A blog about New York City, my books, and my cats. Mostly.
More from that same concert I posted a picture from earlier. I wish I could remember the date, but my guess is anywhere from 1979 – 1982. In the pictures are Aly Sujo, David Young, and is that Robin Eaton just barely visible in first one?
Because of Aly’s death and things unsaid, I thought I would write a line about everyone I love, just in case I die any minute now, or anyone I love dies any minute now. At least I won’t have that regret. But then I thought, what if I forget someone? Or what if one thing I say about one person is so much better than something I say about someone else?? Filing this under the category of: you can’t win.
Except someone recently pointed out to me that once in a blue moon you do, therefore saying ‘you can’t win,’ isn’t really accurate. Okay, so perhaps the best, most realistic way to approach the rest of life is: Once in a freaking blue moon you win so hang in there.
Here is Finney, making sure he’s not missing anything.
Speaking of Halloween and living, I posted last month about a couple of girls who are going to recreate the parade dance scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at the Halloween Parade this year. Their website says they’re expecting ridiculously large numbers of people to participate, and I don’t doubt it. It just looks like the best fun. They emailed me the following:
The time has come to begin rehearsals for the choreographed dancers. If you would like to be a part of the beer maid brigade, or if you personally have always seen yourself dancing upon some stairs, this is your moment in the sun. At night. E-mail us and sign up for this amazing opportunity!!
They are Mina and Kara and you can email them at: projectbueller@gmail.com
I see that some people didn’t understand that you need to email Barry Rutizer if you want to attend Aly’s memorial. His email is barryrutizer@eiu.com. He’ll let you know the final details of where and exactly when.
(Elephant & Castle, a breakfast location of choice for Aly.)
If you’ve been following the story you know that the dig for Roger Dale Madison ended without finding his body. Weston DeWalt described the scene to me. “A Ventura County Sheriff’s Department chaplain said a few words and the sister went around and shook the hands of the 50-60 detectives, dog handlers, volunteers” and Weston himself.
I wonder how many people had to fight tears when Roger’s sister shook their hand. It wasn’t ended because they didn’t think Roger had been buried there, but the dig had moved close enough to the highway to become dangerous to the recovery workers and the dogs. But “all three cadaver dogs on scene were continuing to alert in the pit and upon the last of the dirt taken from the pit and upon the equipment which had been in use.” Everyone believes Roger is in there.
His sister does. And in spite of the outcome, I could see her being extremely grateful to everyone who clearly tried as hard as they could to find her brother. Whenever anyone has tried to help me when I’ve needed it, it meant the world to me that they did what they could, even if they didn’t succeed. I could definitely see how this might be, in its own way, enough for Roger’s sister. And when she shook their hands, even if she felt disappointment, it wouldn’t have been with a single one of them. They must have been like angels to her.
Also, DeWalt said that because of all the media coverage, people “came forward and offered extremely important information. One individual had personal knowledge of how Mack Ray Edwards attracted victims, the methods he employed to gain their trust, and offered details about other criminal activity in which Edwards was involved.” This will be an enormous help to Det. Vivian Flores and others who continue to investigate Edwards for other cases of missing children. Maybe other families, who never got the answers they needed, will find similar comfort from the work of all these people (and the dogs) who are still out there trying.