Waldo's Memorial Benefit Event
June 23, 2007

A Report from the 'Webwench'

Today we attended the memorial for our friend 'Waldo'. The event was held at The Roadrunner in New River, AZ, starting at 2pm. When we first heard the start time we toyed with the idea of perhaps not going especially with the heat wave the valley has been experiencing over the last couple weeks. Needless to say, we were not going to miss this final send off to Waldo. After all, the proceeds were going to Charity and her son to be, Shea Phoenix. We arrived a little early so that we could stake out a place in the shade but some of our friends had beat us there and had a place secured on the patio, under the misters and in front of the mister fans. Have I told you how much I love you guys?!!!

The parking lot was pretty full when we arrived…full of trucks, cars and a few handfuls of motorcycles. Can’t blame anyone for not wanting to ride at 2pm in June. The Roadrunner started to fill up and the  patio was packed. A couple of pop-ups were spread around for some shade but folks were just fine crammed under the patio. The band, ‘Fools Life’, was doing their sound check and getting ready to entertain for the day. Those poor guys in the band sweat their butts off entertaining everyone; they didn’t have the cooling system like the patio did. But rain or shine, snow or blistering heat never has stopped the 'Fools' from giving you a show. Just like the postman, they always deliver.

Admission for this event was $10. A meal was graciously included with admission and was paid for by our motorcycle attorney, Joe Eggleston. They served BBQ pork, slaw and some chips. It was a pretty good meal. The afternoon included some raffles and an auction was held during some of the breaks of the band. Kenny Cupp was there to lend his auctioning skills but had to leave early. ‘Hollywood’, District Manager of the Rim Country District of the MMA jumped right in and never missed a beat. There were some pretty nice items being auctioned off.

Throughout the afternoon we spent time saying hello to old friends. Many we haven’t seen for a few years so there was lots of catching up to do during the party. We drank and shared old stories and ya know, there was always a funny 'Waldo' story to share. Laughter and talking wailed off the patio. All of a sudden a few girls with some little water guns showed up and were having a great time. Soon everyone was joining in the 'fun in the sun'. Some folks got a little inventive by finding some of the squeeze catsup containers and filled them with water and then there was always the old standby, a nice tall glass of ice water. No one was sacred during the water games and very few folks in the area were dry. I got my first glass of water dumped on me real early in the game and I just can’t tell you how great it felt. All the men  were enjoying the mass of wet ladies shirts.

Soon the band was packing up, vendors were leaving and for the most part the event was a done deal. There was just that one thing that hadn’t happened… the 'wet t-shirt contest'.  Now we just couldn’t let an event for 'Waldo' go by without his favorite part of the event happening. With wife beater shirts in hand, I started wandering the crowd in search for some brave ladies to help us out. It was a lot harder then I ever remember it being to get ladies to participate. So what the hell, kept telling everyone 'I will if you will', and through that I managed to wrangle up 6 women. With shirts on we jumped up on some picnic tables and the show was one. Five gallon buckets of ice and water were brought out and some pitchers were handed to some of the ladies to start getting each other wet. That worked for me because  it was all happening on the opposite end of the table from me. Apparently it was decided that those of us on the other end needed to get wet. Mine came in the form of a wall of water ejected from a full five-gallon bucket of ice water. That was absolutely the coldest damn water I have every experienced! It took your breath away and I was hoping I didn’t go into cardiac arrest from the shock. The winner of the wet t-shirt contest was first time ever participant, Devony. For her efforts she received $218 in prize money. Not bad for 15 minutes of work.

After drying off it was time for one last drink before we headed for home. We toasted our final toast to 'Waldo' and knew that he was smiling down on all of us (especially Devony). We know he was truly happy at the love and respect shown by so many to him, Charity and his future grandson.

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