Hi everyone, usually I type about stocks or investing on Thursday but on July 15th, this is a special day in which I blog about #CelebrateAngeloDay.
It’s been seven years since the death of my good friend Angelo Delos Reyes and every July 15th (or around the weekend), I celebrate the life of Angelo in some way or manner.
2014 was a rough year because I saw Angelo and treated him to a baseball game to watch the New York Yankees take on the Oakland A’s. And then he was to join us to cover an even in San Francisco and found out he passed away.
His death affected me in ways that I couldn’t imagine. Because he was a mentor and a good friend I grew up with, I’m left behind with a lot of photography from events he covered for me for years. But also the memories.
Angelo was a mentor in which he introduced me to books and audio books that would help shape my life in business and for work in general.
When I first had my first job, I saved up and he was there with me, when I traveled to purchase my first home theater system.
He was there with me, when I had to speak and give a speech at an event, but I injured myself badly by slicing my hand on a dog food can (of all things) and trying to bandage it up and attend the event. But it got worse and I ended up having to go to a clinic right after. Unfortunately, because it was later in the night, the only choice was ER and I didn’t want to be stuck in this far area for who knows how long. He kept my spirits up during the long drive home, because I don’t know if I could have driven back knowing that the wound in my hand was much more severe than I expected. Fortunately, the following morning, I healed better than I expected, received a tetanus shot and was bandaged up.
And then there was a political event, which had many of the wealthy at the home of a prominent department store owner. My job is to mingle with the rich, mingle with other staff of other politicians and to give a quick speech for my candidate. But I wasn’t able to properly introduce myself to the host. Angelo came with me to this event and Angelo befriended the department store owner and while all of us were congregating towards one area, Angelo and this very wealthy and powerful individual was just hanging out together. But needless to say, Angelo gave me the proper introduction to the individual and all went well.
These are positive examples of what Angelo did as a friend and as a mentor, but also he was like family. An older brother. Sure, we had our own disagreements but for the most part, we remained friends and also as colleagues as he was one of my photographers for celebrity interviews and event coverage.
And as I’m helping my son learn how to drive and get his license, I also remembered when my father gave me his truck which was manual and my father was not exactly the type to teach, he was more of, if you want it, then learn how to drive it on your own.
And I was quite determined to learn, but I needed some help and sure enough Angelo was there to give me some pointers. Granted, now that I write about this, I think of an ex-girlfriend at the time who was critical of how I drove stick shift (laughing).
Thank you Angelo! And this weekend, I will no doubt celebrate #CelebrateAngeloDay2021 with a Steak Special at Boston Pizza and an episode or two of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”!
