In life, people come and go. Jobs change. People move away. Or sometimes people just move on, drifting in and out of your life. This is, of course, the nature of life and we deal with it. We make new friends and aquaintences. But every great now and then, someone comes along that touches you in a way that somehow seperates them from all the rest. They are the few that enter our lives that are bestowed with that most golden of awards: Special.

Richie DeMartino was one of those people. But he didnt move or just drift away...he left this earth in April 0f 2004, too suddenly and way too soon. My partner Vio had a chance to say goodbye to our friend, and I didnt. And I'm crushed by that. So much so that I can't even go on with this...

Richie, I love you, man...and I'm so sorry I didnt get to tell you that. And that you really were special. I know I said thank you a lot...but it's not the same as telling you that you are special. Hope you can feel this, bro. Rest easy...and tell Felix he was special too.

d0g