Sr. Bill Byrnes

[doncoulter]

Great post, jesm. I've known Bill for twenty years, and I had the good fortune to live practically next door to him for the last dozen or so years of his time in Guanajuato. I did him occasional favors over the years, but they were no match for all the help he gave me and my wife. To mention just one instance, our house was broken into while we were traveling in the States one year. Before we were even notified of the break-in, Bill had taken charge -- watching the house till the cops arrived, watching the cops after they did arrive (to make sure they didn't add to the crime), and finally rigging up a padlock for the damaged front door. When we returned from the States, I brought him a bottle of Wild Turkey, and asked what I owed him for his trouble. "This'll do fine," he said.

As you know, jesm, Guanajuato has had more than its share of colorful and fascinating expats. But I've never met anyone quite like Bill Byrnes.