Passing of a friend and old Asian hand like me - William (Bill) Henneberry

Bill in Saigon - about a week ago.

A hard week in Saigon - feeling alone and old..  Things just weren't clicking for me, than heard about the possibility my friend Bill had passed away in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  After a few days of fumbling around, got my nerve up and contacted the US Embassy in Phnom Penh for confirmation. Hard call for me as his passing wasn't the real deal until I made the call for conformation.  A staff member mater-o-factually told me the authorities found him in a hotel room on the fifth of this month (January) and that Bill had died of cardiac arrest.

Always, the first week or so here is a readjustment in how my life is but this time it's went on for a month and now with Bill's passing, who knows.  Now I'm even considering heading back to the states as so far all I've managed to do is spend more money than I have, try to sleep on a bed that is lumpier than my 40 year old mattress back in California and drink to much, but I can do that anywhere.

Bill was a very interesting guy, merchant seaman, lawyer, writer and on his own a world traveler. Always, seeking new opportunities - in the last few years specializing in representing people with marijuana possession charges.  Learned about this first hand as my trooper and I ferried Bill and his clients around, also did airport runs and what ever was needed when he was away.  

His latest endeavor was establishing a goat farm in Oklahoma with

Puerto Rico

his nephew Sean Oni Raer, not sure how that will work out now.   Along with that he maintained a sail boat in Puerto Rico he used mostly as a floating condo. 

Bill also possessed a very personal travel philosophy, book a flight to a far off, mostly third world type country, land and take a walk around, grab an inexpensive room, settle in the room and read a book,  Not to think he was a nerd, he said before the week he came to visit me he had created an inexpensive special relationship twice. 

Bill we will miss you, the mornings at McDonald's discussing world politics, our mutual love of the sea and boats, hanging out together and arguing about the life we live, trading books and the quick meet ups in the parking lot, Bill was also my neighbor and always encouraging my writings and my biggest supporter.