Sunday, October 17, 2021
/public-file/1836/Ultra/c2b614ed-94a2-420f-87a8-311011b7ae20.jpg
I heard a Jack London quote last night that brought on both happiness and sorrow in this trying time. “The proper function of a man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” Not sure if Steve knew of this quote, but from all the memories I have of Steve and the many pictures we are all sharing, he definitely embraced it.
Steve was many things to many people. He was my idol, mentor, teacher and most of all, my friend. I realize now that there just aren’t many pictures of he and I together growing up, but in some cases, maybe that’s good thing. Steve was such a huge influence on who I am today. In no way am I trying to say I am a carbon copy, but I am thankful he steered me in certain directions. My taste in music, comedy and even cars is all because of him. I remember enjoying listening to him and the rest of the members of Silver Mist practice music on the front porch back in the day. He was the one who taught me how to ride a bike, how to drive, (well before I was sixteen mind you), and would have me help him at times when he was repairing anything and everything that was broken, needed a little extra power or even building something from scratch. Steve also shared his talents as a prankster, even allowing me to help him on occasion. Kudos go out to someone that can trick you into wanting to eat an earthworm.
When I was fourteen, Steve got me a summer job pumping gas at the same place that he worked as a mechanic and I’m so thankful now for those long days because we got to spend so much time together. How he and the other mechanics convinced me that it was a good idea for me to test drive the cars around Newark after they were serviced was beyond me, try explaining that one to the police had I gotten pulled over. On Friday nights, Steve would come home late after playing a gig somewhere and wake me up, asking me if I wanted to go with him to the beach for the weekend when he could have had a much better time without his little brother hanging around, but that’s just who he was.
Steve’s skills are utterly amazing, from being a musician in both the trumpet and guitar, a top-notch mechanic, plumber, electrician, avid boater, pilot of both RC planes and small personal aircraft and loved motorcycles as well. I guess you could say he loved pretty much anything with a motor, but he was also quite skilled with Computers. Steve handed me the radio for his RC car back in the late 80’s, so I do have him to blame for my RC car addiction.
I’ll never understand the distance over the last several years, but I do understand that individual lives pull us in different directions. Distance or not, you were there for me if I ever needed you. On the rare occasions that we did get together though, either tinkering with something, chatting or joking around became a highlight of that particular day. I am so very proud of you Steve and I miss you terribly. I am so looking forward to a time when all of these memories bring happiness instead of sorrow. I will hang on to your last words to me forever and yes brother, I too look forward to seeing you again.
