Enjoying a glass of scotch while sitting on a pier enjoying the tranquility of the Waterhole Branch.
Life can never be bad in such a place, especially with the company I usually get to keep.
In life, if we’re lucky, we get to meet some truly wonderful people that enhance and improve our lives simply by being in them.
For me, my friend and neighbor Larry is just such a person.
I’ve had the pleasure of living next to Larry and his wife Suzanne for a little over two years now, and I could not ask for better people to live in reasonable proximity to than them.
Many Fairhope residents might know Larry better as “that guy in the bright red Dodge Prowler” often seen in Mardi Gras Krewe parades or parked outside First Baptist Fairhope on any given Sunday.
Perhaps some of you encountered him on one of Baldwin County’s many golf courses, usually Lakewood, where you may have heard a few good tall tales about where his ball may have ended up.
Retired from a maritime career, Larry is a constant source of amusement and friendship that I never expected.
He’s incredibly handy and adept at fixing things, which is helpful because I seem to have a penchant for being able to break them.
He can tell from the noise my car makes what it’s suffering from, which usually seems to be a symptom of me being “a fool,” according to Larry.
He’s the independent observer I bounce story ideas and goings-on off of, recognizing that it’s always good to get a neutral opinion on things from a person who has been in the area for several decades.
He introduced me to the song stylings of Nervous Norvus. I honestly thought Larry was having a stroke when he mentioned him the first time, but according to Spotify, he’s a real person who had a Top 20 hit back in 1956 with “Transfusion.” Worth a listen, folks, if only for the novelty.
Larry also has the ability to know precisely when to call me over to the house, twist my arm and pour me a Dewar’s, complete with a little tin foil hat for the glass to “keep the scotch safe.”
We’ll walk down to the pier, sip our beverage and discuss life’s important issues - weird news stories, things that annoy us, typical guy stuff. We might occasionally sneak a cigar down there, too.
So, I raise my glass today to Larry, for his continued friendship, kindness and brutally honest life advice.
Here’s to many more times out on the pier, watching the water flow and enjoying the company.
