Taps for Terry

 A random memory:. My classmate Terry Nelson played the trumpet, majored in music at the U of M. He played well enough that he served his country playing in the Navy Band. When we lived at the corner of Valley and Giles, Terry lived two doors down to the north. On summer evenings he would sit by a fire in his backyard, drink a beer (or two?) and softly play his trumpet, always finishing with taps.

Olive, the elderly woman who lived between us complained. She complained about soft, professional quality trumpet music. She also complained about our stainless steel chimney stack being too shiny. Olive complained. It is what she did. It validated her existence

Terry's wife Deanna died far too early and it seemed to take the wind from his sails. He died about 15 years ago at 64.

Gunnar