The mystery of life is never knowing what will happen next. Sometimes it's a celebration of friendship and sometimes a sudden and unexpected loss. To me Bob Howard was both.
I came to know him through this very blog and we communicated for hours both online and in the mail. We never met personally, but I knew him better than
many folks whom I've met face-to-face. I learned of his career with the NPD, his wife Maureen, his children and his grandchildren. I learned of his mini-van with the five child-restaint seats to accommodate those mini grand-people he was so proud of. We joked about the many times we likely crossed paths “back in the day” and he never had a chance to arrest me. If he had, I know I would
have deserved it.
We became very close, exchanging Christmas cards, letters and “trinkets.” I sent him a CD of our “Antique Roadshow Band” and he sent me his CD of his Emerald Society Pipe Band. He and Maureen planned to swing by St. Augustine in just two
months so we could meet for dinner. My wife Jessie and I were very much anticipating that.
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The sad events of the past week have shaken Northport to the core and now, with the passing of “The Chief”, the community of Northport is even further tested. I stand in a long line to pay tribute to this giant of a man who gave from the heart and was loved by so many. He might be described as “Santa Claus with a badge.”
We were going to collaborate on the song “Amazing Grace” by incorporating
his bagpipes into our existing Antique Roadshow Band recording. Unfortunately, time was not on our side.
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In brief, Big Bob......thanks for touching the lives of so many and for touching mine. I hope someday, I'll get to jam-out with you and complete that recording with a special arrrangement for the man in charge. For now, I'm just going to say “til then.”
Your newest old friend,
Dave Bruyn
