On June 29th, while I was off in Europe stumbling from country to country with Parris and our mighty minions, Howard Waldrop’s friends and fans and loved ones held a memorial for him in Austin Texas.

I was not able to be there in person (we were in London at the time) but there was no way I could not be a part of a remembrance for H’ard, so I taped some remarks and sent them to Robert Taylor, who was organizing the event.   I went on rather a long time, as it happens, but Howard and I had a long history and I am a wordy bastard in any case, as many of you know.  My tape ended up coming in around 45 minutes long, and could easily have gone three hours if I’d just kept talking.  There are so many stories to tell.

That was too long for the Austin memorial, so Robert and his team kindly cut and trimmed it for the event.   I do have the longer version and will likely post it here… probably later rather than sooner.   For now, we have this; not only my video, but all the other speeches and stories as well, from some of Howard’s pals.   (Some, not all.  Howard had friends all over the world.

Parts of this may bring a tear to your eye.   Other bits will make you laugh.   Laughter was one of Howard’s gifts.

And thanks go out to Robert, who organized the memorial and put all of this together.   (Not easily, I am sure.  Fans and writers are as easy to herd as cats).   Robert’s own segment, at the end, is especially moving.

 

Current Mood: melancholy