(Posted on behalf of my Uncle Van)
There is, so many stories I could tell over the years, it’s hard to pic just one, but I do have a story I’d like to tell you, and it’s one of my favorites. It about a place he absolutely loved. On days when he was needing a pic-me-up he and Rob would drive out to Manteca. Now that in itself is unusual seeing they lived in Fremont. After parking the car, they would walk into one of the biggest Sporting Goods Store in the area. The Bass Pro Shops was his destination, and looking around was his intention. The Bass Pro Shop wasn’t just big it took up two floors and about 35000 square feet of selling space. He called it Disneyland for men.
Walking down every isle he could see the latest in camping gear, or the newest fishing jig. Clothing for both men and women, and don’t overlook the kids. There are rack and racks of fishing poles, a bait and tackle shop. On one wall, every type and size of gun known to man, knives of every shape and size,
On the second floor in the center of the room stands a rock tower spilling water from three or four pools, then cascading over the edge and plunging against the rocks below then flowing into pools filed with native fish. Theirs a hole section of trucker’s hats. A fly-fishing department, items to catch catfish, or ice fishing. Try your luck at saltwater fishing. There’s an on-site expert on how to hunt, and don’t forget the hunting licenses. Theres a section for taxidermy, and bird watching, hiking and RV camping.
William would spend hours looking at or asking question about the massive inventory in front of him. I don’t think I’d be that interested in that sort of thing, but clearly, he was, and that what made him special. Billie will be missed every day, but he’s in a better place. Welcomed by my own wife, his mom and dad and his lord. Sleep well my friend, sleep well.
