Sunday - March 22, 2009
Dear Readers,
Embellished-1 News is usually entirely reserved for humorous, whimsical, outrageous parodies of current news or completely made up stuff. This, however, is a memoriam to my good friend, Goerge Weber, who was senselessly murdered in his home in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn this past weekend. By the time you have read this, I'm sure you have heard the bulletins during the news casts and wondered, and maybe even recall hearing him during his morning news casts on WABC radio.
George was a good friend of mine. He was the nicest guy I have ever met; always cheerful and prepared to tell a detailed, animated story about something he had experienced or seen. We met several years ago at a local pub on Smith Street, where we both frequented. It didn't even seem like he was a celebrity or anything. All of the regulars there were friends with him, but George and I shared a genuine friendship in which we'd talk about anything, especially about our passion for the weather. We were both weatherbuffs, and at one time I almost became a meteorologist. Most recently, we had a bet about whether NYC public schools would be closed or not from the storm a couple of weeks ago. I won, because I said they would and he said no, and he bought me a beer the following week. I could have asked for anything I wanted, but settled for the usual - a Miller High Life. I swear, this was the first be I ever won in my life.
I did not know of the tragic news until I stepped into our local hangout this past Sunday, not expecting anything but a couple of beers on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Instead, it was a day of tragedy, mourning, anger, disbelief, and a general feeling of not knowing what I should fee. The only thing I could imagine to do was what I am best capable of - writing a thoughtful tribute to my friend on this very site, which George had written up about on his own local news-based blog last year when I first put it up.
What is this all about? I've known family members and others to die of illness and old age; it feels terrible and life goes on. But here, there are no answers. It just doesn't make sense. There are plenty of assholes in this world. You meet them and then you go on you way. On the complete opposite spectrum, George Weber was the nicest person you could meet, and anyone you talk to who knew him would say the exact same thing, in both his professional life and those who just knew him as a friend. The only slightest bit of relief there could be is to know George put up a good fight, and that they get the monster who did this and it lives the rest of its life in the most horrific imaginable misery.
Thank you George, for both your friendship and support.
