Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Farewell to a Friend

Some of you might have seen a previous posting concerning a friend of mine, John O'Brien, who passed away a couple weeks ago. I worked with "John for sixteen years and he taught me the ropes at work and how to be a better person as well. Someone found a picture of him at work yesterday and it seems a shame not to post it so you can see the guy. That smile was not unusual for him. He was a quiet man in many ways, but having him on your team somehow made work lighter and easier. He is sorely missed by many besides myself.

I won't repeat many of his praises, but I forgot to add that he was one of those unique guys I've met who could talk about anything from the engine of a Ford Mustang GTO to the Allegory of Plato's Cave to all manner of American music and make it all just seem like casual chat. I will reiterate that if you have a friend or colleague you work with and enjoy their company, let them know.

John loved the Old American West and its songs, books, films, etc. He also loved the music inspired by that lore. I send this link out as a tribute to my friend (shown above). He would sing a few lines now and then when things got slow just to amuse his fellow workers. The clip above is a MacDavis version of a song he sometimes sang at work breaks, with a whimsical tone in his voice. I hope somewhere in the Great Beyond, John old sport, you can hear it as well.

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