Going to miss you Bud

Having spent the better part of 40 years in Rainy River, I was deeply saddened when I heard Thursday that my neighbour Bud Hannam had passed away.
As a young boy Bud was a customer of mine on my paper route. He was one of my favourites. He always wanted to know how I was doing and he was always a good tipper!
As I became older I knew him from Canada Customs. He loved to talk to people and that was apparent when it was not busy at the border. Inspection done, he would talk to you until the next car pulled up behind you, if you would let him!
When I moved into his neighbourhood, he was one of the first to welcome me. Not long after that he saw me splitting wood one day and offered to sell me a splitting maul for five bucks. I told him that was too cheap... so he said how about five bucks and a drink. So we sat down at my bar and had a couple.
Bud in recent years would sit out front enjoying the view of Hannam Park, the park his dad created, and talk to me about my dog as I walked by. When I lost my dog in Sept., Bud consoled me one day.
When I got a new pooch last week I walked by with excitement, hoping to introduce her to Bud. But he was not outside when I went by. I wish he could have met her.
My deepest condolences to his wife, Buddy, and the rest of his family.
We are all going to miss him.
–Until then, Ken