Oh, it must be a good 20 years now that I met Billy in the Catskills at a gay gathering.
After a few moment of chat we discovered our attachment to Daytona Beach, FL. I use to keep my cabin cruiser in Daytona, and Billy had a home by the beach.
In no time we have developed a close friendship, and being all alone in the Catskills, it was the outmost pleasure when Billy introduced me to his friends, parties by the piano, wonderful people that so reminded me of my home, my friends and my parties by the piano, in New Jersey.
Billy had an old friend who lived on the upper west side in NYC. Every so often Billy would BBQ at home and we would drive it to his old friend in the City.
Months later, when we were both in Daytona, Billy showed me his home by the beach.
As we walked therough the rooms, he stopped in a bedroom, and said; "remember my friend in NYC? Well he is ill, and I prepared this bedroom for him, so that he would never be alone in his old age".
Right at that moment I knew about his goodness and his 'hidden good heart'.
I never forgot these words, and if you knew Billy, man, he spoke his mind.
I felt blessed being counted as one of his friends.
Perry, God bless you for giving our Billy a few good years of happiness, and companionship. Billy loved you to no end, and I pray he knew that I, as all of his friends had a great love and admiration for him.
Billy, thank you for allowing me to be part of your life, dear friend.
Some day, we'll meet again.
erol.