Mr. Williams

My friend Lauren lives in a neighborhood two miles away from us. Not long after we moved to Texas, when I would drive to Lauren's house, I would notice this sweet old man who would sit at the edge of his driveway and wave at the cars going by. He's hard to miss - as long as the weather is nice, he can always be counted on to be outside waving.

 

After waving a few times, I decided that I should stop and say hi. Now I make it a point to stop and visit every time I see him. Sometimes I plan my run route along his street if I think he will be outside. Mr. W.J Williams is a WWII Veteran and lives with his niece who he calls "the baby" though if I had to guess I'd say she's in her late sixties or early seventies He calls me Sugar and refers to himself as Grandpa when he sees Finn. He and his wife Evelynn were married for 60 years, never having any children of their own. He loves to sit and talk and keeps a notebook with notes about the people who stop to visit with him. My friend Lauren is listed in the book as "Lauren - ponytail" other entries detail the kind of car a person drives or if they have a dog. He likes to write these things down to help him remember people.

This past weekend Mr. Williams turned 96, though he said "would you believe Sugar, that I'm going to be 22 this weekend?" "You don't look a day over 21," I said.

I brought him a little treat (he loves pies and cakes) and when I showed up and wished him a happy birthday he said, with the biggest grin on his face, "I think everyone should get to be 96!"

I think so too, Mr. Williams.

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