Heartbreak, Texas: Friday Night at the Waterin' Hole Cafe - Waco Tribune-Herald
My favorite was Sally Rae, queen of The Waterin’ Hole Café. Swen Halburtson, at 106 years, was a favorite character of most everyone. Old Swen sat back next to The Waterin’ Hole’s juke box, a machine with real vinyl discs, which could play both kinds of music: country and western. At his advanced age, though, Swen’s entertainment capacities were considered a better deal that the quarter-robbin’ juke box. For a few drinks and some of Sally Rae’s potato salad, Old Swen would entertain the whole Waterin’ Hole crowd most all night with tales of Scandinavian glory. Old Swen told us that he thought the perfect death would be fighting for a good cause, underarmed and outmanned, but righteous at heart. Swen wanted to die like his Viking ancestors, with a weapon in his hand. To kill a possum, it’s better to try a heart shot. Old Swen was Norwegian by heritage, and this explained a lot. The only safe way to kill a Norwegian with a head shot is to use a 30. 06 or larger, preferably at a short range, but I digress. Old Swen had the soul of a Berserker, despite his thin, somewhat weakened state. Source: www.wacotrib.com
