MY FRIEND

Last week I was devastated to learn of the unexpected and sudden death of one my closest and dearest friends. Joe Wright was a talented actor, writer and musician, as well as a giving person who was there for me on more than one occasion. Joe was also an avid wine lover. Not because he was an expert, he'd be the first to admit that, but because he loved learning about it.

Whenever we would get together I'd usually have a bottle of wine in tow. Joe would get out his stemware, we'd sit and he would say, "Okay. Tell me about this wine." I quickly learned that when introducing Joe to a new wine I had better be prepared. He loved asking questions, and I have a sneaking suspicion he liked to see if he could trip me up. I hated having to come back with "I don't know".

We usually spent the first glass discussing the wine itself; the color, the various aromas and flavors, and then the finish. By the time we got to the second glass we had moved on to other topics pertinent to our lives. Inevitably, we ended up laughing. What more could one want in an evening? Good wine, good friends and a good laugh.

I will raise a glass of fine wine to my friend Joe tonight...but the laughter will have to wait.

DEDICATED TO JOSEPH ANTHONY WRIGHT

1970-2009

"A man cannot make him laugh - but that's no marvel; he drinks no wine."
~WM. SHAKESPEARE, Henry IV Part 2