Ed Simmons: Jay Adams Local Hero

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This town, “Venice_90291”, is a tolerant town, a town that gives you room to grow.  I made my way to Venice, California for the first time in 1968.  Throughout the years I’ve gotten to know so many interesting people. At Jay Adams memorial service, what was so surprising, but really not, was that all of these old friends of mine, knew all these other old friends of mine. There I was back hanging with all these people, with all my old friends again, at a somber time. Ya know I ain’t seen most of these people in years, all these people here hanging for Jay at the Venice Pier.

 

I didn’t know Jay. Certainly knew of him, frankly: maybe just a little scared of him. Ya see, this guy Jay Adams was not some “Weeping Judge” kind of Local Hero, a man made from privilege, a man fed from a silver spoon,  oh no these streets of Venice were hard.  Jay stood up, yeah the man made mistakes, but just like a fine wine, he got better with time and age!

“PRAY FOR WAVES” I heard from his homies, hanging on a Mexican Beach was how he started his day.

 

A prayer, some waves, good food with close friends, then some rest. God Bless You Jay Adams. REST IN PEACE.

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