I'll miss ya, Mike

My last night in San Francisco I learned that one of my oldest and dearest friends had passed away that day.

Mike Brown was a great man and a great friend who selflessly touched the lives of many people. He was a long-time volunteer with the Winnipeg Folk Festival and Lower Fort Garry. He played, coached and acted as trainer for countless amateur sports teams in and around the city. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for and awareness of Alzheimer's disease. Mike was a caring nurse who also cared for his colleagues by acting as a union rep and negotiator.

He was a loving husband to Nancy for 20 years and two days. As proud as I was to be your best man, my friend, I was equally happy that you agreed to be mine. I just wish you could've been here to celebrate our 20th with us.

Mike did a lot of things in his life and this song , which was played at his funeral, captured Mike's spirit perfectly. Goodbye, my old friend. I'll miss you always.

Ramblin' Boy

Words and Music by Tom Paxton

He was a man and a friend always
He stuck with me in the hard old days.
He never cared if I had no dough
We rambled 'round in the rain and snow.

[Chorus]
And here's to you my ramblin' boy
May all your ramblin' bring you joy
And here's to you my ramblin' boy
May all your ramblin' bring you joy.

In Tulsa town we chanced to stray
We thought we'd try to work one day
The boss said he had room for one
Says my old pal, "We'd rather bum!"

[Chorus]

Late one night in a jungle* camp
The weather it was cold and damp
He got the chills and he got 'em bad
They took the only friend I had.

[Chorus]

He left me here, to ramble on
My ramblin' pal, is dead and gone
If when we die, we go somewhere
I'll bet you a dollar, he's ramblin' there.

[Chorus]

* hobo jungle