Doug I understand how you feel. For the last few years Eric and I gotten to be good friends and as you know once you get through that rough exterior you couldn't ask for a better friend.

At the Convention this year I was telling Eric my wife was going to need back surgery. He said she was not going to have it without meeting with his doctor for a second opinion. He got us an appointment with his doctor who is head of one of the surgery departments at Mt Sinai and we went up less than a month ago and met with the doctor and Eric was right he was the right person to see. While we were up there we took Eric and Gayle out to Peter Lugers and had a wonderful dinner. For the last three Chriistmas seasons we have gone to NYC to see some plays and enjoy the city. Each year he and Gayle would come into the city or we would take the train out to Long Island and have dinner.

This is the fourth close friend I have lost this year, I guess it comes with age. All we can do is remember the good times and be thankful that we had a friend like Eric in our lives.

My prayers are with Gayle.