Schoeller's

Liberty has, I guess, come full cycle... Bigger/better.. at least as far as Supermarkets are concerned....

Whilst our town is (still) adapting from “size 30” jeans (population 5,000) to hella “42 inch waist” (2 high schools, 48 stoplights, population “who knows").... we've seen this grocery chain, that location, this special, that ad – change, for many a many year....

Today... THE top end Grocery opened – mega mart, (The Sam's Club to the regular ole WalMart world) - and, they topped off history, yes, of course (and thankfully), by hiring Mr. William Schoeller to be the greeter at the door upon entry.

Schoeller's (circa 60's/70's) for years, managed/owned by Bill/family, was “IT" as far as groceries in our fine town back in the day... the day of leaded fuel, and gas pumps that were only capable of going up to .99 cents. Many a family shopped there – many a smile/wonderful treatment from ownership/family/employees – and many a friend enabled, under their employ, to makes ends meet/get ahead – helping to make the transition from youth to adult. Nice.

One'a my all-time favorite hometown guys was (and is... 'was' only 'cause no longer with us).. Ron Schoeller (son of Bill). . Ron lived “nice”.... Ron lived “smile”.. Ron, taken from us all too damn soon, was simply one of the nicest guys I've ever met.

We played softball together for years..... Ron 'managed' our team (which is fancy for “please make sure they don't have too many beers in between tournament games so they can stay competitive”)... and he did... and it (softball) meant THE WORLD to him... Famous for 'pacing' (in worry “about this, about that”) but you NEVER caught/heard a terse word from Ron....

Once the mega-box stores eventually ran the little guys (including Schoellers) out of business... Ron went to work as a letter carrier for the Postal Service... So happened, he delivered to the street I/we lived on.

We had this little “mostly Poodle” hound named Magic – that loved the outdoors – so, we'd chain Magic up to the tree in the middle of our yard... Magic “no likey” anyone besides us.. For example... College kid, parking car out front: ARRRRFFF ARRRRFFFF..relentless.. .hyper, bent-outa-shape, as if to say “get the hell outta my neighborhood.” Lady walking dog down street.. Oh hell...We truly considered asking vet for doggy valium, as Magic JUST couldn't handle it all....

Magic wore a circular path around the tree we chained him too...... Ronnie could easily spot exactly "how close" he could walk to make it from our yard, to our next door neighbors, without Magic feasting on his calf muscle... This went on (and on and on) for years... Magic would get "this close" (holding up a thumb and forefinger) but never to the 'devour' closeness... Over the course of time, we'd tease about it verbally back and forth when I was outside and Ron happened by with the mail....

A bit later... we moved... Ron, no longer our carrier... darnit.. even a bit later... we'd won some championship of some softball league/tourney – SO... everyone invited (and came) over to our new house after, for BBQ, a few beers, backyard fun, and a dip in the pool.

At one point, I think I counted 42 people on the back deck. Magic was AOK with this new fenced back yard. He could roam free without chain, so he wasn't quite as consternated by visitors...

Ron, dressed in softball duds, mingled in and out of the crowd – and as he did, Magic paid NO attention. After forty-five minutes or so, Ron (with beer in left hand, and BBQ sandwich in right) said (very excitedly) “VIC... MAGIC DOESN”T RECOGNIZE ME!!!!!" and produced the largest Ron Schoeller smile I'd ever seen).. And... Magic, upon hearing that voice, the one “FOR YEARS, I WANTED TO EAT THIS GUY!” voice, OF COURSE – IMMEDIATELY went after Ron.. a jawlock on his right calf muscle.. Ron was torn between laughing his ass off and pain – as were we all!

Took five of us to pull Magic off Ronnie.. and I think we may have missed retrieving an incisor or two of Magic's from Ron's leg.....

It was onea the funnest moments of my life, so, thought I'd stop and share. Why good, good people are taken so/too soon is beyond me... God Blessya Ron Schoeller, we miss you. Love, Victurd