About this blog title

I cannot tell you how many times I have shown up at events with a couple of cameras around my neck, a gadget bag full of odds & ends and a lighting kit and have been asked that question. If it happened once every few years, that would be one thing. But it happens a LOT. It's like getting pulled over by the police and he's standing there with uniform, gun, flashing lights and asking him "Are you a cop?" I would love to come back with a witty reply, such as "No, I am Jesus. Don't you recognize my beard?" However, I cannot be that rude.


Thursday, May 21, 2015

On Death and Dying: Larry Leroy

May 12th, 2015, my friend Larry Leroy dies.

Wednesday, May 20th I go out to work on my garden. I see an alert on my iPhone that Larry Leroy died. It is from a mutual friend.

I call Donny, Larry's friend of 40+ years. He says Larry died from heart attack in his truck at the post office in Theresa, NY. He had heart attack. He died Saturday May 16th.

I call John F in Syracuse. No answer. leave message that Larry passed away.

8:00 PM watching Survivor on CBS. An unknown call comes in. I not answer. Two commercials later I listen to voice mail. it is John. Please call him back about Larry.

9:30 I call John. His wife read obituary that says Larry died May 12th.

I google obituary. Larry did die on the 12th.
Rewind in time to April 4th. I text Larry, "Are you still alive?" Just a joke because I have not spoken with him in a while.

April 29th I am driving and get a call from Larry. I cannot answer. Voicemail from Larry: "Gary, I am still alive."

Larry's obituary published on Saturday the 16th. Donny thinks Larry died on 16th. I hear from Donny on the 20th. Larry is gone. Family has all ready taken care of him and his remains.

Thursday the 20th they plan to have an estate sale at his house.

I talk to John. I plan to go to Larry's house in Theresa and meet his family.

Larry Leroy, 64 years old. Viet Nam veteran. Classical guitarist. Funny man. For 4 or 5 years I met up with him every Thursday and we played guitar, worked on music. I will miss him. He was a really good man. No wife. No kids.

Larry was  born in California and his immediate family still live there.

Tomorrow I may meet up with Donny and John at Larry's house. I hope so. We can commiserate.