Pam, this is so thoughtful of you.:tears2:My condolences to all for these losses. I hope BunnyMommy and Sherman are well, and I'm thinking of the Missus, too.
I guess I should take the opportunity to pay a little tribute to Dilland Darry's namesakes, my dear friend Bill and his brother Barry.
I first met Billy in a music store years ago. He asked me for directions to an addresson the west side oftown.He was the best looking guy I'd ever seen.
When I left the store afew minutes later, he wasstanding at a bus stop -- heading east! I pulled my car up, told him he was going the wrong way but that I was heading in that direction (I was), although I had to stop at hometo pick up theitem I needed to deliver (I really did!)
Well, we stopped at my house, he came inside, looked around and made himself at home -- and stayed10 years.
He pulled out a guitar that first dayand started to sing -- hewas quite possiblythe best singer I had ever heard, and that I've heard since.As it turned out, he had been something of a teen idol in his youth, fronting a family bandwith his face plastered on teen magazines. I guess the pressure must have been too much for him, it gave way to just being plastered.
I knew he was trouble -- make that Trouble -- an hour afterwe met. He said, "I'll be right back," and returned with a bottle of hard liquor and a case of beer and proceeded to throw back the works in about two hours. By himself.
Our romance didn't last all that long --Ididn'tsuffer fools gladly, and I had even lesstolerance for alcoholics -- butwe retained a very deep friendshipfor years.Whenever I moved-- a new apartment, a new city-- Billy would eventually show up on my doorstop, suitcase in hand, even after Imarried.
The last number ofyears we fell out of touch. The episodes fueled by pills and booze had worn thin, and then he moved to another city. He was in failing health, thanks to the abuses. I kept meaning to call him, but I never did-- something I deeply regret.
Late last year I read that his younger (and favourite) brother Barry, who had visited on occasion (and who was even more messed upthan Billy, if that was possible -- at least Billy didn't jump offbridges when drunk), had disappeared in the aftermath of Katrina. I don't think anyone who knew him was all that worried. He disappeared all the time, for months, sometimes years. But this time, he didn't resurface until many months later, when theyfound his body undera New Orleans pier. He had drowned in the flooding.
Billy was too ill to travel to Barry's memorial. He died athome that same day. For some reason, I was surprised. Shocked. And devastated.Taking a look back over the years, I realized how much he influenced every facet of my life.
I'm glad I namedDill after Billy -- Dill and Darry came intomy life the week after Billy died--becauseas it turned out,just like Bill, the little guy is Trouble.And I love him very much, too.
Rest in Peace,guys.
ink iris: Your demons have left the building.Billy, I owe you so much. I'm sorry I didn'ttell you that when I still had the chance.