It was a no-brainer. We got the questions in advance so no surprises. And during the visit, Tom built in plenty of time for the photo shoot and a natter off mic.

Good deal. Lots of time with this guy. He gets his questions answered, gets to hang with the band, gets to pick all his favorite Roadmasters songs that the DJ plays for all of Seattle.

Except for the fact this guy is clearly a good guy, a huge fan, and he’s dying, it goes great.

And as usual, Preacher’s totally on.

I mean, if this guy wasn’t our biggest fan in Seattle before that, he would have been after.

Preacher even goes so far as sayin’, “Sorry Lyla couldn’t come,” when she never did that kind of thing and everyone knew it, and so Preacher never went there, never brought her up which would bring attention to the fact she wasn’t around.

But the guy had mentioned Lyla, and he was that guy and what was happening to him was happening to him, so Preacher says that and for him, that’s goin’ the extra mile.

And the guy says something like, “I knew she wouldn’t. I know she doesn’t do this kind of thing. But will you tell her I said hi?”

And Preach says, “I’ll totally tell her you said hi. But you can tell her yourself seein’ as you’ll meet her backstage.”

Then Tommy gives the guy passes for him and his whole family to the show and this guy is beside himself.

He’s eating this shit up.

Preacher shakes his hand, claps him on the shoulder, and he’s got a way with this kind of thing. He always did.

It’s not the first he’s done, or we’ve done.

But he could do that. The handshake. The clap on the shoulder. And do it without it being obvious he’s not putting his full force behind it, so they’re not reminded they’re sick as fuck and going to die.

There were a lot of things I admired about Preach, as you can tell.

Gotta say, the way he was with people who got a shit hand in life and they wouldn’t have the time to wait for a re-deal, that was near to the top of the list.

We’re gettin’ in the limo after, Shawn’s in, Tim’s in, Preacher’s folding in, and Tim does this cough to hide him saying, “Faker,” and as he intended, what anyone intends with that bullshit, he meant it to be heard.

And it was heard.

Now, I’m pissed at Preacher but what are we?

Ten?

So now I’m also pissed at Tim because we got issues to hash out and it ain’t gonna happen like that.