When I moved to New York several years back, I became a daily fixture outside the Strand Bookstore browsing their $1 and $2 books. I would sit along the wall reading and talking with others under the awning watching hours pass as frantic city life continued in the background. Quickly, I got to know everyone who would put in the same amount of hours perusing the book carts (Tom Verlaine was one of them). I noticed him right away: a tall, commanding presence dressed always in black, often obscured by plumes of cigarette smoke. We would talk more and more and eventually grew to spending hours and hours outside talking to pass the time while waiting for the new arrivals. I had no idea the celebrity he was (just that he was a musician), and never did it come up. Another acquaintance finally let me in on the secret one day, after Tom and I had already shared countless months of near daily conversations. He was warm, brilliant, and engaging. Always curious about me (with no reason to be) and just curious in general. Oh, and an excellent bookman in addition to his many more obvious talents.To imagine passing by the Strand and not seeing him is nauseating. He will be sorely missed, and I loved the time we spent together.

When I moved to New York several years back, I became a daily fixture outside the Strand Bookstore browsing their $1 and $2 books. I would sit along the wall reading and talking with others under the awning watching hours pass as frantic city life continued in the background. Quickly, I got to know everyone who would put in the same amount of hours perusing the book carts (Tom Verlaine was one of them). I noticed him right away: a tall, commanding presence dressed always in black, often obscured by plumes of cigarette smoke. We would talk more and more and eventually grew to spending hours and hours outside talking to pass the time while waiting for the new arrivals. I had no idea the celebrity he was (just that he was a musician), and never did it come up. Another acquaintance finally let me in on the secret one day, after Tom and I had already shared countless months of near daily conversations. He was warm, brilliant, and engaging. Always curious about me (with no reason to be) and just curious in general. Oh, and an excellent bookman in addition to his many more obvious talents.To imagine passing by the Strand and not seeing him is nauseating. He will be sorely missed, and I loved the time we spent together.

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