Sometimes in life you meet a person that from the first moment you truly view as worthy of all the attention being shown toward themselves.
Mr. Gygax was that type of person---I meet him for the first time at the GenCon convention in Indiana, this past July. Living in a different world, and a totally different work element, I was amazed at the respect shown this man, whom it appeared had started the world that most of your live in.
We were placed together through friends, Pete, Steve, and Davis, and so many others at the Troll Lord booth-----from the first day, having been my normal self, the convention crowd assumed I was his bodyguard. LOL
Nothing could have been a threat at this convention, as my daily threats in another world, in another country presents. Eveyone that came was respectful, quiet, and demurred in the presence of this gentle soul.
How could you not like this man, who joked, laughed, posed for pictures, and made all who meet him feel that he cared----I am a good judge of character, and Gary truly loved each and every fan that came to the table those two days.
You are fortunate to have been a part of Gary's world---either in the game itself, or his presence, but please do not hang your heads at his passing---having been around warriors like him all my life, he is now sitting somewhere laughing at this new adventure, telling his jokes to new friends in the etherlife that will accept him with open arms----and he will never be far away from each of you, as each time you play the game, attend a convention, he will be a part of you----just as for two short days, I have the extreme honor of bodyquarding a true legend.
Not many people get that adventure in life, but I did.
So Gary, get the drinks ready, and find out the best places to visit, because one day, this bodyguard will be honored to sit behind you in protection.
" If we shall come to that crossroads, and never meet again, we will smile this last time, turn and never look back---because on this day, we stood as brothers in arms, and never would accept a cowards death."
In honor
Stmoritz