Roy

It started today with a phone call from Kim Gray, a former manager from Don Hall's Tavern at Coventry with whom Roy and I used to work. She just left a message, telling me to call her.
Unexpected phone calls like these almost always mean bad news.

Roy Nerzig, friend and co-worker during my sojourn in Ft. Wayne, IN was killed in a car accident almost two weeks ago. It seems odd- I was just thinking of him yesterday.
I didn't cry when I found out- I would almost feel fake to do so, we weren't that close. He did however encourage me to go to massage school, which is what I am now doing. His quick smile and small pieces of food thrown across the galley at me are memories I will always have, and are tempered with that aura that only occurs after someone has passed away.

I tried to take time today to tell friends and others that I ran in to that they are appreciated. Please do the same- we never know how long we'll have.

Below are the lyrics to the only song I wanted to listen to today, Latter Days, written by Linford Detweiler of Over The Rhine. They inspired me to be totally honest with myself. I gave my two weeks to Starbucks tonight. The siren stared impassively at me and sang on.


What a beautiful piece of heartache this has all turned out to be.
Lord knows we've learned the hard way all about healthy apathy.
And I use these words pretty loosely.
There's so much more to life than words.

There is a me you would not recognize, dear.
Call it the shadow of myself.
And if the music starts before I get there dance without me.
You dance so gracefully.
I really think I'll be o.k.
They've taken their toll these latter days.

Nothin' like sleepin' on a bed of nails.
Nothin' much here but our broken dreams.
Ah, but baby if all else fails,
nothin' is ever quite what it seems.
And I'm dyin' inside to leave you
with more than just cliches.

There is a me you would not recognize, dear.
Call it the shadow of myself.
And if the music starts before I get there dance without me.
You dance so gracefully.
I really think I'll be o.k.
They've taken their toll these latter days.

But tell them it's real.
Tell them it's really real.
I just don't have much left to say.
They've taken their toll these latter days.
They've taken their toll these latter days.