What was it? 35 years? Right now, it seems like just an instant. Since our last trip together to Jazz Fest, our friendship was exclusively by phone - many times stuck in my car talking in the Arizona heat, trading one more story, one more insight, one more revelation, big or small.

It's really hard to believe we won't be talking again, at least on this plane. I miss you, but I am really really happy that we got to share a bit while you were here.

It's a little story that brings it home to me. We were talking about the songs your band was playing, and I asked you if you did any Lyle Lovett. You mentioned North Dakota, which is my favorite too. And you said how you had to let a woman in the band sing it, since she was the only one who could get through the song without starting to cry. Me too - I had exactly the same problem.

Wish you were here to sing it with me.

Straight on till morning, my dear friend.

-Rick