And Now for the Hard Part – Farewell to a Friend

I’ve received phone calls and emails from people wondering who/what I was talking about when I penned the post, A Vegas Wineaux Loss.

Vegas Wineaux has been around for quite a few years. We have always been a hobby site and have enjoyed the friendship of many. Naturally, those whom we call friends have become “family”; in other words, those who are so close that they are the family that we choose.

Whether it’s the Vegas Wineaux Wine Club, which began in December of 2008 (TEN YEARS!) or this site, which began in fits and starts in 2006, there is a sense of family. I can’t tell you how many friends and surrogate “family” members I have since I became involved in the community of wine. 

I’m a very busy para-professional working about 45-plus hours a week at The Day Job™, which, at least until I retire, means that my wine focus has to be, by necessity, somewhat limited. That said, I do have my rituals, which includes my wine tastings at Marché and my Monday night Sommelier tastings.

The Monday night Somm tastings are a lot of educational fun, and we have become quite a tight-knit group. We are working on our certifications, and sometimes we pass, and sometimes we don’t.

One of our members who swears that he’s going to take the Introductory Sommelier exam is Andras. You know Andras from the envy-provoking chronicles of his honeymoon in Europe and South Africa.

And, unfortunately, that’s where the hard part begins. When Andras got engaged last year to Laurel despite his “I’m never going to get married again” protestations and married in April, we welcomed her into our fold. She had no desire for wine certifications but oddly enjoyed our company. Who knew.

Whenever she could make it, we enjoyed the camaraderie, and the affection that she shared with Andras was apparent (can you guys get a room, please???)

On Saturday, November 17, our monthly blind tasting was at Andras and Laurel’s beautiful home, and to quote an old homily, “a good time was had by all.” We began at about 6:30 pm and ambled out about 10:00 pm. My usually stellar (ahem) palate was less than stellar because this was one of our more informal events.

On Monday, November 19, I received a phone call telling me that Laurel had passed away. I stated frankly and flatly that I didn’t believe it. Period. There was a mistake, and someone was either pranking me or had gotten the news wrong.

Unfortunately, it was true. 

Laurel was not just a lovely person inside and out, but a very accomplished one. She was a judge in the Federal Bankruptcy Court and had overseen the financial issues of many, both individual and corporate (read casinos). Not only that, but she enjoyed the privilege of swearing in new American citizens. She was charming, loving, and down to earth. As I told Andras, she was such a wonderful, sweet, and loving person that it was hard to believe that she was a lawyer.

She was found in her chambers, where she had gone early to prepare for the week. Autopsy results are pending.

My “family” is diminished by the loss of an easily-loved person, and my dear friend Andras is a widower, having been married only seven months before enduring the worst loss that a partner could experience. “Devastation” can’t even begin to describe it. Our small family has embraced him and continue to hold him up in thoughts, love, affection, and prayers.

Because she was so young, it’s hard to try to figure out the “why.” None of it seems fair, but death, as they say, is a part of life. If you’re like me, you just wish that it didn’t happen.

Laurel, you were loved and appreciated by more people than you know. Your precious one is being cared for by our small, crazy, and loving family. While I really hope that Andras can write a tribute for his beloved, I don’t blame him if he cannot.