My Dad’s Cue
I’m pretty excited about this. When I was a kid (late ‘70s) my mom bought my dad a pool table for their wedding anniversary. It was an 8’ Murray. It was down in the basement, which my dad finished off in a western/saloon decor. Since we had a nice table, Dad decided he wanted a nice cue to go along with it. We lived in Madison, WI, and Viking Cues had their factory and a showroom in town. I remember the cue display went in a big circle, and I don’t know if my memory is accurate, but it seemed like they had a couple hundred cues on display. It was a lot. My dad chose a 3-point with black nylon wrap, and he had his name included in the butt sleeve.
That was about 50 years ago. The table was sold when they moved across the country about 30 years ago, and the cue was packed up with various other items. He passed away a few years ago, and my mom asked me if there was anything of his that I would like. I told her I would really like to have his cue. She told me she didn’t know where it was, she hadn’t seen it in years, but she would look for it. I would ask her every month or two if she had any luck, and it was always no. I pretty much accepted that I wasn’t going to get it.
Earlier this week we went out to lunch, and on our way out she told me she had something in the car for me, which happens every time. It’s usually homemade cookies or pot roast or something, but this time she handed me a cue case. I was so happy. I haven’t seen this cue in decades. I put it together thinking it wasn’t going to be straight, but it is. I had initially planned on getting it refinished, but it’s in really good shape, so I don’t think I will. It feels good just having it.