It was an interesting enough meal. He was friendly, though quiet, and generous even though I had outed him. I shrugged it off, that is until Sunday morning.

It was a slow brunch shift. My manager came up to me and told me that she needed to see me in the office right away. I got concerned, even though I knew nothing was wrong. She sat me down in the desk chair and pointed to the computer screen. I gasped. It was the first report that Billy Mays had died. It was an interesting feeling. I had goosebumps. I had just met him. I had just served him. Not even 48 hours later, the man was dead. It shook me a little. What was even weirder was when a bartender who works at the conjoining Sports Bar told me that it had been her boyfriend who was flying the plane that Billy Mays was on. The one in Tampa with the rough landing.

Suddenly six degrees of separation does not seem so far away. I had waited on the man, who was one of the few people who called my by my right name as I was waiting on them, and someone I knew quite well was suddenly connected to him also. And then he was dead.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I know all to well it is not easy losing someone, especially so suddenly. I can’t say it was an honor to wait on him, I feel like that is cheesy and self-righteous. He was very kind and generous. And it amazed me how accepting he was when three grown men asked to have their picture taken with him. The world is filled with crazy connections. I just hope the next one is not so close to death.