A friend died yesterday. I’m in shock a bit. We drove our old cars up to Malibu for brunch just two weekends ago, right before Jazzfest.  I called his cell and his wife answered.  It went from there as you would imagine. She cried telling me the story. Her quivering voice and crying in echoing. I left work early because I couldn’t stay focused on anything. He was just such a great guy, truly, and I barely got to know him. He was a budding friend, and I know he felt the same because he told me. I met him on the movie I did here last summer and we struck up a friendship, which is rare for me. We went motorcycle riding a few times. I’m so glad I spent that day with him a couple weeks ago and got to know him even more. He had a light or aura. He was nice to people, a good husband, smart, fun, and though I didn’t know him nearly long enough, he managed to make it to the title of friend, and that’s a small circle. I wish you were here to hug away the sadness.