Following up on Curt's memorial

I wanted to take a couple of minutes to aggregate some things I've read about our tragic loss of Curt Byars.

First, a wholly inadequate thank you goes to Sarah. I couldn't make the memorial service in Peoria on Wednesday, so her tribute has meant the world to me.

Harry Times, All Jacked Up: Borrowed; blue

Also, if you're Facebook friends with Dan Smith, please check out his Notes page. He has graciously shared the text of his eulogy, which I recommend to all.

Obituaries: Peoria Journal Star and Pekin Daily Times

And here are a few older news stories. Some have appeared in the "I share" section of the right-hand column, but for your convenience...

Peoria Journal-Star: Cigarette or lighter suspected in fatal car fire

Pekin Daily Times: Victim of car fire identified

WEEK-TV: Pekin Fire Victim Identified

This photo keeps breaking my heart.

My thoughts continue to go with the countless people all over the country who are hurting from this loss. Our world will never be the same. But it is within our power to keep Curt's laughter and legacy alive, in our memories and our hearts.

Delighting in details

Not gonna lie, it's been a rough few days. How do you honor someone's memory, when you're miles away from anyone who even knew him? I sincerely don't know. So, I'm choosing what I hope my friends and fam will do when it's my turn. Looking for joy wherever I can find it, and connecting with people however I can manage it. Thankfully, in this age of blogs/facebook/twitter/cellphone/text, that second part is easier than ever. As for the first one...

So far I've resisted the urge to gripe a lot about the new crib. I can look anywhere and see an upgrade over what I moved out of. But it's a rental, so, you know it's not going to be perfect.

This crap right here?

Notice the paint smeared on the switch plate?

Drives me batty. Sloppy, careless bullshit, afflicting every switch plate in the house. And yes I most certainly sound like my grandpa right now. But I can live with this. A minor, purely aesthetic offense after all.

What I couldn't live with was the shower situation. Now, I like a fast-running, soaking shower as much as the next girl, but not at the expense of having enough hot water to rinse my hair. If I may offer a totally gross admission, I haven't shaved my damn legs since we've been here! Definitely not trying that in cold water.

Now I think we've solved this problem. Today we went over to Lowe's and picked up this little gem:

Cue choirs of angels

Waterpik's "Ecoflow" high-efficiency shower head will drop us down from 5 gallons per minute to 1.5 --  it even has one of those neato pause buttons. With any luck, tomorrow I can have a long, hot, proper shower. And smooth legs. See? Delighting in details.

If you knew him (or hell even if you didn't, I'm sure he'd still appreciate it), drink a toast to Curt Byars this weekend. If it's a Keystone Light that's even better. Look for something simple and let it give you joy. Connect with someone you haven't seen in a while. And if you love anybody you think might not know it? Tell them.

Rest well, friend

The world has lost a one-of-a-kind.

Curt "Crut" Byars

11/18/83 - 1/27/10

Too soon my man. You'll be missed.

January 29, edited to add: I forgot the photo attribution, to Patrick O'Shaughnessy (my apologies). Also, the date of birth may be wrong. I'm just going by what the paper said, but I seem to remember Curt being an SFI trainee in 2003, which logically would put him being born in 85.

Last, this appeared all over Facebook during the night. Pretty well sums up the character we've lost.