I feel compelled to write this. It has nothing to do with Q or politics, so feel free to stroll on by.
A great man died today and he was my friend.
His name was Harold Eldon Don Shumate. His friends called him 'Shu', but his mama named him Harold, so I called him that, also to 'F' with him a little bit. Cause that's how we did .
Here is the story of Shu. Nobody else will tell it, so let me.
He was bigger than most. He put you in mind of Patrice O'Neal the comedian, if you know who that is, both in size, mind, and way of speech. He could talk long schiff, and that's why we got along. I was the white version of his black ass.
Harold grew up in the ghetto of Los Angeles.
One time, while he was in high school, the honorable Revrum Jesse Jackson came to speak to the kids. Harold was late and walked in bold as S down the aisle wearing a hat. The Revereum, determined to make a point and to teach these feral yutes respect, stopped speaking and told Harold to take off his hat. Harold told Reverum Jackson to go 'F' himself and walked out, stingy brim and all.
Harold didn't take much schiff, even from a pandering, race hustling 'man of God', and he damn sure wasn't gonna be told what to do.
Then Harold moved to Fresno to become some kind of medical technician or some such. He tells the story of his first time driving into Fresno from L.A. He made the same mistake I did when I first came.
He didn't know not to stop during that approach into town, for there be orcs. The west side of Fresno is where the black people be is at. So Harold stops at a convenience store, to get some snacks. He pulls up to park and notices several shady characters loitering around the front of the store.
Being street-wise, big, and from out of town, he knew he would immediately be a target. He could have pulled out, but Harold liked his food and he was hungry.
So he gets out and doing his best black Forest Gump walk, he saunters into the store all derpty der, like the dopiest, countrified N word you ever did see. The mugs looked him over, dismissed him as a non-entity and went back to plotting against the white man. Harold got his snacks.
Then he got hired with the Fresno County Sheriff's Department and came to work with me. I said 'good, that's a biggun', but little did I know his worth at the time.
One time we worked at the 'Branch Jail', which was outside of town in the country and consisted of five barracks full of miniumum security 'timers'. Think Cool Hand Luke without the man with no eyes.
We were working a night shift out of Rampart...haha just kidding. But night shift. Boring as hell. All the inmates were asleep in the wee hours. Harold had brought a boom box and a Marley tape. We sat in chairs in the yard across from the inmate barracks and sang along to Marley. I think Harold was surprised that I knew all the words and better than him.
There were no complaints from the inmates, and they could have. We were hella loud. We musta been good. (I know I was. I'm a Bob Marley singin' son of a bitch).
I used to drive the van back to town when we got off work. Like I said, I talked hella schiff at the time (I got better). I was always a fan of the racial humor, and on the way back to town one time, I was talking a little smack to a black female.
Old Shu would normally have got in my racist ass, but he told me later that he saw me looking in the rear view mirror when I said my stuff and that I had a particular glint in my eye. He knew that I was just trying to 'get their goat', as the white people say, and he let me live. Harold could read people. We then became friends.
Nobody, except me, could talk to the inmates better than Shu and get them to talk to him. He became a Sergeant in the 'Classification Unit' and became a well-respected Gang Officer, travelling across the state giving lectures on black gangs (bloods, crips, and the local Fresno versions of such. He was a very popular and sought after speaker with a unique style.
I retired some years ago, while Harold toiled on and got married. He had always had one love of his life, a beautiful little black chick named Lisa May. She broke his heart yet he carried a torch for years and would have no other.
Once I retired, he finally got married and moved into my neighborhood. He then developed health issues similar to mine. His kidneys failed him and his ticker went bad, all due to diabetes, the devil's disease.
Just today, his wife came home to find him dead on the floor.
I am very sad to lose my friend and I mourn the fact that Harold Eldon Don Shumate no longer marches across the earth.
He was one of the great ones. And I will miss him.
Bagster
p.s. Sucks getting old.
Sorry to hear about your friend. Good friends are rare.
He lives on in your and I’m sure many others memories. Condolences. Some people leave a big empty spot when they leave.
Condolences for your loss. Good eulogy.
Condolences on the loss of your friend.
Harold was a man...and a friend. Both are rare.
May he rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Am sorry for your loss.
I’m sorry for your loss bagster. Never easy to lose a friend.
So sorry for your loss, you’ve done a wonderful service in sharing the essence of your good friend.
I wish that I could have met that guy.
In a way I feel as if I have thanks to your ‘eulogy.’
R.I.P.
You can’t replace an old friend. Keep his memory alive in your heart. Loving tribute.
Wonderful tribute Bagster. Sounds like knowing the man made your life sweeter.
Regards to you & his family
Sorry for your loss, bagster.
The heart and soul of a person is often best described by a friend and your tribute paints a vivid picture of his spirit. I can only hope someone will remember me so well when my time comes.
You done him proud with that memorial.
Condolences. He would be pleased by your write up, although he’d give you schiff for it.
:( (((((Bagster))))
I’m so sorry for your loss. Harold was lucky to have a friend like you that speaks so well of him.
That was great...You are a friend that everyone hopes they get in life...
Thank you for showing us your true inter self...
Bobbi.
Sorry to hear about your friend, that was a great tribute.
CGato