Newt was my friend and brother. We met in the mid 70s and immediately became friends. More than friends actually, because we became involved in each others' families' and we included each other in family gatherings. He was always there in the sorrowful times as well as the celebratory ones, amidst the many uninteresting ones. His wife, Margie, was also a welcome friend. When he had his accident, it reminded me of my own "subdural hematoma" that I suffered many years ealier. I was the lucky one, because I never suffered any ill-effects from this brain-injury. I'll never understand why he was forever changed from his brain injury, and so many others are not. It just goes to show me that his life-changing experience taught me to celebrate life each and every day, for the rest of my life, which I do. I thank Newt for what he gave to us, for his service to us, and his friendship. Newt, I will see you on the other side, and I will recognize you as my contented sober friend.
