I recently learned that a former college housemate of mine died late last year in a fire. I don’t know the circumstances, only that a couple of lines on the subject appeared in my college alumni rag (scroll nearly to the bottom). David Carne McKinney. A fellow two classes ahead of me, in fact, he’d already graduated by the time we ended up rooming in the same house. Bass player. Terminal mumbler. Serious political lefty. Cranky and clumsy. Moved from East Coast to Berkeley, CA in 1982. Last seen by me in December 1991, at which time he appeared to be the same cranky, awkward mumbling left-wing loser who used to forget to put the milk carton back in the refrigerator when he was finished with it. I miss him.

At this time I would like to acknowledge the birth of my newest nephew. He is: named Daniel; two months old; countermanding Death.