My Uncle Irvin Balloun passed last week. He was 85. Born June 29, 1934, he woulda been
86 his year, same age as my own Dad. Uncle Irvin was a piece of work, a great piece
of work who would drive out to the house and visit when Sue and I came to town.
Stepping up to the door in his signature Overalls and Converse, the latter of which
served as his one shout out to personal panache in his life, he would visit for
an hour to catch up. We would check in
on his latest exploits, his “friends”, etc..
He was deeply engaged in important changes in lives around
him. Days of Our Lives was not to be
missed. A couple of weeks ago Irvin told
his granddaughter Kayla, “Kayla, I know
this virus is scary and bad, and I’m so sorry for what I’m about to say, but I
really need the governor to stop interrupting Days of Our Lives.” The thought that a pandemic would take
precedent over friends that had been a part of your life since 1965, “…the lives, loves, triumphs and tragedies of the Horton,
Brady, Kiriakis, Hernandez and DiMera families” must have seemed ridiculous.
I have NO idea how my Aunt Sharon and Irvin met. I can remember my fascination with him. His missing finger! OMG! He
always had some story about how he lost his finger (bit off by a catfish, shot
it off huntin’ rabbits). In truth, I
assume he lost it in a carpentry accident since he was an amazing carpenter,
but the thought of losing a finger to a 9 year old was stunning!
I can remember on Sunday afternoons, when we
were all cleaning up the dishes from my Grandma Green’s Sunday dinner (that
happened at noon), Irvin would pull up in this green, sparkle-paint dune
buggy. He was like that weird-haired guy on Speed Racer....but without the hair. He would take everyone “down to the
sand bars” on the Arkansas River and ride around. He was a unique presence in our lives. Irvin was a father to my cousin Robin, and
the quality of person that she is today is a testament to her mom and dad, and
her own hard, work, stubbornness and spouse’s support. I know that Irvin was immensely proud of her
and her accomplishments.
When I called my Dad on Thursday to tell him that Irvin had
passed, he was surprised. “Well I thought
Irvin was healthy! He seemed healthy.” If you think that teenagers think that they
are invincible you should talk to some 80 year old country dudes. They can’t figure why someone would die
unless they had “the cancer” or a load of pulpwood fell on them. My Dad conveyed a story to me that was interesting
and I convey it here.
“See Irvin was in the same grade as me, except he was put
back a year cause he couldn’t afford to go to school his senior year.” How’s
that Dad? “Well, after World War II the schools didn’t have enough money so
people had to pay tuition to go. Irvin’s
parents could only afford to send one of their kids so they sent Lillie Jo and
Irvin stayed home.” This simple story is a testament to 1)
how much people of Irvin’s generation worked to be successful and 2) how weak
and whinny we have all become over the past 86 years. If the US Government told people that they would
have to pay a tuition for their kids to go to public school next year, they would
have armed mutiny on their hands. Oh yea,
they already do. No wonder Irvin was
more interested in how Horton’s and Brady’s were fairing than the Trumps and
Bidens.
Mountain Pig…out.
