Larry knew as much about me as anyone, and I knew almost as much about him. This happens when you spend several hours a week walking around Lexington together for a few years.

I wanted to get to know Larry after our first WoodSongs show. He was carrying a large amplifier, struggling a little, but moving. I followed, carrying a lighter piece. When I caught up to him at our backstage destination, I asked, “You’re the photographer. Why are you doing this?” Larry replied, “It keeps me young,” before returning for another object.

The following week, this old man claimed that he often rode a bicycle. So we took a ride. I had trouble keeping up with him. Larry’s bicycle was better than mine, but he was also in much better shape than me. Larry said, “Don’t worry. I will train you.” His training worked. I was riding a hilly eight mile course in 48 minutes last Summer. Nevertheless, we always found time to walk for an hour. Larry said that we needed to walk for an hour every other day, and eight miles on Saturdays.

Larry also helped me with my diet. We kept the same weird foods in our refrigerators. He complained that I was too thin yesterday, I am eating ice cream for him while I write.

A couple of weeks after our first bicycle ride, I found a new apartment, 4/10 mile from Larry’s house. Larry and I moved everything in his van.

Then we started walking.

Larry ran marathons until he hurt his foot. He could walk, but he was in pain after running for a few steps. Pain was another reason we got along. I walk with a knee brace, and my knee swells while I walk. I have other injuries too. Larry was the same way. A couple of weeks ago, we counted all our pinched nerves while we waited for a traffic light to change. But we rarely complained. You can’t expect to feel great all the time, you have to keep going.

I missed a few months walking in 2008, when I had a stomach problem followed by a back injury. Larry encouraged me to get out of bed and return to walking. We have walked outdoors in sub-freezing temperatures, in malls when the weather was worse. During the Summer we walk earlier, later in Winter. We always walk.

For the past year, our favorite place has been the UK practice track. This track is padded, great for injuries. We walk a mile to the track, four laps, and home. We also enjoyed watching the UK athletes practice.

If Larry had one flaw, it was installing free software he found on the Web that messed up his computer. After he installed something, he would call me, sounding quite perplexed, hoping to mislead me so I would not torment him for repeating past mistakes on the phone. These calls always began:

I don’t know what happened. Can you please come over now and look at my computer?

I miss those calls.

Goodbye Larry

Larry Steur died March 1, 2011, while we were walking on Euclid Avenue.

I have had two pains in my chest. This never happened before. Should I worry?

Let’s walk to your house. I will drive you the ER if you don’t feel well.

Larry died a half a block later.

So, in addition to tourist attractions, like Kentucky Horse Park and Keeneland, Lexington has a fantastic public library system.

Central Library

I recommend the main branch, or Central Library, on Main Street, where you can query my favorite reference librarians, and watch a Foucalt pendulum powering the world’s largest ceiling clock.

Central Library was built in 1987, and designed to permit expansion for 20-30 years. It replaced a 1904 building (shown), which was leased to The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning for ten dollars a year.

Lexington Kentucky Writers Meet at The Carnegie Center

The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning offers many courses for writers. See their schedule (PDF) for more information.

I take a two mile walk to The Carnegie Center, twice a week. I attend a non-fiction writing class led by writer-in-residence, Neil Chethik, on Tuesday afternoons. I return on Friday at noon, for Gail Koehler’s Writing Practice.

Writing Practice

From Carnegie’s Course Catalog:

Designed as an opportunity to practice creative expression without judgment. Develop your natural story-telling instinct or refresh writing skills from word prompts or personal experiences. Recommended reading: Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg (not required). Class may be entered on any day it is held; it is not necessary to commit to the full duration of the course.

In Writing Down the Bones, Ms. Goldberg exhorts readers to keep their pen moving, which is the essence of this course.

After Ms. Koehler selects three random words or phrases to use, we keep our pens moving for 20-40 minutes, depending on the size of the class. My writing is simply stream of consciousness, but some students write actual stories. I transcribed my output from our last two classes, about 500 words each, so you can read examples.

Our teacher begins the next segment by reading what she has written about her random subjects. The rest of the class follows. Classmates often laugh while I am reading, but I am really not trying to be funny. I write in a relaxed setting, with familiar classmates, and enjoy this opportunity to express myself.

If there is enough time, a ”call around” follows each reading, when writers recite their favorite quotes to the reader.

Do Not Attend Afternoon Writing Practice!

Seriously, we have a nice group; let’s keep it that way. Try the evening class, on Monday at 5:30 — visit The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning on the Web for more information on their programs and activities.

The Carnegie Center almost closed in June 2003, after former Mayor Teresa Isaac removed it from her budget. Please send a tax-deductible contribution to keep this vital institution open.

Bicycle was stolen today, July 21, 2009, between 3 P.M. and 7 P.M., in the Chevy Chase Ashland Park neighborhood, of Lexington, Kentucky.

Stolen Grand Cypress Hybrid bicycle was on the the porch of my buddy, Larry Steur, on Desha Road, Lexington. Burglary occured in broad daylight, while Larry was inside.

$200 REWARD FOR STOLEN BICYCLE

Please help Larry recover his stolen bicycle, no questions asked.

Do you have information about this stolen bicycle?

Contact Larry at @runlarryrun on Twitter, or by email at stolenbike@larrysteur.com, and help him get his bike back.

Woodland Arts Fair is the outdoor event of the year in my neighborhood. My friend was forced to park several blocks away, which is a very big deal in Lexington. I must point out, that the entire security force for Woodland Arts Fair, was one policeman, and he was eating a hot dog when I saw him. Civilization may have fallen elsewhere, but not around here.

Woodland Arts Fair was more diversified this year, and photographers outnumbered painters. However, one photographer stood out from the rest of the artisans, simply because his booth had no sign.

When I questioned him later, he said that he didn’t need a sign.

What My Photos Should Look Like

James Archambeault is as charismatic as he is talented. Mr. Archambeault photographs horses, and Lexington, which calls itself as The Horse Capitol of the World, has plenty of subjects for him.

My appreciation of Mr. Archambeault’s talent skyrocketed when I looked at a second photo. It was just a few horses in a field. Yet, when viewed through his camera, it was transformed into a truly captivating image, which demanded your undivided attention.

Mr. Archambeault saw the horses while driving, pulled over, and photographed it from the side of the road. Sadly, my own photos of him, which were taken under ideal conditions, are awful.

How Many Verses Are In ‘Dixie’?

I don’t know how many verses are in ‘Dixie’ because I lost track, after five or six verses by Jim Olive, the Woodland Art Fair’s troubadour.

Mr. Olive is a retired forester, who moved to Lexington from Baton Rouge. He claimed to have 34 years of experience playing the banjo, and it showed. I have always wondered how musicians can seem enthusiastic, playing the same songs a zillion times, but Mr. Olive appeared to be the happiest fellow at the fair. His serendipitous performances were a small, yet significant part of this year’s Woodland Arts Fair.

We all need a troubadour sometime.