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Author
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Topic: Wally Schirra's last "gotcha"
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FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-31-2008 09:46 AM
  
With Dee O'Hara's permission, I am recounting a story that took place this weekend...
Jo and Suzy Schirra wanted a particular former possession of Wally's to go to someone he knew and loved, and as I was heading from San Diego to San Jose this week on business, I had the task of being the delivery boy.
For as long as anyone can remember, Wally had a rather amusing glass martini-mixer on his office shelf - shaped like a hospital urine sample bottle, complete with a 'doctor prescription' printed on the side for the suggested alcohol mix ratios. And as Dee had been the recipient of urine-sample-related pranks from Wally in past decades when she was working as the astronauts' nurse, it was decided that she should be the one to receive this particular item.
After some rather funny looks and queries from airport security as my bag was being X-rayed and then inspected, I arrived at Dee's home. Whereupon I explained, with as serious a face as I could keep, that the Schirra family had requested that I deliver a priceless heirloom to Dee, one of his prize possessions that she was to forever treasure and remember him by. I almost had her convinced, I think.
Then, I pulled out the bottle, along with a note from Jo, which read "Here's Wally's last gotcha!" The look on Dee's face when she saw the sample bottle shape emerge from the bag was, simply, priceless. And was quickly followed by a good deal of laughter as Wally's final "Gotcha" sank in.
We were sure to raise a glass in Wally's memory later that night.
Although, thankfully, not one poured from a sample bottle. 
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Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 03-31-2008 10:10 AM
I love it! It's classic Wally.My only fear is, when I get to the Pearly gates, he's going to be in charge of the book! |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 03-31-2008 10:32 AM
Haha! |
Mr Meek
Member Posts: 353
From: Chattanooga, TN
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 03-31-2008 12:09 PM
Posthumous pee jokes from the master of the 'Gotcha'. Well played. Very well played. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 03-31-2008 12:30 PM
Francis, we need a photo of the "prescription"!! |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 03-31-2008 12:44 PM
Pee-riceless! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-31-2008 03:50 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Gary:
Francis, we need a photo of the "prescription"!!
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dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 03-31-2008 09:16 PM
Thanks! You just made my day! |
music_space
Member Posts: 1179
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 03-31-2008 09:24 PM
Ditto... |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 03-31-2008 09:27 PM
Francis, Great story! After reading this I decided to watch the 3rd installment of "From the Earth to the Moon", and I'd be willing to bet that there will never be a "last" Wally "gotcha". He'll always be out there threatening us with another "gotcha". |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-31-2008 09:34 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MCroft:
I'd be willing to bet that there will never be a "last" Wally "gotcha". He'll always be out there threatening us with another "gotcha".
I certainly felt that way when I was at the airport having to explain this enormous damn urine bottle to the security people. Dammit, Wally, you got me too with this one! |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 1043
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 03-31-2008 09:42 PM
Thanks for sharing that Francis. Great story and thanks for traveling to make it happen! |
Jim
Member Posts: 73
From: San Antonio TX
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 03-31-2008 10:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by garymilgrom:
Francis, we need a photo of the "prescription"!!
Wouldn't that be a 'pee-scription'...?  |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 04-01-2008 05:24 PM
And now we get a whole bunch of pee jokes and puns for the forseable future on the forum now too. So I guess you can rank this one right up there with another one of Wally's last "Gotchas". They are the gifts that keep on giving.  |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-01-2008 05:36 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jay: And now we get a whole bunch of puns for the forseeable future on the forum
Which reminds me... along with the sample bottle, I also tried to take two dead animals with me though airport security. At which point they stopped me and said...
...wait for it... ..."Sorry, Mister French, only one carrion per passenger is allowed." |
E2M Lem Man
Member Posts: 846
From: Los Angeles CA. USA
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 04-02-2008 01:20 PM
Oh, that was baaaaad! That joke stunk - you would believe you were carrying Skunks! Do you work for Lockheed, now?Are you a turtle, Francis? |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-02-2008 01:39 PM
quote:
Originally posted by E2M Lem Man:
Are you a turtle, Francis?
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divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 05-03-2008 01:49 PM
And we should all lift a glass of KJ in Wally's honor on this, the first anniversary of his final flight from earth. |
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