Deep Dish & Deep Generosity: Larry Gates

It's not the Beatles. It's not Jimi Hendrix. It's Larry Gates from the band Curb Service. www.curbservicemusic.com Today's guest has been a friend of mine for around 20 years and was a housemate for a year in there somewhere. Love the man. I'll tell you a story about his generosity at the end but first let's talk about today's meal.

Usually on a weekday lunch, I would be looking for something close to downtown, but today I had the day off, so we ventured a little bit further (but not too far). We went to Papa Del's. They have deep dish pizza slices for lunch, so we each got one. I of course didn't think to get a picture until after we were finished, so you will just have to go and try it out yourself if you want to see what they look like.

** Little known fact about the intersection of my life and Papa Del's. Back in the 90's I had a bunch of food service jobs including one day of work at Papa Del's. I was hired as a waiter and went in the first day to learn that the regular server had called off or quit and there was a big party that the manager was going to have to take care of, so I was going to have to work a lunch shift on my own for the regular customers. Ten minutes of training on the POS system and I was on my way. I was not good. The customers were nice, because they took pity on me and could see that I had no idea what was going one. I didn't go back for the second day of work. So that is the story of my first and only day of being a waiter.

Larry and I had a lot to catch up on. We were supposed to go out last month, but my father died right beforehand, so I just didn't feel like going. I let him know that I had been dealing with it pretty well and was doing better. The move to a new apartment was taking up most of my energy the last couple of weeks. So, yes, it has been a stressful time for me. But at least I still have a good job. That is something that Larry cannot say. He worked for many years at Volition as a sound guy for the video games they were putting out. When they closed up shop, he lost his job with the rest of the staff. Sad time for many of the creatives that worked there.

I was curious to know what he had been up to since then. Turns out he has been doing some freelance work for some other gaming companies. No idea what the projects are because I don't know anything about gaming. When I asked it if was for Legend of Zelda, the only game I know, he confirmed that he was not working on that. Too bad about that. I would have enjoyed knowing someone who worked on that game. No idea if they are even making more of those games. Did I mention that I don't know anything about gaming? Hopefully other freelance work comes through, and he continues to make enough money to make ends meet.

We talked a lot about movies. Larry started off with the question, "What movie has been better than the book it was based on?" I offered up The Godfather, The Martian and Stand By Me. He included The Shining, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and A Clockwork Orange. Stephen King, Stanley Kubrick and Jack Nicholson seen to be a winning combination. Do you have any additions?

We also talked about some recent movies. I might go and see Deadpool and Wolverine at some point. Been too busy to get out this last weekend. Larry likes some comic book movies, but isn't a diehard fan, so will probably wait for streaming for that one. One that he did say I needed to watch was Poor Things. He talked about the world building and the wonderful acting of Mark Ruffalo. The only thing I know about the movie is that Emma Stone gets naked, but he didn't even mention that part. It must be a good film, if that isn't what you lead off talking about when you mention it. I'd like to watch it, but I've given up TV so don't know how to fit that in without breaking that restriction.

Did I mention that Larry is in a band. Through the years, he has been in a few, but currently he is in Curb Service. They have an EP (Four Letter World) coming out on Friday and will be performing at Street Fest on Saturday. So be sure to listen to the record so you are ready to sing along when they hit the stage the next day. Here is the latest video for one of the songs: youtu.be/g9W7VRvph_M . There are other great bands and entertainment happening also. Check here for more information champaigncenter.com/downtown-throwdown

I mentioned that I would tell a story about his generosity at the end, so we are at the end, so here it goes. I've had a couple of rough times in my life. 2008 was one of those times. I didn't have a job, only had some freelance work to keep me going, and had a newborn kid and their parent to take care of. I had had some money saved up from before, but it was quickly running out, and I didn't know how I was going to make it. I had to start selling off some of my equipment in order to make some extra cash. Larry agreed to buy one of my mics for a couple hundred dollars. A couple hundred dollars when you don't have much is a lot of money. So, I brought him the mic and he handed me some money and said thanks and walked away.

I didn't count the money until I got home when I realized that he had given me quite a bit more than the price we had agreed on. When I was at one of my lowest points, he came through and gave me some of what he had to help me out. And he did it in such a way that it didn't seem like charity. He was buying something and just happened to give me extra. He was there for me when I really needed it. I will never forget him for that, and I will always owe him if he ever needs it. (But let's hope the freelance work keeps coming so he doesn't need it soon, ha). But really, Larry is a true friend and one of the good ones. ** or possibly he doesn't know how to count and just gave me too much by accident. I think I will go with the generous story, but it I am wrong, let me know, I think I owe you some change.

Thank you, Mr. Gates! We need to do this again sometime. If you notice the photos, you will see behind the one with the two of use it says Papa Papa Papa. Larry is the originator of the moniker, Papa Paris, a name that I love, but have never been able to get my child to call me. Ha.