Every small town in America has one, their own version of Addicus Finch, as portrayed by the legendary actor, Gregory Peck in Harper Lee's monumental book, "To Kill a Mocking Bird."
In Iowa Falls, Iowa, our Addicus Finch was not a lawyer but a mountain of a man, both in physical appearance and social importance to his town.
Dr. Robert Johnson.
Or just plain, old Dr. Bob.
The man that welcomed every new born from mulitple generations into this world. He was the center and core of Iowa Falls' life force and existence.
To visualize and imagine his respect and presence, all you need do is to remember that classic scene in Mel Brooks' "Blazin' Saddles" where the good folks of Rock Ridge solemnly and humbly respond to the mere mention of his name, like "Randolf Scott."
He was worshipped by the entire town with one exception. A tiny yet powerfully built, fearless man who was never impressed by Dr. Bob's status and saw him only as his neighbor, dearest friend and constant foil. This man was Freddie Buehler, my father.
Freddie lived for any chance to lovingly chop his friend down from the lofty heights of legend.
Their card passion was cribbage.
Dr. Bob also worshipped Freddie as his true friend, his only friend that accepted him, not as legend, but just as a plain old country doctor, which truly suited Dr. Bob's self identity.
Dr. Bob even preceeded a certain now legendary TV show regarding a nickname for this dear friend. Freddie was his "little buddy" preceeding by years, those tales of Gilligan and the skipper, too.
They both loved cultivating roses and always had a yearly competition regarding first blooms. One year, Dr. Bob was delighted to win on a technicality because he had caught Freddie cheating and it delighted the good doctor.
Seems like Freddie had "innocently" grafted flawless, plastic rose blooms onto his struggling rose vines that year. The effect, factoring in the distance between our two riverfront properties was excellent and Freddie was caught only because of a midnight recon mission by Dr. Bob armed with flashlights and accompanied by Dr. Bob's loyal dog, a beautiful Chesapeake Bay Retreiver of a gorgeous chocolate honey ginger coat. This was "Winifred" or just "Wini."
Freddie pouted for weeks after being busted. This called for a major retaliation by Freddie to kick it up a notch.
Freddie then started the campaign of scorched earth with his dear doctor pal. He would get Wini to love him more.
At this time, Julie and I were enlisted to help. They had a contest set up; Dr. Bob in one neutral corner and Freddie opposite in his. At the commencement of the contest, each man would call to Wini without the aid of food, trying to simply draw Wini to the winner.
Poor, poor pitiful Wini. This magnificent and loving dog was so confused by this. Wini, much earlier in the contest, had devotedly and happily accepted the extra work of having another family and property to protect.
Not only checking in on the Johnson family but adding the Buehler clan was almost too much for Wini to bear.
Wini chose Freddie. Dr. Bob was devastated. As a kid of 7 or 8, I couldn't relate but remember seeing Dr. Bob's surrender and melt down.
I remember Dr. Bob stating over and over, "How can you stoop so low as to steal a dog's love?" Over and over.
Stealing the love of another man's dog. This was a complete victory and I think Freddie may have realized he had overplayed his hand.
All was eventually forgiven and the friendship continued.
Many cribbage games lay ahead. Games to be won, lost, tied and skunked. Games to be Every small town in America has one, their own version of Addicus Finch, as portrayed by the legendary actor, Gregory Peck in Harper Lee's monumental book, "To Kill a Mocking Bird."
In Iowa Falls, Iowa, our Addicus Finch was not a lawyer but a mountain of a man, both in physical appearance and social importance to his town.
Dr. Robert Johnson.
Or just plain, old Dr. Bob.
The man that welcomed every new born from mulitple generations into this world. He was the center and core of Iowa Falls' life force and existence.
To visualize and imagine his respect and presence, all you need do is to remember that classic scene in Mel Brooks' "Blazin' Saddles" where the good folks of Rock Ridge solemnly and humbly respond to the mere mention of his name, like "Randolf Scott."
He was worshipped by the entire town with one exception. A tiny yet powerfully built, fearless man who was never impressed by Dr. Bob's status and saw him only as his neighbor, dearest friend and constant foil. This man was Freddie Buehler, my father.
Freddie lived for any chance to lovingly chop his friend down from the lofty heights of legend.
Their card passion was cribbage.
Dr. Bob also worshipped Freddie as his true friend, his only friend that accepted him, not as legend, but just as a plain old country doctor, which truly suited Dr. Bob's self identity.
Dr. Bob even preceeded a certain now legendary TV show regarding a nickname for this dear friend. Freddie was his "little buddy" preceeding by years, those tales of Gilligan and the skipper, too.
They both loved cultivating roses and always had a yearly competition regarding first blooms. One year, Dr. Bob was delighted to win on a technicality because he had caught Freddie cheating and it delighted the good doctor.
Seems like Freddie had "innocently" grafted flawless, plastic rose blooms onto his struggling rose vines that year. The effect, factoring in the distance between our two riverfront properties was excellent and Freddie was caught only because of a midnight recon mission by Dr. Bob armed with flashlights and accompanied by Dr. Bob's loyal dog, a beautiful Chesapeake Bay Retreiver of a gorgeous chocolate honey ginger coat. This was "Winifred" or just "Wini."
Freddie pouted for weeks after being busted. This called for a major retaliation by Freddie to kick it up a notch.
Freddie then started the campaign of scorched earth with his dear doctor pal. He would get Wini to love him more.
At this time, Julie and I were enlisted to help. They had a contest set up; Dr. Bob in one neutral corner and Freddie opposite in his. At the commencement of the contest, each man would call to Wini without the aid of food, trying to simply draw Wini to the winner.
Poor, poor pitiful Wini. This magnificent and loving dog was so confused by this. Wini, much earlier in the contest, had devotedly and happily accepted the extra work of having another family and property to protect.
Not only checking in on the Johnson family but adding the Buehler clan was almost too much for Wini to bear.
Wini chose Freddie. Dr. Bob was devastated. As a kid of 7 or 8, I couldn't relate but remember seeing Dr. Bob's surrender and melt down.
I remember Dr. Bob stating over and over, "How can you stoop so low as to steal a dog's love?" Over and over.
Stealing the love of another man's dog. This was a complete victory and I think Freddie may have realized he had overplayed his hand.
All was eventually forgiven and the friendship continued.
Many cribbage games lay ahead. Games to be won, lost, stink-holed, skunked and double-skunked. Games to be played, with both men giggling like children.
Freddie once cut a deal with the clothing shop owner next door to our tire store and acquired a massive amount of old mannequin parts. Using his military training, Freddie did a late night sortie all around the perimeter of Dr. Bob's house, hanging full mannequin torsos and partial mannequin heads so it appeared a dead mannequin was in each and every window, seeking Dr. Bob's soul.
Ignoring this, Dr
Bob finished his breakfast and calmly and quietly grabbed a large shotgun. He wandered out and started blowing each mannequinn apart and out of the trees. This pissed off Freddie who wasn't allowed to enjoy the fun game of firearms folly they both loved. Did I mention all the time they spent in hunting and fishing days?
We were a family who's card passion was Cribbage. Father taught me the game which then taught me about the discipline needed to master the killer instinct it takes to be feared and respected, all important to my journey as a poker player. It is key, for the crib, to discard good cards on "your" deals and discard the worst cards possible on "his".
To this day, Julie and I refer to a K-9, off-suit crib discard as a "Dr. Bob special".
In the fall of 1962, we had made the family decision to sell everything and relocate to Tucson. Our very last stop was to drive Freddies overloaded hot rod Oldsmobile next door so the Buehlers could say goodbye to the Johnsons.
I was haunted by the emotions these two adult men showed to each other, thru their hugs, embraces and tears, as they both realized they would probably and correctly so never see each other again.
The only happy one was Wini who, confusingly, had the entirety of her clans together for joyful celebration.
This was the only time I ever was to see my dad openly weap and sob uncontrollably.
love this story. Thanks for taking the time to write it and share it
ReplyDeleteIt's spelled Atticus
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