I had a strange day yesterday. Not the kind of strange where I dealt with a really weird customer, but rather, the juxtaposition of two major events was strange and somehow appropriate. I was on my lunch break at work and I was going to go pick up some Thai food. I checked my cell phone and noticed that my mom had called me. I listened to the message and my mom told me that a friend of mine since childhood had passed away. For those of you who knew him, this was Larry Hays. I went to school with Larry from Kindergarten all the way till our Senior year in high school. I went to a small private school and our class size was small, around 25 give or take. I wasn't best buds with Larry but it was really shocking to hear of someone that you had known for that long and spent that much time with in proximity had passed. From what I know, he died in the hospital waiting for a lung transplant. He had Cystic Fibrosis and always had a grim prognosis since he was little. I was hearing this and called my mom to find out what she knew. I talked with her and then I had to leave to go pick up my lunch, I was going to call her back. I got my lunch and got in the car, turned on the radio to the jazz radio station, and I heard my song "A Fine Spring Morning." This was the first time I had ever heard myself on the radio. I had dreamed of this moment ever since I was very young, and I was expecting all the glory, the ego boost, the thoughts of fame and glory. Instead, I was completely and utterly humbled by what had just occurred. I did not deserve any of this. I am so blessed and I don't think that I am thankful enough. I am so glad that I didn't have that moment of ego satisfaction. Someone like Larry had a hard and short life, and I never heard him complain about what he had to go through with his health. I often complain about what I don't have, I don't have enough gigs, I wish I had a better job, I wish I didn't have to have a day job. Fact is, I have a job! I am living out my dream here and I don't stop to praise God for that. I wish I had the maturity when I was in school with Larry to fully understand what this means, but hindsight is 20/20. Those of you who know Larry, I believe the memorial service is tomorrow at the Methodist Church in Moscow. I would go if I could, but I can't. I believe there is some sort of fund set up in memory of Larry to benefit Cystic Fibrosis research. I am sure that information is available at the service.