Waiting at the Gate

Dad had a buddy from his army days named A.C. Hardman.

Also known as simply, "Bud".




Those two old army buddies, kept in touch, all these years. They were really good friends. Bud was a sweet, gentle, soft-spoken sort of man. He was short in stature, almost tiny. I think that they picked on him mercilessly, while he was in the Army and Dad saw that, and made friends with him, quick. Dad had a way about him, of migrating to the aid of someone like that. Always looking out for the underdog. They had all sorts of stories about one another during those Army Days...stunts they pulled and funnies that happened. Shenanigans.

I know each of them surely found an endless supply of conversation between themselves. It just flowed, punctuated with occasional chuckles and laughter. Bud and his wife, Zella, would come to visit us, just about yearly through the years. Dad and Bud would sit at the table and talk low, smiling and nodding, a lot. A kid just notices these things. (Dad has a best friend, too).
Imagine that!

They would come to see us, always with wonderful gifts in hand, for all of us kids. One such gift stands out in my mind...I still have it. A wonderful transistor radio shaped like a ladybug. The wings open as you twist the volume up. A wonderful thing for a little gal.

Bud's family was originally from Alabama and the family still owned the old farm down there. Dad said that Bud always talked of retiring to that farm and that is just what he did. They lived in Berwyn , Illinois for most of their married lives. They raised their son there. But the call of "home" and the farm, beckoned. They left the suburb of Chicago, and the bustling city life, for a more leisurely paced one. They built a beautiful home atop a small mountain on the land and slowed down a bit.



Dad told me about leaving Bud, that last time, when they went to Alabama to see them. He said that Bud stood by the fence, at the gate, as they drove away. Bud had diabetes and had several bad episodes while they were there. Dad said that the wind blew Bud's hair all over and he looked so pitiful..standing there with tears streaming down his face as he watched Dad and Mom drive away. Dad thought as he watched him, 'this is probably the last time I will see my buddy'..




Dad told me that, while tears streamed down his own face, after they got back home.

True friends.

That kind of friendship is evolved from having kindred spirits, it just doesn't come along every day.

Something to be cherished.

I imagine there was a wonderful reunion up in heaven this week. My Dad must have clapped his hands together, just a way he had, and exclaimed loudly, "Hi Ya, Pal"!

I am sure there are some funny 'shenanigans' going on up there, right now.

My cousin told me today that she "just bets Steve was the one standing by the gate this time, waiting".

At Heaven's Gate.

I'll just bet she is right about that.





A.C. "Bud" HARDMAN, 78, of Oneonta, died Jan. 9, 2010, at St. Vincent's East. The Alabama native served in the U.S. Army and had been a foreman for Milwaukee Railroad. He was the son of the late Ras and Ida Keeves Hardman.

Surviving are wife Zella Stoffregen Hardman, son James Cornelius, and brother Melvin Hardman, all of Oneonta.

A memorial service will be held later by the family, according to information from Lemley Chapel.