I always liked talking with Ray Taylor, Sr. He used to hang out at Knight Light Candle & Imports in Detroit, on Gratiot Avenue above its Mack Avenue crossing. From conversations, found out he'd been in the US Army during the Vietnam-American War, that he'd suffered frostbite during a frigid Detroit winter, that he loved dreaming about North Carolina. Seemed he had close relatives near Garner and Wilson. In fact, I thought he was originally from the Tar Heel State. Always seemed so wistful about it.
It's weird how we only fill in some of the gaps of what we think we know about people after they die. Hadn't known, for instance, that Ray had been married and had kids. Hadn't known that he'd worked for Ford. What I did know was, every time he entered Knight Light when I was there, he'd proclaim, "Ray's back!" And then he'd launch into the topics of the day.
Ray died suddenly at the age of fifty-six in 2003. RIP, Raymond Taylor, Sr., 1/11/1947-9/19/2003. Sad to say that Big John, another Knight Lighter, has died, too, in the past year.
Today's Rune: Possessions.
6 comments:
If it is the small details that make one know another then it is true that no one really knows anyone.
"you think you know me but you only know a portion." I think that's from a Kid Rock song.
Erik, I do not know who I was, but certainly somebody valuable thing, for you to be lamenting the death. How he rests in peace! Beijus
Back in '91, a friend of mine opened a bar here in Chicago. When he first bought it, it came with all the old "regulars," who were mostly very old guys. Over the next five or six years, it was fascinating to watch them mingle with the growing crowd of young hipsters. Most, if not all of the old guys are dead now. Miss them and miss their stories.
Ok last comment sucked and was a downer. I like older people, they usually have really cool stories. My condolences for your friend.
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