I was saddened to see that Warren Walkabout died.I have a couple memories of Warren that anybody who knew him can appreciate, about a couple of times that I bumped into him after our school days.
The first time must have been about ten years after high school.The reason I think it was about that time is because I was sitting in a bar in OKC, the only time I've ever been in that particular bar, and I was really depressed, because the bar maid, out of the blue, had told me I had the most precise pronunciation she had ever heard.So I was sitting there thinking, maybe that's why I don't have any luck with women, I probably sound like some academic nerd.Then I was thinking, well, I'd been in college for ten years, I probably am an academic nerd, when in walks Warren Walkabout and sits down beside me.
He recognized me, primarily from Roosevelt Jr. High, which was where we had been best acquainted.We talked for a long time.He was making a living breaking wild horses.But he was doing it in the most gentle way I'd ever heard of, hardly what could be describing as "breaking" them, more like investing a lot of time pampering them, getting them accustomed to having him near them, having him touch them.The way he talked about those horses really revealed what a gentle giant he was (outside of the wrestling ring, anyway, and aside from when guys were doing that testosterone thing, establishing a pecking order, back in jr. high and high school, with a little bare-knuckle brawling now and then--back when, if anybody ever got higher in the pecking order than Warren, I never heard about it).
It must have been about twenty years later when I saw Warren again.But this time he didn't recognize me.He was sitting at the counter of a coffee shop in OKC when I walked in and sat down beside him.After a while I said, "You don't remember me, do you?"
He looked at me, but nothing registered.So I said, "I used to beat the snot out of you every day at Roosevelt Junior High School."Then I held my breath.
It took a few moments, but he couldn't keep from grinning.The thought of anybody beating the snot out of him at Roosevelt was just too far-fetched.And, after another few moments, he remembered me.Boy did I breathe a big sigh of relief.
Warren, Warren, Warren! Where do I begin?? You were certainly one of a kind!
I have so many memories, good and bad. I will say that you always treated me with respect and never meant to hurt me. When I heard things about you it was hard for me to understand because I never knew that side of you. Somehow, you went astray and was never able to find your way back. Even when I thought things were great between us, you were leaving me and going to visit your "wild" friends. I was shocked to learn that you were threatening the boys that I dated. But, that was just you. I am sorry that you lost your life at such an early age. I will never forget attending your funeral-one of the sadest days of my life. It was good meeting your son and listening to his comments about your feelings for me. Deep down I know that you cared for me, even Michelle,your sister, shared things with me the day of your funeral. I have had a wonderful life with Don and my children. I will tell you that I still have feelings for you. After all, you were my first true love. Warren, may you rest in peace. Brenda
Donald Leslie Birchfield
I was saddened to see that Warren Walkabout died. I have a couple memories of Warren that anybody who knew him can appreciate, about a couple of times that I bumped into him after our school days.
The first time must have been about ten years after high school. The reason I think it was about that time is because I was sitting in a bar in OKC, the only time I've ever been in that particular bar, and I was really depressed, because the bar maid, out of the blue, had told me I had the most precise pronunciation she had ever heard. So I was sitting there thinking, maybe that's why I don't have any luck with women, I probably sound like some academic nerd. Then I was thinking, well, I'd been in college for ten years, I probably am an academic nerd, when in walks Warren Walkabout and sits down beside me.
He recognized me, primarily from Roosevelt Jr. High, which was where we had been best acquainted. We talked for a long time. He was making a living breaking wild horses. But he was doing it in the most gentle way I'd ever heard of, hardly what could be describing as "breaking" them, more like investing a lot of time pampering them, getting them accustomed to having him near them, having him touch them. The way he talked about those horses really revealed what a gentle giant he was (outside of the wrestling ring, anyway, and aside from when guys were doing that testosterone thing, establishing a pecking order, back in jr. high and high school, with a little bare-knuckle brawling now and then--back when, if anybody ever got higher in the pecking order than Warren, I never heard about it).
It must have been about twenty years later when I saw Warren again. But this time he didn't recognize me. He was sitting at the counter of a coffee shop in OKC when I walked in and sat down beside him. After a while I said, "You don't remember me, do you?"
He looked at me, but nothing registered. So I said, "I used to beat the snot out of you every day at Roosevelt Junior High School." Then I held my breath.
It took a few moments, but he couldn't keep from grinning. The thought of anybody beating the snot out of him at Roosevelt was just too far-fetched. And, after another few moments, he remembered me. Boy did I breathe a big sigh of relief.
Don Birchfield
Brenda Kay Robison (Foster)
Warren, Warren, Warren! Where do I begin?? You were certainly one of a kind!
I have so many memories, good and bad. I will say that you always treated me with respect and never meant to hurt me. When I heard things about you it was hard for me to understand because I never knew that side of you. Somehow, you went astray and was never able to find your way back. Even when I thought things were great between us, you were leaving me and going to visit your "wild" friends. I was shocked to learn that you were threatening the boys that I dated. But, that was just you. I am sorry that you lost your life at such an early age. I will never forget attending your funeral-one of the sadest days of my life. It was good meeting your son and listening to his comments about your feelings for me. Deep down I know that you cared for me, even Michelle,your sister, shared things with me the day of your funeral. I have had a wonderful life with Don and my children. I will tell you that I still have feelings for you. After all, you were my first true love. Warren, may you rest in peace. Brenda