Our dear friend, Larry Barclay, passed away this week.
We were so glad to have had dinner with Larry and Annette just before we left. Jim and I will always have such fond memories of our times together. We were recently reflecting how Larry was one of the nicest people we know and how very sorry we are that we can't toddle into old age having good meals together and talking about travelling, France, art, architecture and all the other things we talked about.
Larry's passion for architecture helped us to see things we didn't really appreciate before. We've been thinking about Larry as we see these really very interesting examples of "desert modernism" down here. They have a very special beauty and simplicity...as Larry himself had.
The last time I saw Larry he wasn't well but he came out to the kitchen where Annette and I were having coffee and told me all about this fabulous winery in the Napa Valley called Clos Pegase. After the fellow had made his fortune he went to France to learn wine making and along the way bought French art work of the likes of Leger and others that he uses for his wine labels.
We weren't going to the Napa this time round and Larry felt the wine wouldn't be available except at the winery. Larry, I've tracked down some bottles in Palm Springs and Jim and I will be raising a glass today to our friendship and all the good times we had together. And Annette, we'll be bringing back a bottle too, so we can raise a glass together and talk about old times.
Annette, Paul, and David...you are all very much in our thoughts today as you celebrate Larry's life. We will be there in spirit.
