Typically, my group of friends didn’t hang with the ‘little kids’ in the neighborhood…but with Mike Weller, we made an exception. This little guy who was three years my junior was just sharp and witty enough to keep up with us. We seldom had to leave Mike behind when we roamed all over the neighborhood, hiking back to our favorite spots in the woods, playing tennis, watching dirty videos, trekking our bikes all the way across Beavercreek to Rocky’s pizza, G.D. Ritzy’s, or Lofino’s - all the while cigarettes dangling from our mouths. He always kept up.
He lived on Pine Bluff on the western side of the neighborhood, while Chris, Kenny, and I lived on the eastern side of the plat. His sister Dawn was best friends with Chris’ sister Lisa. For the most part, we all had a strong neighborhood alliance…although Mike sometimes also would hang out with Matt Dehait on Summerhaven, who wasn’t quite looked at as favorably in my eyes. Like all the kids who grew up in that plat, we can each recall having many good times with each other leisurely growing up summer after summer in one of the world’s all-time greatest neighborhoods.
Later in life, I would have a close association with Mike’s Mom Sue as she became my boss in Krogerland down at the divisional branch office. She often kept me apprised of what was going on in Mike’s life and often related to him what I was up to. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I would request to meet up with Mike somehow. Since he lived in Cincinnati, it took a while before such a ripe occasion would occur.
On Friday, June 29, I had made plans for Chris Demeter to come up from his place in Cincy for a visit…and I had also tried to invite one of our other neighborhood friends Lee Ballinger. I thought that this would be the perfect time to get word to Mike that we would be meeting up. Unfortunately, some family health issues prevented Lee from making it, but Mike jumped at the opportunity - which was quite fortuitous considering his wife was away in New York.
As soon as Mike came to the door, the first thought that struck me was that he was now taller than I am. I had probably seen Mike at some point in the early 1990’s when I worked at the Beavercreek Kroger store, but generally we hardly ever saw each other during my high school years. In fact, since Mike was three years younger, we never attended the same school after I left Fairbrook Elementary.
The second thing I soon found out about Mike was that he was extremely well-spoken, intelligent, still funny, and had an impeccible memory to challenge mine. While Chris professes not to remember too much (although once in a while he comes up with some good recollections), Mike was sharp as a tack in relating some of the most minute details of things even I had long forgotten.
We had a great evening chatting over wine, snacks, and some good music. Christi stopped by for a visit during our get-together to see this reunion of the neighborhood paperboys. I’d love for us all to be able to get together again when Lee can make it. In the meantime Mike and Chris got together on the following Sunday and played tennis for the first time in nearly twenty years. I’ll leave it up to them to tell you the outcome.
Former Dayton Daily News paperboys make good
Continue to the next reunion…
Thanks Brad, I had a great time. We will have to do that again soon.
Mike Weller
July 4th, 2007
Ha — this is great Brad — I forgot what a little dork my brother was…. Just kidding of course - I couldn’t have asked for a better bro and it’s cool that you have all reunited!
Dawn Laufersweiler
July 5th, 2007