As I fired up the snowblower this morning to tackle the crusty mound of street snow piled high at the end of our driveway, I thought of Linda who flew off to sunny warm Arizona a week ago and felt a twinge of jealousy. All four of her sisters have gathered in Phoenix for a time of memory sharing..wine consuming and laughter. Desert daughter, Christy and son James are there too so it’s been great family time. I could have gone but, you know, somebody has to feed the birds and pick-up after the snow.
On our nightly phone chat, I fill her in on all that’s going on around here which is usually zero..at least in my small circle of existence these days…but I did happen to mention that the “Waver” had died…and she knew exactly who I meant; a fella in our neighborhood who waived at anybody and everybody that drove or walked by his place at 6th and Meyer Lane in Sioux Falls.
I never used to pay much attention to the obituary section of the paper but now that I’m nearer my God to Thee, it’s one of the first things I check in the morning if for no other reason than to marvel at how when people my age or younger pass on..there is no longer any explanation given as to cause of death.
Anyway, my heart sank when I saw a picture of “The Waver” there.
Larry Monger
1933-2017
It didn’t say “TheWaver” of course; Just Lawrence “Gramps” Monger and the basic information about his family history and funeral arrangements. But oh, I thought, there’s so much more about this sweet man that shouldn’t go unsaid. So, even though I didn’t know him well, here’s how Larry made just a little difference in so many lives.
I’ve lived in this neighborhood since 1970 and, for as long as I can remember, every time I’d drive by Larry’s house, which was almost daily and just about any time of day, there he’d be out front puttering in the yard..mowing, watering or raking in the spring, summer and autumn; shoveling snow or banging ice from his walk and driveway during winter. Without fail, he’d make sure to give all who passed by a friendly wave.
Larry and his wife, Joyce, lived in Brandon before moving to Sioux Falls. There he served in the volunteer fire department for 14 years and was very active in Brandon Lutheran Church where he was the cheerful morning greeter; always there to open the door and shake hands with all who entered.
His family marveled at his work ethic..especially when it came to caring for his property but he’d always stop his busy chores to chat with anybody who strolled by including me during my hiking days. It was pretty much just small talk as he watered and I walked.
If it happened to be a lady passing by, no doubt they couldn’t take their eyes off his bare torso . Even into his eighties, Larry rarely wore a shirt when outside during warmer weather and, because of all that hard work, he was buff enough to pull it off.
What are the odds of finding a homeowner actually working outside in the yard just when the Google Map people come through the neighborhood taking pictures? Well, not a bit surprising if it’s Larry Monger as seen above a few years back..toiling away (sans shirt) in front of his place no doubt having already given a wave to the Google people before moving on to another project.
I can’t say for sure what drove the man to spend so much time dinkin’ around his home. Perhaps it gave him lots of time to think..to plan..to pray. I’m pretty sure there was lots of that on his mind when eight years ago, he and Joyce received word that their son, Donny, had died at his home in North Dakota at age 50
Although kind and receptive to everyone, Larry especially delighted in his grandchildren. In the summer, he’d create homemade swimming pools with his ever present garden hose. In winter, he’d make a skating rink or move great gobs of snow around by hand to build sledding hills for them taking great joy and satisfaction in their happiness.
From where I live, it’s probably shorter to get downtown by way of east 10th street..but many’s the time I’d drive over to 6th just to see if the waver was on duty..and most generally, there he’d be..puttering and waving.
I’m really going to miss that: especially in these days of such hatred and division in our country.
Lord knows a friendly wave would really be refreshing.