goodbye, louis

Learning, this morning, that Louis Escobar has died, brought back so many memories! When I first met Louis he was an impossibly-handsome activist young doing outreach for the Aids Task Force, of which John was a member. His job was providing education (and condoms) in bars. It seems so long ago! (It WAS so long ago!)

Years later I was executive director of the Lucas County Democratic Party when Louis came to us asking for endorsement as a candidate for city council. I was sceptical. Could a gay Hispanic ex-priest really get elected? I remember Sue Wuest’s answer: she did not want to live in a city where Louis Escobar couldn’t get elected. She was right. With the party’s endorsement and with the help of Sue and countless others, he pulled it off. And now they are both gone.

For quite a while I knew Louis mainly as an elected official who was hardworking but sometimes difficult. Always a friend, usually an ally, and often a pain in the neck, but in a good way.

When my daughter got married, Louis was the officiant. His advice and affection meant a lot. After my granddaughter was born, Louis was a frequent guest at her birthday parties. He and Kelly loved to give her the most beautiful outfits!

When I became chair of the Pathway board, I asked Louis to join me there. As always, he was ready to help and eager to make sure that community, especially the Hispanic community, was included.

In the last few years, I saw Louis at the occasional party or when we crossed paths at a restaurant.

He was a good man, and I will miss him.

Bon temps in the glass city

What a week!

So Bernie Sanders is the front-runner. Personally I don’t like him much. Despite his admirable ideas, I find him too loud, too cranky, and too old (inexplicably older than my first choice, Warren). By March 17th and the Democratic primary, my vote probably won’t mean much, but it will go to Elizabeth Warren. In November, I’ll be voting for whoever is the Democratic nominee. Because this is existential. (Thanks to Bernie for pointing that out.)

Politics and climate change are hanging over my head like a black cloud, but I’d like to focus on a few positive moments from the week:

Although the IRS doesn’t know it yet, their suggestion that we owe them a bundle is wrong. I know that a blurry $ may look like a 3 on my 1099, but I earned $2500 for that project, not $32,500. Shouldn’t be too hard to prove, so I celebrated by making myself a Boulevardier:

Campari cocktails are the best!

Not all of the good times involved alcohol: On Thursday, we finally saw Fireflies on the Water. But the most magical part of our TMA visit happened at the Family Center in the dress-up room. Having recently been introduced to Harry Potter, Aloisa chose this ensemble:

Does it get any better?

On Friday, we got a jump-start on Mardi Gras at Bellwether:

Wish you could hear the music, too…
Hot dogs and Sazeracs, the perfect pairing…

On top of all this deliciousness we got to listen to great music chosen by Ben Cohen’s perfectly-named for the occasion alter-ego, DJ Bennie Goodtimes.

Here’s to more good time this week…