Remembering Muddles

As most of you know Muddles was my friend and mentor. Before his passing in January of 2018, him and I were sharing a room at the Cedar Oaks Senior Center. It was there we’re I rediscovered my love for fitness. In the Beginning of the Summer of 2017 the Cedar Oaks Community was being threatened by an interloper, a ”shark“ who would terrorize the fine people of Cedar Oaks by soliciting them. This person would harass members of our community and is responsible for two of our community members deaths (Dottie and Ellen). On the brink of canceling the 4th of July Firework show in the backyard of the Cedar Oaks Senior Center, director Darlene Cavanaugh called an emergency meeting to solve this growing problem in her community. Everyone had questions, few had answers, but one had a solution. All of the yelling and screaming that afternoon came to a screeching halt when all we heard was long fingernails on a chalkboard. When I turned around to see who it was, I saw my friend Muddles. He looked at Director Cavanaugh and said:

“Y’all know me. Know how I earn a livin’. I’ll catch this Bastid for you, but it ain’t gonna be easy. Bad Rodent. Not like going down to the East Village and chasing pussy or keeping a warm mouth in the clink. This Bastard, swallow you whole. No shakin’, no tenderizin’, down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that’ll bring back your residents, put all your businesses on a payin’ basis. But it’s not gonna be pleasant. I value my cock a lot more than three thousand bucks, Director. I’ll find him for three, but I’ll catch him, and kill him, for ten. But you’ve gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don’t want no volunteers, I don’t want no mates, there’s too many captains in this community center. Ten thousand dollars for me by myself. For that you‘ll get head, you’ll get some

tail, the whole damn thing.“

Muddles never did find the solicitor. He died 7 months later. On his death bed he told me to tell the world this story and if it sounds familiar to anyone who hears it tell them that they‘re “stupid and jealous “. Here’s to you Muddles, say hello to Dottie and Ellen up there for me! This isn’t as much as a goodbye as it is a see you later!

RIP Muddles

April 25th 1938- January 12 2017