[FM] Can you fix this? It's a broken heart.

[Christian Bauman]

> "Arthur Wood" <kerrkron@waverider.co.uk> WROTE:
> Searchers in Gillespie County, west of Austin in the
> Hill Country,
> found the body of Alan David Grierson this morning.
> Eyewitnesses told
> deputies the man was driving north on RR 1376 when
> his vehicle
> stalled at a creek crossing last night. The waters
> reportedly washed him off
> the roadway and into the creek
> itself. 
> I am so sad about this. Deep condolences to Al's
> family and friends.
> For the roses, indeed, Al.
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> 
> Al Grierson was a sweet man and a caring musician
> who will be missed by all
> who knew him. Once more, the Kerrville Folk Festival
> has lost another of its
> "precious sons." Take some time today, to say a
> prayer for Al and his
> family.
> 
> Arthur Wood.
> Birmingham, England.
> 
> 
> 

What a terrible, terrible thing.

I can't say I was a close friend to Al...
If I sat back and thought about it, we probably met
face to face less than 10 times, with maybe ten or
fifteen e-mails between us.

But in that way that all of us in this community can
quickly feel like we're family -- especially those who
frequent festivals, and especially Kerrville --
reading this news of Al's passing this morning was a
sad, sad shock, as if a distant, eccentric, but much
loved uncle had left this earth.

Bulky Al, with his old hat pulled down over his eyes,
sometimes suspenders holding things up, usually a
bandana around his neck, was always a sign for me
that: Yep, it's May, and yep, I'm in Texas, and thank
God for all of it. He was fun, with a fine sense of
humor, a sweet voice, and a genuine and innocent love
for the music. 
Online, I remember with fondness his occasional rants
on the folkDJ-list a few years back, always willing
and ready to jump into the argument, usually with a
good (and good-natured) dig.
In person, his tent was pitched across the road from
us at Camp Coho/Villa Vino, and he'd be one of the
first up in the morning because he had to go to work.
Sometimes we'd have a coffee together, and he'd say
"I'll be thinking of you today, you guys cooling off
in the Medina. Have fun, and I'll be back tonight."

I live a long, long way from Texas, and don't know
much about these things, and wonder if it was the
Medina that got him...
Jesus Christ, what a shame this is.

>From all of us here at Camp Hoboken,

For the roses, Al.

-Chris


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Christian Bauman  http://www.folkweb.com/christianbauman
christianbauman@pobox.com
"You may grow old, even ugly, but if you are a good cook
people will always find a path to your door" -James Beard
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