Local readers of AKSARBENT well remember our late mutual friend, a master of deadpan sarcasm, practical carpentry, and an occasionally crazy aficionado of George Dickel.
Al, of Fortuna, California, was fond of awesomely loud shirts gayer than a tree full of parrots, (think early Arnold Schwarzenegger) and used to be a finance officer in the United States Air Force.
Though he had a keen interest in shirts, Al was indifferent to shoes and was once told by his boss at an Omaha social service agency to buy new ones, as he was beginning to take on the patina of a homeless person.
Al had a bifurcated mind which was 50% nuts and bolts (his dad ran a hardware store) and 50% whimsy (he once ran his own art gallery and published an arts newspaper.)
In the early 90s, Al was present during a discussion about a DADT news story in which various heads of the armed services were asked how they would react if a service member confessed he or she thought they might be homosexual.
Al's favorite response was from the representative of HIS branch of service, who said he would ask said service member to decide one way or the other and get back to him.
Today, another Air Force finance officer, Josh Seefried (aka "JD Smith"), who cofounded the 4300-member servicemember LGBT group Outserve, revealed his identify following the repeal of DADT.
Al would have delightedly toasted a successor who has the very job he once had, and who has rocked the boat, so to speak, as much as Josh has. But since Al can no longer tie one on, AKSARBENT will making two toasts in his absence.
Al was one of the all time greats. his knowledge of how to actually get things done with the minimal amount of BS and without wasting a single step was something to behold. i was asked (conscripted) a few times to help him (i had a truck) and while other people would be talking about a particular problem, Al would sneak out the back door and go and fix it, and then refuse to speak about it.
ReplyDeleteand the best week of the year for Al was the week that the latest batch of George Dickel came out. he would empty his checking account to secure his yearly supply. he has been greatly missed.