They call themselves Geezers and they’re darned proud of it.
To celebrate their lifetime achievement - advanced age - they gather every Wednesday for lunch at Springer’s.
Joy Smith, who runs the popular East Waterford eatery with husband Danno, sets up a special area for the men so they can sit near each other to be heard.
They don’t seem to agree on much, which seems to be part of the attraction, but they all point with pride to the founder, the late Mac Bean, who was the leader of volunteerism in town during his retirement years. They begin to fight among themselves again when they start talking about when the group formed.
Suffice it to say that approximately five years ago the men began meeting at Springer’s for lunch. They have remained loyal except for occasional stints at Melby’s during the busier times. That led to the biggest controversy to date: Which way is quicker to Melby’s - 118 or 37 and 35?
Ralph MacKinnon, a retired bond trader now active with the historical society, offered that “the smarter people go 118.”
The requirements for membership are relatively simple – can you afford lunch? Apparently you don’t really have to be retired because local landscaper and native Peter Morse has been “edging himself in.” Or perhaps it’s foggy perception and Peter happens to be eating lunch at the same time. at a nearby table. They’re not quite sure. But that’s okay because it’s something else they can disagree about.
The other “real requirement” for the gender specific group is “to be able to show up at this hour.”
They used to gather at noontime but they were competing for space with the regular lunchtime traffic.
“We come earlier now to make room for the people from away,” a Geezer piped up. Of course, there isn’t a native among them unless they allow Peter to sit at the big table.
Despite the verbal jousting, the pointed barbs and general disagreements, they seem to have a profound respect for each other.
“This is the greatest group of guys I have ever been with,” said Ken Bradbury, a retired vocational school teacher.
The group said Ken has been “parading prospective candidates” to see if they can stand up to the hazing. Walt Van Dehey, a retired San Francisco policeman, is welcoming but warns, “I only pick on guys older and weaker than I am.”
Why Wednesdays? As Henry Plate, a retired chief agronomist for Agway, put it, “There’s not much reason for anything.”
Joy grins as she watches the interaction among the men and marvels at how many show up each week.
Bob Grigg put it in perspective: “If you don’t show up, they talk about you.”
source: Mutiny Brook Times |
