And then it was over

Hearts ,Hands, and Minds We pledge to Thee..........

Excerpt from Hail Sinfonia

When I think of my most "notorious " times I am usually standing side by side with John.

When I think of my wild child days,John was my cohort.

There was something about John that brought out the side of me that legends were made of and could never be duplicated without him.

John served in the military during that conflict that we all dreaded coming out of high school, Vietnam.When we met , sometime in my sophomore year, he was fresh from that tour of duty and filled with a spirit that could not and would not be shackled by conventional norms.

That spirit brought out the best of the worst in me. Thankfully, I was the voice of reason in our shenanigans, which undoubtedly served both of us well.

John was every bit Bad,Bad Leroy Brown.

You wouldn't tug on his cape or take of his mask.

Not without consequences!

On Monday as all who served did, John was honored as the nation celebrated Veterans Day.

On that afternoon, John laid down for a nap.

John never woke up.

Just like that, John was gone.

His nap had become his eternal sleep.

The memories of the mayhem that marked the years we had together are now mine and mine alone. Others have heard the stories.As I noted previously , our escapades were the stuff of which legends were built on.

Legends that are probably best not discussed in mixed company.

I no longer have the other guy who can corroborate what actually took place.

That's okay with me.

I wouldn't believe half of them if someone was relating them to me either.

We are two weeks away from Thanksgiving.

While John's passing will not be overtly present as we gather with family and friends,it will weigh heavily on my mind.

Mortality...is a bitch!

Rest in peace brother.