[PPreu]

This tragedy has affected me, on a personal note, a lot more then I thought it would have. One of the deceased young boys' name is Eric Baker. Those of you that frequented CG in the evenings might recognize him by his baby-face, clean-cut look as he whisked around the restaurant clearing tables of dirty dishes.

Eric was an aspiring professional golfer, enrolled in PGA College, just three weeks shy of graduating.

His warmth, kindness and genuine affability never ceased to amaze me. He never failed to stop by and say "hi" to my wife and I as we dined.

On Friday afternoon, at 4:00, I said goodbye to Eric, as he ran off a golf course where we had been playing, so he could be at work at CG on time.

I sat with his father for a while, telling him how enamored of his son, that my wife and I had become. His dad beemed with an obvious pride that a father has for his son.

Ten hours later, gone, way too soon.

Ironically, a year ago, my wife and I moved to The Villages from Ocala. This accident happened near our old house.

Eric Baker was 21.

R.I.P. friend.