The Straightest Guy?

I’m Mike Martyr, Ken’s Nephew-in Law, I’m married to his Neice, Kerry.

Ken and I didn’t have much in common but he always made an effort to make me feel like part of his family. I really appreciated that.

This afternoon I was remembering grilling tri-tip during the week of Matt and Kirsten’s wedding. Kerry’s whole family was there and Ken started taking pictures of meat cooking. Since he didn’t eat meat and lived in a city, he hadn’t spent much time around barbecues. He asked some questions and I laid out the plan to cook the beef through, test it for doneness, let it rest, cut it up, serve it, what pieces would be best, which tools were used for what, how to clean up. My answers may have been more than he was looking for.

Ken interrupted me with, “You are the straightest guy I’ve ever met”.

“Hey, Thanks!”, I said back.

Ken looked at me like I’d just farted in church. “That’s NOT a compliment!”

We had a good laugh. For the rest of the evening, I tried to come up with names of guys straighter than me. “Chuck Norris?”, “Nope”. “Joe Nameth?”, “No”. “Frank Golden?”, “Not even close!”

Ken was very generous to include me in his family and life even though I might not have been his first choice of guys to hang out with. I’ll remember that about him.

But, "the straightest guy", no way.

- Mike Martyr (via Kerry's email)

Photo of Ken and Lucy (my daughter, the one who made him great!)