Today (August 19)  is Keith Calhoun’s birthday, and it brings sadly to mind how much we miss him. We first met Keith when we were sitting on our front porch. Keith parked his car in front of our house and shouted hello. He came up and started talking with us, and we were taken aback by his unreserved openness and friendliness.
   He told us that his birthday was coming up in a few days, and he would come back by and bring us some of his birthday cake. We were like “Right, what does this guy want?” Well, what he wanted was to share his birthday cake with his friends. That’s the way Keith was: He met you, and you became his friend. - unreserved. He always celebrated his birthday by bringing cake to his friends - andKeith’s cakes were like his friendship - the best!
    So for Keith’s birthday, try to eat some cake today and even better, share some with your friends. Even better, offer some birthday cake to a new friend. Do it in honor and remembrance of Keith and his wonderful friendship.
     Happy Birthday, Keith!
    

I got to know Keith just by passing him on walks around the neighborhood. My daughters always loved on his dog and he was always so present with us every time we saw him. 

Keith asked me to join him in honoring Zee and commemorate her passing after she died.  We started at the French Broad Choc Lounge, downtown, where they traditionally started their evening walks wt a cookie. Peanut butter for Zee as she could not eat his fav, choc chip.   He got the cookie and we walked for abt 45 min thru their traditional route, stopping by the YMCA, galleries, Pack Sq Park. and Keith left abt 6 crumbles of cookies for Zee at their stopping points and Keith said some words to her at each stop.   
I will do the same for Keith and will retrace a new fun route he introduced me to in the RAD.  We were scheduled to repeat it when he had the stroke.   
Keith was my fav cruising buddy and left a huge hole in my life.   Gone too soon.

Keith was the change in the phrase 'be the change', making the world a better place. Never underestimate the potential of a neighbor walking their dog down your street to one day have a profound impact on your life. Be that neighbor. Keith introduced me to one of my favorite new phrases, "I treasure you". He was/is one of my heros and I admire him so. He was a stubborn, grumpy New Yorker while driving and one of the sharpest, most engaging, most appreciative, motivational forces I have encountered. I will miss him. I hope that we all start using "I treasure you" more in our daily lives.