You remember a post about a year ago about the broom man? Since I walk past his front door often, and when the weather is good he is sometimes out sweeping his curb gutters, we always wave and he always holds out his broom and asks me to sweep for a while.

A few days ago, I finally decided I ought to introduce myself and at least learn his name. He was sweeping away under 95-degree sunshine (neither of us have enough sense to stay by the air conditioner). I shook his hand and asked his name. He said, “You know the name Costello? Well, that ain’t me. I’m Abbot. Ha-ha-ha.” He is Kenneth Abbot, an 83-year-old retired steamfitter whose wife died two years ago. I could say he lives alone, but that might be misleading.

Without prompting, Ken asked, “You know why I sweep out the gutters in front of my house? Well, sir, it’s because I get satisfaction from it. And I meet all sorts of wierd people.” That’s good enough for me. We stood there under the broiling sun and talked some more. I told him I was an Ayers, not a Lew Ayers, nor from the Ayers Oil Company, just Dave Ayers. I think he was a bit disappointed. When I told him I was a founder of Quintron Corporation, he shot right back, “Then how about a loan?” and cracked up. After he got his laugh out, he wheezed a bit and said that he just loves kidding people and told me a few stories about the people he meets as he goes to stores around town, mostly about exchanging hugs with young ladies. “Before I go out, I take a shower and put on some deoderant so they will say that I smell pretty.”

Ken is just one cheerful, likable guy. He stays active, chats up neighbors and walkers, and enjoys life, even if his knees don’t work quite like they used to. As we parted, he said he enjoyed our talk, and he’ll always be ready to talk back and forth with me, “15 minutes for me and 5 minutes for you. Ha-ha-ha.”

Dave, whose day was better for having met Ken Abbot.