In one of those rare, out-of-context moments that could only take place in New York City, I met Walter Becker last year as I was struggling to get past the death of my beloved Mother. You've all had those out-of-context moments, where you meet someone and they look familiar, but you just can't quite place them...
Those of you writing on this forum write about Walter Becker the famous musician. Forgive me, but I just want to write a few words in tribute to the OTHER Walter, the smart and funny gentleman who helped me many times, even though we were total strangers. It's a side his fans probably never saw. I still miss him.
I visited the Hawaiian Lantern Floating Ceremony website recently, and submitted my Mother's name for a lantern to be floated this Memorial Day in Honolulu. On a whim, I submitted Walter's name also. The ceremony will be broadcast live at: lanternfloatinghawaii.com. Have a look. Perhaps you will see Walter's name float past. Even if you don't, please remember him kindly.
To view a very touching 5 minute video from the 2016 ceremony, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tfLL16XrLc.
Extending Sincere Sympathies to WB family and friends.
Story number two, the longest of the stories:
One time Walter asked me if I played music. Sheepishly, I said no and told him I spent 14 years taking piano lessons and never made it out of the second book. I played guitar for 3 years, and can’t play either of the two guitars I own. Castanets? Own them, can’t play them. Tambourine? Own it, can’t play it. No rhythm. Sang in college chorus four years. I was so off key the professor allowed me to stay because he needed to fill up the stage with bodies, but he asked me to “please sing very softly.” Like Salieri, I ached to play music, but musical talent was not given to me by God.
Truthfully, I told Walter that I have numerical dyslexia, but not alphabetical dyslexia. There is some recent evidence that people who have numerical dyslexia can never learn music of any kind. Walter looked at me with great skepticism. I told him numerical dyslexia even has a name. It’s called dyscalculia. It was obviously a new word for him. He muttered it over and over, perhaps 20 times or more. You could almost see his brain chewing on every syllable while he mumbled, “Dyscalculia. Dys-cal-cu-lia. DYS cal cu LIA.” He began pacing back and forth as he muttered, staring down at his shoes. Suddenly he spun around to me and said, “Sounds like a venereal disease!”
Walter. One of a kind.
Yes, D-Mod, you have identified the location correctly! Imagine game-show-like confetti falling here. Ding, ding, ding!
You wanted stories, and I don’t have very many, but do remember two. Here is one: The first time Walter helped me, I had no idea who he was. I was just impressed that this total stranger would help me. So I thanked him for being altruistic. The moment the word left my mouth, I thought, “Oh, cr*p, most men probably don’t even know what that word means.” To my amazement, he snapped back instantly with, “If I’m altruistic, does that make me an al-truant?” Not only did he know the word, he knew how to turn it into a pun!
Sure does help! I don't know how to find your email address, but I accept those difficulties now; this post board platform is really the gold standard in privacy and security, so if we do add email capacity we want to be careful about it :-)
Having lost your mother I'm sure you're familiar with the hunger you develop for stories about your loved one in the world, expecially if the stories show them to be funny or kind.
so -- many thanks :-)
"I am a daughter to a father with wings and a guitar".
Pretty awesome.
Hint: Sandi's office! Does that help? Contact me off-list if you want.
BTW Sayan's Father's Day page is soooooo touching. Reminded me of my own Dad, in a way.
Thanks Barbara - I'm sorry my question caused you to feel at all conflicted.! In any case, I respect your judgement. I can think of 2 or 3 places where W spent a fair amount of time and people can pass in halls :-)
Moderator, For the last few weeks I've been trying to figure out how to post a response to your question without revealing too much about Walter, things that perhaps his family wouldn't want made known on a public forum.
Suffice it to say that I was BEYOND IMPRESSED by how kind and funny and helpful he was in person. We would pass in the hallway for several months, trade a few sentences, and go our separate ways -- it's New York after all. Who has time to sit and talk? Now I wish we had done exactly that. Alas, too late. Maybe in the next lifetime...
No luck spotting his name at the Hawaiian Lantern Floating ceremony, either. I got eyestrain looking. Perhaps he saw it from the heavens.
Again, sending peace and healing to WB family and fans.
B- touching words. I for one would be pleased to hear of your encounter with WB