We may find ourselves truly blessed with great friendships and humble mentors during the zig zaggy course of our lives. I have been fortunate in having experienced both. That same blessing, my mentor, past away. The news paralyzed me. The services commemorating his life were in New York City and then Istanbul. Unfortunately I was unable to attend, and that hurt more than anything. I do however, cherish the fact that we managed to form an honest friendship in the months before he past on. When I worked for him (Arif Mardin, when I worked at Atlantic Records) I could barely build up the nerve to truly engage him in real conversation. Talk about life, the real stuff, and he liked to do that.

We were always so busy that we never got the chance then, yet this man found the time to help me during some heavy storms. He is a legend to readers of Rolling Stone or fans of Aretha Franklin and Norah Jones. But he was the best friend to me. I know I wasn't one if his closest friends, though I know he cared for me greatly. We were divided by so many years in age, and hey, he had alot of people to love and take care of! I'm saddened he wasn't there to help us through the perils of last year. But, then I thought, he was. Honestly, when things got so bad I wanted to end it I thought of him, and how he believed in my talents, and how he loved to read my stupid poems and music reviews. Then I looked at my beloved wife, and I knew I had something to offer.

We all need humility and care of that mans level.



Michael
-there's a rant bout our Independence below. I wrote it on the fourth.