Greg Beck
I am only hours back in Dublin and the news from Kansas City has me shocked.
Last week I meant to post a short list of who I considered to be the best bloggers in Kansas City. I never got around to it and now it doesn’t seem to matter.
The first Kansas City blog I read regularly was Death’s Door by Greg Beck. That was back in 2002 and through all of those years Greg was at the top of the list I didn’t compile.
Whenever I got the chance I put links to him on sites so others would read him. I know Greg was puzzled when he started getting visitors from Molloy Brothers Irish Pub, and others were when I linked to him from the Irish Festival blog. But I felt Greg gave us so much more than the narrow world that is white Irish-America.
I was lucky enough to finally meet him a couple of months ago and not surprised to find him the loveable lump I had suspected for years that he was. He was an encouragement to American Hell and a thorough original.
For me it’s a privilege to know that some readers of Greg discovered Death’s Door because of Irish KC, and a terribly sad thing now to pass on news of Greg’s passing.
My thoughts now are with Michelle and all those who cared. Kansas City is a much smaller place without him. And Ireland is suddenly a lonely place. Damn.
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
Hear, hear. Bottoms up.