I'm sure you know exactly what to do by now

This riddle was the most unique answering machine message, that took me until I was probably a teenager to fully understand, but today, and everyday beyond it will mean so much more. Those words have echoed in my head ever since my mom delivered the news that Pop-Pop had been admitted to hospice. Now, more than ever, these words don't mean leave a message after the beep. No, now those words mean, take all the lessons that Pop-Pop taught us, and do exactly what we are supposed to do by now. We will all have to figure out exactly what that means on our own, but not alone. For me it means to cherish those lasting memories we have of Pop-Pop and to share some of them with all of you, today.

I'm sure you know exactly what to do by now

Watch the Orioles. As I wrote this, I had the Orioles game on in the background. Watching the Orioles has always been something I have enjoyed and cherished. I got my love for the O's when I was 9 years old, watching Cal Ripken Jr. trot around Camden Yards, shaking hands with all his fans, after he broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played record. We were living in Charlotte at the time, so it wasn't Pop-Pop introducing me to the O's, necessarily. However, his passion and love for the O's was certainly felt. My mom watches the O's game EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. So did Pop-Pop. He taught me about interleague play. He took me to meet Brooks Robinson at the Crown Station. And he passed his love for the O's onto to my mom. We watched the games. We listened to the games. We played the game. He gave me my first baseball glove. He gave me my last baseball glove, which I subsequently traded in for a lacrosse stick (figuratively speaking), but if there was a sport he loved more than baseball, it was lacrosse. Don't worry all you golfers out there, we will get to golf.

I'm sure you know exactly what to do by now

Learn to throw and catch left handed. Play wall ball. Visit the lacrosse hall of fame. Watch the final four every Memorial Day weekend. Watch live if you get the chance. Learn how to string your own pocket. He loved lacrosse. Any chance I had to drag him to Lax World when we would visit Stebbin's at Kenilworth, I did. Pop-Pop bought me my first set of Fiddle Stix. I always brought my lacrosse stick to dinners at Westridge, hoping for just 15 minutes of catch along side of the driveway.

I'm sure you know exactly what to do by now

The yard by the driveway. The neighbors separated by 3-4 small pine trees. This was where I learned to swing a golf club. I told you we would get to golf. Practice pad. Wiffle practice balls. Long game. Short game. It was all possible. Chip, he would say, in my back swing, you're bringing the club around too far. You don't want to see the club head in your side vision. You don't need to swing that hard. Let the club do the work. He was the first person I ever knew who swung a club right handed, but wrote left handed. Not much room or ideal space for putting, but that didn't mean we didn't find a place to do so. Windows on the Green in York, PA. We'd go for lunch, play 18, and finish the day with ice cream from Ye Olde Ice Cream Shoppe

I'm sure you know exactly what to do by now

Sno-balls. Pop-Pop was a fan of ice cream but nothing satisfied like a Spearmint or Skylight sno-ball. All summer long we would explore the local fare, turning in report cards of who did it best. I think we settled on Snoasis at the top of Padonia Road. They put the most syrup on the ice and definitely had the best ice to syrup ratio. However, the most refreshing sno-ball was enjoyed at the sno-ball stand in Whitehall, right on the NCR Trail, after a long bike ride from Monkton.

I'm sure you know exactly what to do by now

Lock em up. Lock #127, full nelson. Lock #383, half nelson. Lock #626, arm between your legs, wrists locked up. Pop-Pop's challenge for me was to escape the lock. Which meant how much could you squirm, wiggle, and wrestle yourself free. For years I would try and master the locks, but to no avail. There was no reward for escaping a lock, just the pure satisfaction of knowing you were freeFOR NOW.

I'm sure you know exactly what to do by now

Take a dip. Jump off the diving board. Play horse. Swim a lap or two. Race from one end of the pool to the other. Go night swimming. So many memories and days spent in the backyard, on the patio & deck, and by the pool. Summer time was meant to be spent on Westridge. Preakness was the official start of summer. Crab feasts where everyone clamored into the garage. Weekend getaways for the grandkids to Nana and Pop-Pop's meant hours on end would be spent in and around the pool.

I'm sure you know exactly what to do by now

Hey Pop-Pop! we would exclaim! Hay is for horses! He would jokingly snicker back. Put your seatbelt on Pop-Pop! we would remind him every time we went for a car ride. See ya later alligator. After a while crocodile! would be his reply.

I'm sure you know exactly what to do by now

I do Pop-Pop. I'm going to hit a bucket of balls at Longview. I am going to watch, listen, and cheer on the O's in your memory. I will pay a visit to the Lacrosse Hall of Fame at John's Hopkins. I'm going to play 18 holes of putt-putt. And then, after a Spearmint Sno-ball, I'll see ya on the 19th! Hey Pop-Pop! Put your seatbelt on! See ya later alligator
and I look forward to the day I hear you say back, After a while crocodile!

To all who mourn for
William Laudeman
the Officers and Board of the
Baltimore City College Alumni Association
extend their condolences.

Stacy, I am sending my prayers and condolences to you and your family.

Stacey, 

Sending my deepest condolences and prayers to you and your family.

Sincerely,

 To the family of William Laudeman I would like to express my condolence to you may the God of comfort bring comfort to you with his right arm extended to you Isa.41:10

Dear Stacey and Family ~  Our sincere condolences on the loss of your beloved father/grandfather/husband.  Praying for your peace.  We know Mr. Laudeman has found his.  God Bless ~

My sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Laudeman. May God comfort your hearts each day during this difficult time. 
2Thess 2:17

Kathleen, Stacey, Steph & Craig, we've lost a wonderful man who was as kind and soft spoken as they come. I have so many wonderful memories of our times together and you all are like family to my brother & me. My thoughts are with you and we'll celebrate a long life lived to the fullest. Love Always, Chris Oleynick

OBITUARY

William F. Laudeman

24 February, 1928 – 15 September, 2017

Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley Inc.

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