Willie - A Sentinal Over OB
There is a man I admire very much in Ocean Beach. I consider him to be a proud sentinel of our community. An ambassador to locals and tourists, and someone who smiles every time someone walks by. This man is a true gift to OB and a face I have enjoyed seeing every time I trek down Newport Ave.
His trade/craft, has for a long time struggled. With our society’s disposable mentality, we don’t ask someone to fix our broken vacuum. We don’t take in a tv for repair. We no longer prolong the life of something as it ages. We nearly discard it for a new one. No longer do we take in our shoes to be shined.
Willie’s Shoe Shine has been an OB business for as long as I have lived here (roughly 22 years) and I am willing to bet much longer. Originally Willie, and George’s Shoe Hospital, had residence farther towards the ocean on Newport, but for the last decade or so, Willie has had his shop on the corner of Cable and Newport. In the parking lot for Mallory’s Antique shop who graciously allow him his footprint. Now I have to admit, I have only taken two pairs of shows in to Willie for a shining. But to this day, they still look better then when I bought them. Willie, or Sarge as many of the local military lovingly refer to him from his Vietnam career, also sells Buddy Poppies that benefit the local VFW post. He has a few POW/MIA stickers for cars that he has stacked in his shoe shine shack he will hand out to remind us many are still lost. An American flag waves proudly above his post.
Willie is someone I worry that I, and other OB’ceans, will someday realize we have taken for granted. Each day, he posts up there at his shop. Keeping a watchful caring eye over those who by. We cruise up and down and we say “Hi Willie” as we pass. He smiles each time and replies with a “hi baby” or “good to see you”. If a man ever had a twinkle in his eye, he has it. And if you ever get a chance to hear him speak of his beloved fallen comrades, fellow American’s and the OB townspeople he loves, you will see that twinkle joined with a glisten of a tear. As proud as Willie is, he is not afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve. But a man like him, is too proud to ever ask for help. Too much a Marine to appear weak and needy. And too generous to take when he could possibly give.
Willie has some great stories I have had the privilege to hear. One I recall impacting me, being the only black surfer when he was growing up in OB and hearing how he used to surf with “Mouse” and other legendary local names. Surfing is hard enough to master for most, but to do so in racially challenged times, must have made it so much more difficult. But you won’t hear resentment from Willie. Only pride, that he used to to be out there too!
Willie’s arthritic left knee, which can tell the weather better then the K-YUUUU-SI anchor ever could, doesn’t allow for surfing anymore. Walking to the car windows of visitors is probably more painful then he lets on. His journeys now are mostly in his stories, and his smile.
I always visit Willie when I need a Buddy Poppy to take to my father’s marker at Fort Rosecrans. Or if my wife needs a flower for her hair. We have the red ribbon flowers throughout our home, some dusty, some fresh. Always with a little piece of paper that says, “We will not forget” attached to it.
So this is dedicated to Willie, who I promise, that while you greet on my future treks up Newport, and that you are on that corner and smiling, to “never forget” you. And to smile right back every time I see you. May nobody ever wait until that corner is empty, to acknowledge how special you.
A fixture of the community I grew up.
A man I respect and admire, yet barely know.
A sentinel standing guard.
So next time you are going through your closet, if you see a pair of shoes a little ragged that you might need to wear some day, please take those down to Willie for a shining. He will take good care of you. In fact, go take him a pair today. Go!