Enjoy Every Sandwich

Sunday afternoon a legend crossed the bar. Warren Zevon, songwriter/musician extraordinaire passed in his sleep. He was the son of a Russian immigrant father and a Mormon mother. He leaves a daughter and son , Ariel and Jordan and twin grandchildren born by Ariel in July 2003. He was 56 years old. Mesothelioma was the illness. I thank God for his music and its influence in my life. Truly there is Tenderness on the Block. Both of my daughters know.

This was no ordinary cat. His moving ballads will shake your soul. He also wrote wild and crazy rock based anthems. He forever had the surprise waiting. I had heard his second album and was given the third, Excitable Boy, by a friend that is now buried in the past. When listening to Werewolves of London, Tenderness on the Block, Nighttime in the Switching Yard and the rest I realized here was someone deserving of repeated plays. And I have played; over and over. His tunes never get old. The name of the art on this album cover is Willy on the Plate. Just Sunday morning I posted a quote from this album. It came from memory.

People called. Nice to know that others were caught up in this music of a true ‘free spirit’. David Stephens drove to the top of a huge earthen dam, watched the water, smoked a cigar and drank a refreshing beverage in his honor. He thanked me for turning him on to Zevon music. Tammy shed tears of remembrance during our conversation. She laughed and cried about a mutual friend now gone. We think Warren will meet her (our friend Linda that passed away July 13, 2003) on the "other" side. She was playing the lastest Zevon album, The Wind, in the background and a flood of emotion overwhelmed me. Last night, David Letterman was sincerely choked up and paid a wonderful tribute on his show. Letterman aired a video clip from Warren's last appearance on Late Night. Warren knew he was dying and was asked if he had any insight to pass on about the coming event. He replied, "Enjoy every sandwich." It was apparent that Dave and Paul both will sorely miss him. Hey, Warren, didn't know ya' personally, but I will too. Thanks for being the dude.

A gentle human 'put out to sea'
now hastens down the wind…


"As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death."
Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519)