In Memory of Starr

I just heard news tonight that Starr has unexpectedly passed away.
It's weird, I didn't really know him all that well, but I feel like my life has all of a sudden changed. He was a minor character in the scope of my life, but he was a presence with me, nonetheless, for probably over ten years. Starr. What a name, what a guy. He was the door-man at the Shamrock Bar. Shamrock, one of three or four gay bars in Madison was and is next door to the Paradise Lounge, the local haunt for punks and collegiate castoffs. I first started going there with all my friends (from my Museum days--- more about that in later posts) when we wanted a place to talk and the Paradise was toooo loud. Shamrock (Phaze II, in it's earlier days) is kinda a castoff bar itself, but filled more with a sometimes quieter, sometimes older gay crowd. Starr was there every time. I'm not sure what it was about him. Maybe his hand-crafted Dungeons and Dragons rings and jewelry weighing down his hands, his long pony-tailed hair and his out-of-date late 80's styled eyeglasses, or maybe his pants! He REALLY liked to show off his bulging snaking package. His shrunken black-denim jeans always performed their job quite well. His crotch was like a barking dog. Don't mess with Starr! I think some people just thought of him as this kinda creepy weird dude who seemed to get easily upset. I know that's how I first thought of him. I remember the way he'd always non-sensically ask for your i.d. as you'd walk in. Like, what's his problem? Well, he dealt with a lot of drunk nitwits, that's what. I never gave him any guff, though. I saw something in him I think some of the older regulars saw in him, he was a gentle soul who cared about his community. I'd always take the time to ask him how he was doing, to see what was going on with him. He'd tell me about his favorite parts of the latest episode of Star Trek he had just taped and watched. Starr---Star Trek. Get it? He'd always take an hour long break and watch the show in the back-bar area when the show was on while he was working. He even came over once to our apartment (the Museum) and bought my room-mate Carol's Star Trek costume from her. (Actually, I believe she just let him have it because when he tried it on he wasn't wearing any underwear!) Anyway, I saw in him qualities I aspire to. Being true to yourself and doing what you want in defiance of what's "cool" to the "it's happening now" in-crowd. Being a nerd and not caring. I thought that was what was really cool, and that will always stay with me; but now he's gone. So now whenever I go back to Madison, he won't be there. A part of my Madison history is now in a way, actually history.
But, I'll always have this little song in my heart whenever I'll go back or whenever I'll think of Starr--- one that my friends and I drunkingly made up and sang way back when:

(to the tune of Madonna's "Lucky Star")
"Starr might,
Starr might
Be at Phaze II tonight!

Starr might, Starr might..."