That, Bob, is a very thought-provoking tribute to what must have been not only a cherished friend, but also one of those guys Webster defines as a "soul mate". People who have (or have had) such relationships are fortunate. I had one. Incidentally, his name was "Bob".

My sympathies to you and to others who were close to the man.

I met Bob Taylor when he and I were assigned as roommates for our freshman year of college. That was 59 years ago and we remained close buddies until his death. That was five weeks ago.

He was cranky, belligerent, opinionated, and frequently a real horse's rear. He was also the most generous and kindhearted guy I ever knew. He was godfather to my kids and we stood up for each other at our weddings.

We also had two dandy fist fights.

Your reflections on your friendship with your man Bob have stirred up a lot of old memories for me. Thanks for sharing them.


Jim