August 20, 2024 RIP Mr. Fly

Blaine Toney was my friend, although I never knew him by that name. He was always Mr. Fly. The phone book even listed him as M.R. Fly.

Now he’s flying with the angels. He might laugh at that and say he’s running with the devil.

But I know better.

He’s with the angels now, and his mom is there to welcome him on his final journey. We were kids when we met all those years ago. His younger brother was my best bud and we became close friends without even trying.

Sometimes we meet people with a good soul, a spirit that lights the room. Fly was one of those special people that everyone warmed to. I never knew him to have an enemy or even hate anyone. His love for fun was only exceeded by his love for the Riders. It’s no surprise since he spent so much time growing up in Saskatchewan.

Although it’s been over ten years since we saw each other, I feel his loss deep inside. He was a friend, and I will always cherish the times we had together.

Even the times I barely remember. Maybe especially so.

Every Sunday night he went to church. Back then church for him was The Backstreet. Backstreet was a bar in the basement of the Smugglers Inn, a high-end steakhouse on Macleod Trail South in my hometown of Calgary. His love of tequila and live music resulted in winning a new fridge from all the entries him and his friends made. Every tequila shot got you a ticket for the draw. By the end of the draw he had so many tickets, it seemed impossible that he wouldn’t win.

Backstreet was his release and our place to let the world slip away while we connected over live music and beverages. It was a sad day when they closed that iconic bar.

I have so many great memories of times spent together. Our adventure to Vegas and Lake Havasu stands out as an awesome trip. I’ll never forget when we rescued the waitress from the seafood restaurant and she invited us to dinner at her restaurant. There was Fly wearing a shirt with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on it. But this wasn’t a Disney friendly shirt, Mickey was behind Minnie and they were doing it doggie style.

In his honour, I wear my best concert shirt to his celebration of life. He wouldn’t want me in a suit and tie – he’d love that I showed up wearing my Iron Maiden shirt. Complete with my Iron Maiden socks.

Fly had no shame, he was always smiling and didn’t care what anyone thought about him. But he would give you his shirt off his back. Which is what he did in Lake Havasu. He met a guy who loved his Canadian flag shirt, it wasn’t any Canadian flag shirt though. It had the words “Fuckin’ Eh” on it, along with the Canadian flag. He bought four of those shirts for all of us to wear when we were in the States. Then he gave his to a Mexican American who thought it was great.

He had a cat who he called Pecker. Pecker was his little buddy and lived to the ripe old age of twenty. Most people have their cats buried or cremated. Not Mr. Fly, he had Pecker stuffed and mounted, in a standing position. We even took Pecker to the bar for his twenty-first birthday to celebrate.

Mr. Fly you were one of a kind. And you will be missed.

I wish I’d had a chance to see you one more time to say goodbye. But you weren’t one for long goodbyes.

After forty years at Wacker Canada, he was finally getting to retire. All he’d worked for all those years was coming to fruition. Then they gave him the news.

Cancer.

Fuck cancer.

Now we need to say goodbye to our friend. Gone far too young and far too soon.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Fly.