you're a grand old flag

 You're a high flying flag. And forever in peace may you wave.

 You're the emblem of. The land I love. The home of the free and the brave.

 Ev'ry heart beats true. 'neath the Red, White and Blue,

and as the average American was arm wrestling for the last hot dog off the grille or smashing a bag of ice for the cooler.....a great American was taking his last breaths of fresh Oneonta air. Charlie "THE CHAIRMAN" Jensen passed away on America's birthday and sadly there is one less Patriot to gather round that flag. Charlie was a good friend, he had a heart of gold, would help anyone that asked , he didn't argue sports or complain about too much, he listened to whatever music was on the radio and he was not consumed by concerts, movies or too many of things the rest of us obsess over , he was one of the smartest guys i knew, he preferred the quiet open spaces of upstate NY to the hectic chaos of the streets of Brooklyn.....i'll share one story that sums him up in my memory.

fall of 1989, i was out of the Navy and living on 75th street....working on wall street , but i was broke....rent on a studio was expensive....i barely had money for tokens and lunch....i would meet the Chairman in the Dodger for George Mullane pick a price on Friday night ( you could literally drink all happy hour and into the evening for $20) eventually the conversation would turn to saturday and what time were we drinking for college football.....i being broke would try to delay around the house until the 4:00 games because i just couldn't afford to spend 12 hours in the bar......financially that is...mentally and physically i was craving to go to the bar at 11:00 a.m...........well in the beginning Charlie would call and say he was bored and ask if he could come over (with his luggage) which was a suitcase of Budweiser beer......and we would polish off a 12 pack before heading to the Liev or Musketeers.....soon it became a saturday ritual.....and on rare occasions when i had a few extra bucks i would offer him some $$ for the beer....but he never accepted....and always said don't worry about it.....he never made me feel uncomfortable.....eventually i caught up financially , and then we really started to drink , lol........but like i said....he was good guy with a big heart.....no grand gestures , just nuts and bolts kindness........rest easy pal......and thanks for all the laughs.

see here how everything, leads up to this day

and it's just like any other day that's ever been (hunter/garcia)