FW: One story I want to tell...

[Judith M. Herr]

I've been telling the stories of the old days to myself because I'm not
in Austin, and I've  got one more about Tary to share  - one I had not
taken out to look at since my mama died....  

I wasn't much of a stoner in my Austin days,   but, I smoked pot when it
was passed to me.  Rarely did "getting high " take me much further than
giggling, sitting in silence, or  noshing.  But, one evening Monty was
sick and in the health center with a raging, unexplained  fever;  Misty
was at a sleepover at a friend's house;  Monty's very talkative mother
was visiting  from Indiana and upset with Monty for getting sick and
retreating to the health center; I was silently very irritated; an  it
was almost time for finals

Tary being the alert and care-giving neighbor he was, decided I needed
to get out and invited me to come along with he and Madeline to hear the
Elevators that night.  Stress, irritation, worry, a good facilitator, or
extremely good dope  - I'm not sure what did it, but t the pot I smoked
before we left was very effective    So, when we got to the club I
remember being really mesmerized by  Tommy Hall's jug playing ....many
folks I knew well  moved in and out of my circle of aware.. Suddenly (or
so it seemed to me),  I looked across  the room  and there were two
cops, just checkin' us out, I suppose.  But, it scared me and I jumped -
ready to plead guilty, guilty, guilty!.  But, Tary, standing behind me,
put his hand on my shoulder - patted me really -- and I was okay  and
amused by my surroundings again.  Back into thee music...and the
surroundings.  

That touch worked because it was the same touch as my mama's  when she
reassured me as a child - and, I was childlike, playful, mellow, hungry,
and unafraid again, thanks to Tary.  Over the years, I was around when
Tary did the same for others - bad trip? - it was Tary you wanted there
because he knew how  to gently guide you to a safer place.  Maybe his
gift was honed through his  job at the state  hospital or it was  his
natural ability to care for others and to help them  share his
enthusiasm - keep everyone on the light not the dark side  -  maybe it
was his congenial and generous spirit - but he  certainly had   amazing
grace.........