Well paul its 2:00 a.m. the bars are emptying and I just now have opened a bottle of merlot in your memory. Its only been a few short hours since I got the news, twelve hours to be exact. You my friend are in good company. You were lucky enough as I.. was to also know my good friends kathy who left us some12 years ago and also my good friend dan who who preceded kathy.. I dont know how you three had managed to make such a big imprint in my memories and life but there you are the three people I loved so dear as good friends all together now..I know the suspense must be getting to you paul.. Yes its a merlot and no its not a willamette vineyard this delicious grape came from.. calif, wine where I know yours and my heart both have longed for.. Its an 07 nothing to fancy.. and yes you probably already know dont you my friend who knew me so well.. I only hope you truly did.. For then you could begin to understand how I seemed to be so busy usually doing little.. but not to have the time to spend with my friends as I should have.. Paul you called on me and I was here, but I should have been there with you.. I now reach out and you have gone..Third glass and still no answers. Will they come. I dont know. For my wise friend is gone.. How will I know which wine to savor if I trek through the napa valley.. How will I know the right turn without my navigator.. How can I type without no response.. Paul you enlightened me in ways you will never know.. Goodnight my good friend. I love you like no other and miss you like the snow..

My very dear friend paul!!

Paul, You were my dear dear friend who I'll miss terribly! I just found out today from your mom that you left us! She had believed I had called last week and had already heard the news so you know what surprise that was for me to hear so suddenly! When I asked your mom when you had left us, she said at 4:20 on the 27th. of may..A rather fitting time of departure I thought to myself.. I loved you paul and always will have a special place in my heart and memories of our time shared.. I'll always remember how you blew away srv on your gibson while the vinyl was spinning.. man you could really make that guitar sing that night. I'll treasure the empty wine bottles we both drained together.. and now I can finally tell you how proud I am to have known you and been able to call you my friend..I remember so many of your story's from your younger days.. And how we both shared in laughter so many times.. I recall how you'd run out here for your friend tracy and how you'd leave him down at the pub while you endulged at my home.. Never understood why you never just brought your friends along but I now know it was because those were our moments together and I'll treasure those days for all eternity.. I emailed your friend k.b. today in case he had'nt heard. And after emailing him I started looking at his web site and there you were. A very nice memorial from your good friend tracy. Paul I could carry on and on. about all the memorable times we shared. Like the time you had a county sherriff bring you out to my house because he found you unable to drive yourself after making it half the way here.. Or the night we drank three bottles of wine while playing our guitars half the night only to find out they were a special reserve wine.. Man that was good wine. You paul were one of the smartest fellas I was ever blessed to have called my friend.. I'm sorry you were'nt able to take that trip through the wine country like you so wanted to do.. I may just make that trip for you.. Say hello to the gang. and hope your there to greet me when ever I decide to step off the train.. Johng from B.G.