Doug_Rooker

My Bumblebee version :smile: IMG_6275.JPG

This post is as much therapeutic for me as it is informational for ballers out there who knew Mark Boender as well as for those who didn't have the privilege to knowing Mr. B. I was blessed to know Mark for many years. He would often drive over to the east side of Michigan from the Grand Rapids area where he hailed from on Friday to practice with Mark Johnson, Brent Triplett, and me for our tournament the next day at Tivoli Gardens or Hidden Lake. After we practiced, we'd head back to my house for dinner and a pontoon ride around our chain of lakes. My wife Karen loved Mr. B dearly. She'd always had a baggie full of chocolate Tootsie Pops (he only wanted the chocolate TP's), some A&W Root Beer, and vanilla ice cream waiting for Mark when he walked in our house. As soon as my two daughters knew Mark was going to be our overnight guest the arguing regarding whose room Mr. B was going to sleep in commenced. LOL! And, the arguing wasn't over being displaced by Mark and having to sleep in their sister's room. It was because Mark would always make the bed of whichever daughter's room he slept in and leave a $20 bill on the pillow. When Karen would tell Mark to stop leaving money he'd smile and laugh and make a comment that it would cost him way more to stay at a hotel. When Karen and I became empty nesters because the girls went away to college the arguing between them ceased. What I'd give to her my daughter's argue again over whose room Mr. B was going to sleep in! Or, better yet, hind sight being 20/20, I would have gladly just given the other daughter whose room Mark didn't sleep in a $20 bill just to have my buddy as a guest again in our house. Rest in peace Mr. B.