Fred is dead

Like most people my age, I give the newspaper death notices a close look every morning. One does at this age. You'll just kinda whip through, noting the check-out age of the decedents, especially those near your own age. It's just how things are at a certain point in life. A friend, even older than I am, sent along an obit for one Fred Clark, who wrote it himself and was probably an entertaining guy to know.

In lieu of flowers, Fred asks that you make a sizable purchase at your local ABC store or Virginia winery (please, nothing French - the *censored*) and get rip roaring drunk at home with someone you love or hope to make love to. Word of caution though, don't go out in public to drink because of the alcohol related laws our elected officials have passed due to their inexplicable terror at the sight of a MADD lobbyist and overwhelming compulsion to meddle in our lives.

Read it all here in the Richmond, Va., Times-Dispatch.