This is Cyd Robbins.  Penny [Brichta] suggested if I see the tribute it may make me feel better.   I am sick at heart.  I thought i could come to the library and see the photos but it is really so complicated.  I do not have a computer,  so I am at Skokie Public Library and I just had to get a hot mail.   I am at such a loss because I really was so crazy in love with Larry and he was the greatest. 

OK, here we go again guys.  Is this my third, fourth or fifth attempt to contribute to the Larry Collage of Loving Memories???  Let's just say I,ve been having technical difficulties.  Not only am I banging all this out letter by letter cause I can't type, but last time, when I finally got to the end, my entire thing vanished. Kaput. Disappeared.  I sat here in Skokie Public Library crying my eyes out in grief and frustration.  Guess I should have tried a computer sometime in the last century, but now I'm too old;  it's too late.

First, thank yous: To Paul, Grace, Kay and Penny:  For listening, for telling me more about Larry, for understanding, for comforting me by including me.  I had felt so Isolated, Alone, Drowning and Cut Off.  Your generosity of heart in sharing helped me to get somewhat of a grip.Thank you.  Also to every one participating in this web site and thanks again to Paul for making it possible.  I feel I can be personal and honest and this is a safe and accepting forum for a bunch of really loving people who just were and still nuts about a really sweet, loving and lovable guy. (excuse me while I compulsively save draft)

MY POEM i WROTE FOR LARRY By Cydney

Titled:  SWING DANCE, or How To Fall In Love Before You Know It.

We spin through space, we're skimming o'er the floor
In speedy rhythm, hearts a-pound, horns blare;
Our feet are beating hard as drums roll out,
The jazzy rhythm pumps right through our blood.
Hands reach and grasp, we grab, then swirl around,
Swing out, then get together, cuddle up,
We swing around again, your eyes meet mine,
A living, panting, sweating Tilt-a-Whirl,
The World's a blur, the twinkling lights spin by...

And all I see are your eyes, your face,
Your smiling, teasing, breathless, intent face,
Your strong arms, your sure hands, as you reach out
Again, again, again, and yet again
To pull me close....  UH-OH!!!

REMINISCENCES OF LARRY, by Cydney,ok save draft again.

I first met Larry 6 years ago at Door Co. Folk Dance Fest.  We had a blast staying up all nite, taking turns laying around on the folding chairs, pretending not to sleep, like a couple of limp rag dolls, waiting for Paul to put on one or another of our esoteric, kooky late-night requests.  Upon which moment, either one of us would pop up like a jack-out-of-the-box and start dancing around at top speed. Larry had that super intense energy with an aura that just reaches out to encompass you.  Of course, with my energy level, I didn't really need any extra.  We kind of fed off each other and i remember it with affection as a very silly, funny, fun and crazy night.  Uh,  excuse me, by the way, Paul, but, if you would recall correctly, not that YOU are EVER wrong about ANYTHING, but (ahem) I won the Olympics that year and am proud to share the distinction with you guys, thank you very much!  [Editor's Note - Sorry Cyd, Larry and I never lost an Olympics!]

Cydney continues with her reminiscences of Larry Hoey:

After that, I never saw Larry again until just this summer, at the Door co.  fest again.  Louie Prima was singing Banana Splits for my Baby.  I started jazzin' out on the floor by myself becuz I just love love love that song.  Out of nowhere comes this guy, takes my hand and leads me into the dance.  It was Larry.  After about 2 split seconds, I'm Like, "Hey, I remember you!" 

So that started what for me was a whirlwind of a weekend during which, every moment I was with him, my heart took over completely, and my brain was totally and most definitely DISengaged.  I became like this adoring puppy dog with my tongue hanging out just yearning and longing for the next dance with Larry, so I could get close, hang on to him, improv steps, goof up and laugh.  What a Blast.

I knew Larry neither as long nor as well as most people here, but I knew him will enough to know he was Everything:  smart, funny, cute, cuddly, wise and deep.  He had serenity, and yet there was a chord there from deep inside that made you sense the serenity would come and go and had been hard-earned. 

Larry's life was too short, both for him and for us, but he was a Jewel of a Man who created for himself a beautiful and fabulous life rich in Love, Friendship, Nature, Music, Dancing, Study, Travel, Teaching, and Art.

"He was a man, take him for all in all,
I shall not look upon his like again."

To  Finally Close My Windy Suspirations....(I know I may seem windy, yak, yak, yak... "Seems, madam? Nay, it is, I know not seems-"

Finally, A STORY:

ok, Once upon a time, in the quite most recent past, God is sitting up in Heaven with a real problem.  It seems he has a crew of particularly blase', untalented, and well, just dull-witted and uncreative angels. 

He sorely needed someone to shape them up, put alittle bit of spice in their cloudy foggy lives, give them some motivation, teach them to laugh and sing and play and dance, and maybe teach them a few disgusting and immature jokes.  God was looking for a candidate for the job, someone whose Delight in Life was Contagious.  Heaven was just getting too dang BORing.  So God Looks Down.  So who does He see???

Someone who could fire these angels up, gently kick their little spiritual butts into some hot footed dancing and accompany them on the celeste to boot.  Someone to teach 'em how to live and become Worthy of the Name of Heavenly Host.  Larry Hoey, that's who.  No applications, no interviews, just," Wham, Bam, Come on, Man; This is GOD talking, Now get up here on the  double and I, The Royal Diety, Mean Right Now!!!"

So, people, Larry's up there, I guess. He's got a job working for God.There was a bit of negotiation, however, and you can bet the Celestial Celeste he's twiddling on right now is a Glossy Black Concert Grand.

All I can say, Professor Hoey, is that you better finish up that job in record time.  It won't be long now till the rest of us start floating up toward your direction, one by one, (Uh, assuming, guys, that we ARE goin' UP and not, uh, you know, ahem, to that uh, Other Place, you know, like DOWN - although I hear the speakeasies down there are hot, sweaty, jazzy and a 
HELLUVA lot of fun---) Anyway, like I was saying, finish up that job with time to spare so you can catch some R&R.  You will really need to rest up Larry, cuz when we all get up there,Look out baby, we gonna dance yo' SOX Off!!! We gonna beat yo' feet till ya feet is beat,Pretty boy, so rest up!!! ok

Now I am signing off this electronic mode of communication which i find incredibly laborious and frustrating.  At least I didn't lose stuff today although I did have to log on five times before I could start writing. ciao.I LOVE YOU LARRY AND I ALWAYS WILL I MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY AND I WILL NEVER STOP PAINTING AS LONG AS I CAN HOLD THE BRUSH AND IWILL NEVER STOP DANCING AS LONG AS I CAN WIGGLE MY TINIEST TOE TO THE SYNCOPATED BEAT. I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, I DO

my stardust memory, that melody of love's refrain....

After Thoughts from Cydney

This famous song keeps running through my head:

The way you wear your hat- the way you sip your tea
The mem'ry of all that-  no,no, they can't take that away from me

The way your smile just beams- the way you sing off(?) key
The way you haunt my dreams-  no, no they cant take that away from me

We may never,never meet again on the bumpy road to love
But I'll always, always keep the mem'ry of

The way you hold your knife- the way we danced till three
The way you changed my life- no,no they can't take that away from me
They   can't  take    that    a-way      from      me.

Signing Off, Sincerely and Affectionately to one and All,
Miss Cydney Robbins 

Cydney Robbins - Skokie, Illinois
cydney_robbins@hotmail.com