In July of 2019, my dear friend Reed Rickman died. He was my entry to New York City stuff, and to Jewish stuff, and to the infrastructure industry. He was a really generous guy, who took twelve of his friends, including my brother Dan, my friend Trevor, and a bunch of our Studebaker friends, to Cuba a few years ago. Dammit that hurt. Still does.
Then in September Rob Skelley died. We were best friends since sixth grade or thereabouts. We used to smoke a lot of weed together, and listen to music. He turned me on to Queen back in the day, and he was a good guitarist. He lived in his mom’s house in Canton Ohio all his life, and I loved him. I can’t help thinking I should have moved in with him to help him out in his final months. That might have been weird, but it was a big house, and I could have tidied up while i was there. Go hug your best friend before it’s too late!
In December Mary Vielhaber died. She was very close to Marcia, and a great friend to me as well. She was our excuse to go the theater in Chelsea Michigan and to visit Ann Arbor. I like ’em erudite, and she was erudite!
Good riddance to 2019! 2019 blew.