Let's Hear It For Larry...Or God?

So I'm at the gym and I see this young man, Louie, and I don't know him, but he's outside with his eyes shut leaning back in his chair and soaking up the sun. I say "It's a beautiful day today."  And he replies, "God is good - sir!" Wow I think. I say, "Yes he is, my friend!"

God always gives me crumbs. I ask Louie if he was born with his disability or an accident. He says, "an accident, sort of..." Then he says, "I got shot in my spine." We talk and he proceeds to tell me,  "Sometimes in life we don't know why we're dealt with the things we're dealt but we accept them and find the best in them." Wow.
Then he said, "What do you find your greatest pleasure in - sir?" I say, "My kids, my relationships, etc., but what keeps me ticking is inventing, writing, and entrepreneurship." He said, "Could we talk because I have a clothing line I'd like to launch for wheelchair basketball players but don't know what steps I should take...." He asks if I'd call him in a few days. I said -  "Sure I will!"

Long story short appreciate life and soak it up. If you open your eyes God will give you a Louie too! As I walked off he said, "I told you - God is good - sir!"

I love life and any and all crumbs but this was a whole loaf that God smacked me in the head with. Thank you Louie! Or maybe thank you Uncle Louie Quijas for watching over me...I'm not sure but I'll take crumbs or loafs...but God is so good, soak it up!

RIP Otis...

On December 31, 1989, New Year's Eve, I was at QuikTrip (QT) on Main St. just North of the Plaza in Kansas City. It was nearly dark and I was with a good friend nicknamed Otis - Mr. Nicholas Dennis. Way back then, there weren't cell phones conveniently located at your fingertips, back pocket or purse. If you were on the road and had to use a phone it was at a payphone. Back in the late 1980's these phones weren't located in booths like decades past, but on a pedestal. Some of these pedestals, like at this QT, were single pedestal double-sides phones along the outside wall. Although cell phones weren't accessible, pagers and beepers were the things to have. On that particular night at that specific time my pager tooted out it's little chime and Nick pulled over to this crowded and bustling QuikTrip on Main. I proceeded to the payphones.

I was staying at The Residence Inn that night for the festivities. My room was North on Main a few miles from the QT and directly located across from The Liberty Memorial. I was closing out the 80's and was looking forward to what the 1990's would bring. It was the first time, as an adult, that I got to pack up a previous decade and enter a new one. Although I was excited about the party I was looking forward to the pounds of shrimp, steaks, and the guests we'd invited. It was going to be good.  

When I made my way to the payphones at QT I noticed that there was a man on the adjoining pedestal phone. While I was making my call I noticed a man make his way around the corner from the direction of The Kansas City Art Institute. His pace was swift and quick. Not that of a runner or jogger pacing a track field or around Loose Park pond. The quick approaching man wasn't anyone I recognized so I thought he too may be hurrying to get to his party. Quickly, I found out that he wasn't at QT to get back to any fireworks that might go off at the stroke of midnight. He had the match in his pocket to the fire he was about to bring, and I was going to witness it all - sort of.  

As his pace picked up even more, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black pistol. Being instilled with a level of street smarts, I buckled up tight against the wall and huddled my side of the payphone. I wasn't sure if this pistol was coming for me but I braced. Right as if it looked as the fast moving man was going to pick up his steps even more and pass us, he pivoted his hips towards the direction of me and the other man on the line of the same pedestal payphone, who blindly had his back towards the rushing gunman. But the pistol wasn't for me this time - but the other man who was talking on the black handset.

I didn't see the fire release from the muzzle but I heard the pop, pop, pop. I didn't see anything because I shut my eyes tight and was lifting my legs as if I was stepping on hot pavement with bare feet on a hot July summer day. As quickly as it begun, it ended. I didn't smell gun powder, I didn't hear any moans nor did I see anything but a man begin to slouch and slide down the wall of the QT. I sprinted out of there and headed to Otis who was in the car across the parking lot. I got in the car and we looked at each other and he said, "HOLY SHIT!". I then said let's go. Being the good Catholic Boy from the parish of St. Agnes he said, "Should we wait for the cops?". I said, "GO!"

I had quickly determined in that quick run to the car that I hadn't witnessed anything nor would I give any statement with my name to authorities about a man who would boldly walk up to another man and pump multiple shots into him - without any disguise! Hell no, so Nick hit the gas hard and we were gone!

Last night I was reflecting about previous festivities during the years on New Year's Eve. I thought about that cold December night in 1989 and smiled thinking about Nick "Otis" Dennis. To my sadness, this morning I woke to the news that my good friend of over 40 years had passed away. You'll be missed partner but I'll find you when I get to heaven. RIP Otis