WANTED Dead or Alive: Scorpion Cowboy.

That was the slogan he always had on portraits of him around the office.  We were always joking and talking about planning funny photo shoots; some we actually did off the cuff and some I’ll have to hire a model because they might be rather compromising.  But there is the facade we put on every day to the world, and how we’re really doing on the inside.  I know he had very little ego and was fine with me taking pictures of whatever I wanted which is why I feel OK sharing these now:

Duane had health problems due to complications with a long-term smoking habit (among other things) and I didn’t realize just how serious they were, until he just wasn’t there anymore.  There are plenty of messages out there to kids warning them not to even start and my friend Duane is a good example.  Assuming that you can actually overcome the nicotine addiction, you are still setting yourself up for an early grave and your last years might not be all that enjoyable.  The comfort is knowing he’s gone to a better place now.