Walt Berkuta

The similarity between our last names notwithstanding, I’m not related to Walt Berkuta other than growing up next door to the Berkuta family.  I’m in Nor Cal today visiting with my good buddy Paul, and Walter Berkuta was Paul’s dad.   Walter was one of the coolest guys in the neighborhood because he used to ride a motorcycle, and as you can see from the photo below, it was not just any motorcycle.   While visiting with Paul and talking over old times (we’ve known each other all our lives), I had to grab a copy for the blog…

Paul and I were guessing that’s a ’36 or ’37 Knucklehead Harley (if any of you know please send an email to me), and I think Walt was in his early 20s when that photo was taken.   It’s a great photo, it’s got to be at least 70 years old, and it captures Walter’s personality perfectly.   Paul’s Dad and my Dad grew up together, and Paul and I repeated the pattern when we grew up together (all in the same very rural neighborhood).  It’s amazing how our interests and personalities are so much like those of our fathers, and how similar Paul’s interests and mine are.   We’re two apples who ended up on the other side of the country, but we didn’t tall too far from the tree.