His name was Bob but we all knew him as Woody.

I don’t remember him ever being called Bob.

He was Woody, and in my opinion the coolest guy in high school.

Actually, my opinion and a whole bunch of other girls from a whole bunch of other schools.

I think it was his attitude as much as his good looks that captured.

He had an attitude that probably took Hollywood actors years to perfect.

Woody just had it.

It was just there, in the way he talked, walked, teased and even flirted.

He was smooth…..the original Mr Cool.

Nobody did it like he did,  right down to that well known bounce-walk that belonged exclusively to him.

And, what a charmer!

Every mother who knew him, loved him including my mom.

All it took was a Woody smile and wink. 

That was part of his charm, he was a winker.

He was genuinely just a nice guy.

He would have done anything for anybody.

He really was ALL THAT!

Our community was small. 

It wasn’t even a city.

The high school didn’t have an unknown kid in it from 9th to 12th grade.

We all knew each other, where we lived, how many siblings we had and if we walked or rode the bus to school.

Woody was 2 years ahead of me in school.

For 3 of my high-school summers I worked at Bob-Jo’s, the local Frozen Custard Stand.

A Banana Split was 45¢.

CENTS!

It was the 60’s. 

A McDonalds burger, fries and coke was 35¢. 

Hamburger was 3 pounds for a dollar.

So 45¢ wasn’t really chump change back then.

Woody loved those Banana Splits…..especially since they were always free if I was working the window and register.

He’d walk up to the window, WINK AT ME, I’d melt, and he’d order a banana split.

BINGO…..free!!!!!

Sometimes he’d show up at my front door unannounced, wondering if I wanted to ride around, go for a root beer.

Are you kiddin’ me?

I figured those times were simply to ensure that the free banana splits kept comin’.

Whatver.

lt was Woody.

He was fun and a tease.

He told me once he thougnt I looked like a little duck.

A duck!!!!!

That’s kinda when I knew for sure it was about the Banana Splits.

But it was Woody, so it was OK.

The last time we saw Woody, it was about 20 years ago in Pasadena. 

We were having a Rose Bowl gathering.

We hooked up with him for drinks one afternoon.

So many years later and still he made my heart pound just a bit faster.

It was the three of us sitting at the bar; my darling man, Woody and me remembering and laughing.

Woody and Lobo not only shared high school memories but they’d gone to college together and were practically inseperable during those summers. 

I got an earful!

At one point he turned to me and asked, “How’s your mom?”

My answer was short and honest.

I told him I didn’t have a relationship with my mom.

His eyes locked on to mine, he was quiet and stared for a short moment.

“Fix it.”

That’s all he said…..”FIX IT”.

When our Pasadena week-end came to an end, one last time Woody said to me, “FIX IT!”

After that, when I thought of my mom, I’d hear Woddy’s words and before long, it did get fixed.

I needed to write him a note and thank him for the push.

I wanted to, 

I meant to, 

but…..

I never did.

And now?

Now all I can do is wish I would have.

I’ll see Woody again.

He’s just on the other side.

He’ll be up there in those clouds somewhere, making every angel swoon.

That’s just Woody!