YOU REMIND ME.

Mayor Koch passed away early this morning. I feel surprised by how saddened i am. I took issue with him politically, but i guess i loved him anyway.   As much as anyone can love or be beloved if others don't directly know you.  i know what he reminded me of .  He reminded me of an older new york i can barely recollect from being a child, visiting here monthly or so to see my brooklyn family.
He reminded me of my grandparents and how they sounded and how they looked, and how old and different they became so very quickly before they disappeared.

It's just that echo of familiarity that makes us think we love or think of one as beloved. It may not be that common and may not be based on anything beyond an echo of times past whisking by us for moments in the present. but it is still something. And it feels like something and someone we know.

I admit I project that familiarity because i identify with him in past tense (my grandparents) and current tense (a wacky new york character; a movie lover. someone who is alone) and future tense (someone who will stay wacky, still love movies, still live in new york and will die alone.)

Please check out the Mayor at the Movies reviews he made last year.  http://www.mayorkoch.com/