 40 years younger than I am! The Atlanta Braves just released him, and the article recaps his illustrious career.
Julio is the last remaining player to face Jim Kaat - who pitched to Ted Williams on the last day of the 1959 season! On April 20th, 2006, as a 46 year old Met, Julio became the oldest player to hit a major league home run! The only reason that I remember him is that he played for the Cleveland Indians 20 years ago. I went to an Oakland A’s game with Cleveland. The A’s weren’t playing very well that year, so they were getting small crowds. I remember that I was about the only one in my row - in the 2nd deck behind home plate. Julio hit a foul ball and it landed on my A’s sweater, which I had placed on the seat next to me. What a strange feeling to see the ball settle there. I have been going to ball games for many years, and I have never seen a ball retrieved so effortlessly. There was no scrum involved, as there was trying to retrieve Barry Bonds 756th home run! There were probably only 8,000 people there - probably not even a break-even attendance. Of course it was a weekday-day game - before the construction of Mt. Davis! This is the only “souvenir” ball that I have ever recovered in the stands! I gave the ball to my oldest grandson, Doug. I should have tried to get Julio to autograph it for him.
Another reason why I remembered Julio after all the passing years, is I like to repeat his name. It has such a melodious ring to it. My link to baseball history - one old guy to another old guy!

Ferry Trip

FERRY BUILDING
Friday, July 20, 2007.
Today, Mary, Joan and Manny, Sue, and Marie and I had a great outing. We met at the Vallejo ferry Terminal, and took the ten A.M. ferry into San Francisco. We pushed back from the dock right on time, and headed South to San Francisco - some 25 miles away. The trip used to take 50 minutes, which was 10 minutes faster than the first ferry put in service about ten years ago. Due to increased fuel costs, they have slowed the boat down, and now it takes an hour - just like it used to.
This is a catamaran- type ferry (twin hulls), and gets its high speed by hydroplaning over the water. It gives a smoother ride, too. Our boat is named “Solano” - after our county. The capacity is about 300 passengers. I asked one of the crew how many were aboard and he said 200. I also asked him what the “break-even” number was. He said that he didn’t know, but he was sure that someone in management had calculated it.
We cruise along the Mare Island channel at five knots, in order to minimize any wake damage along the nearby shores. Have a close-up view of the eastern waterfront of Mare Island. It is a smooth ride. It is a little windy, but no whitecaps. We are sitting in the front row, so have a good view ahead. Can see the sun bouncing off the cars crossing on the Coquinas bridge. In the distance I can see Mt. Mamalis. I can see the oil tankers at the pier of Phillips Petroleum in Rodeo, and the refinery in the distance. We pass beneath the Richmond-San Rafael bridge (Highway 580). As we pass South of Angel Island, I can see both the San Francisco- Oakland Bay Bridge, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. We arrive at the Ferry Building dock at 11 o’clock - right on time. Most of the passengers stayed on board, as the ferry would go up to Fisherman’s Wharf/ Pier 39, before returning to Vallejo.
We split up and browse among the many nice shops inside the terminal. The terminal survived the big earthquake of 1906. It was a busy place before the Bay bridge was completed in 1937. The only way to get to San Francisco back then (other than a long circuitous route over land) was by ferry.
We met for lunch together - what a great invention - the cell phone! Then we sat on the waterfront for about an hour and ” people watched” until our ferry came in for our 3:30 return to Vallejo. Our return trip on the “Mare Island” was uneventful, and we saw the same scenery that we saw coming down. It was a beautiful day, and I hated to see the end of our delightful day jaunt.

MY BROTHER BOB

JULY 15, 2007.

I try to recall anything of significance that happened on each day, This is part of my daily routine. On this particular date, I remember my brother, Bob. He was nearly four years younger, but we were very close. Today is his birthday. He would have been 85!
While he and his wife, Jackie, raised their nine children, his short life ended with much suffering and sadness. He died on May 31, 1984 at home in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He was only 63! Bob served with the Coast Guard during World War II, and received his honorable discharge in December, 1945.
A month later - January, 1946 - he was critically injured in a late Saturday night auto crash. The drunk driver who hit their car was killed. Bob and his girl friend were riding in the back seat of the car. She received a severe leg injury that required surgery. While they were able to save her leg, it ended up shorter than her other one. I often have wondered if seat belts and air bags, were available back then, would have made any difference?
Bob received a broken neck, an almost severed leg and internal injuries. St. Joseph’s hospital, in Ann Arbor, listed his condition as critical, and they did not expect him to live. They had to amputate his severed leg when the couldn’t establish circulation. He remained in their Intensive Care unit for six weeks - with around the clock nursing care! Bob eventually recovered enough to be released by the hospital, to recover at home, with our parents care. Bob didn’t have any medical coverage - it was non-existent or very rare 60 years ago. Our Mom and Dad cashed in all their War Bonds (their life-savings) to pay for Bob’s medical expenses.
Years later, Bob confided in me that “there never was a day, when he didn’t have a headache. Yet, he returned to work at Ford Motor Company in Ypsilanti.
Bob has been dead for over 23 years now, and I still think about him often, and miss him very much.