Layton Corners Bar

If you have lost your faith in humanity as it is easy to do these days reading the headlines, I suggest you get yourself up to this corner of the world. The people in this German-American farming community are just about the nicest most generous people I've met in the world. I joined Brad P. (the yelper who first reviewed this fine establishment) at the funeral services for our dearly beloved and much missed friend Bob Hebeler ... and visiting his hometown was just about the most grounding experience all of us had. One year after Bob's death and the dancing on the bar by eBay's HR team, pretty much everybody who travelled from the Bay Area to Michigan say their life has changed. Our priorities have shifted in small ways towards more time with true friends and family .. and generosity towards others. That's the lesson of Bob and the lesson of Layton Corners. And aren't we lucky to have experienced it. Remember this is a town where as his niece said "Gravy is considered a beverage." Live large, live well. And surround yourselves with friends and family.

Not quite a year ago, me and a couple dozen eBay co-workers had the great privilege and distinct honor to attend funeral services to memorialize one of the truly greatest humans you'll ever meet - Bob Hebeler who passed on suddenly and tragically last summer.

We descended upon this modest yet proud town, and at the encouragement of Bob's wife and sister, a few of us were sent directly to this local watering hole as it was a favorite of Bob's, and a place that he had spent some quality time in.

The afternoon session here (me, and the Knight brothers) comprised of a multiple rounds long-neck Old Style's to wash down our pickled bologna and corn fritters that accompanied some pool, shuffleboard, and ample Bob Segar on the jukebox.

Shockingly, the afternoon session somehow led to an evening and late night session with 30 or more friends and family who took it upon themselves to honor Bob with an impromptu wake. A wake that saw not only Kristin Y and Maggie D shaking their booties dancing on the bar, but also the bar's owner who also mounted his bar (a first, we're told) shaking his moneymaker after telling David K that men were decidedly NOT allowed to dance on his bar.

At 1:30 AM, when repeated shouting of LAST CALL proved ineffective in ridding the bar of the out-of-towners, a local saved the day by backing his Harley to the front door, firing up the engine, and dropping his back tire onto the landing, sending billows of thick black smoke into the bar, clearing the remaining 15 of us in 10 seconds flat.

I will miss you Bob, and haven't forgotten you. God speed and I hope you are enjoying running, swimming and cycling in a better place.