Yesterday it was announced that Rich Jeni has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. This saddens me for a number of reasons, and he was a comedian I really enjoyed watching perform. So much so that I became a small part of his act once, many years ago.

My friends John and Susan, my sister Tanya and I saw Jeni at Charlie Goodnight’s Comedy Club in Raleigh, NC. As usual, I got us a table right next to the stage, on the performers right so that we would be in prime “please pick on us” range.

I had heard from friends of mine that the last time Jeni had come through town he was really close to a young lady he had brought with him, but this time she was no where to be found. I figured this would entail some sort of breakup/divorce part of his routine, and I wasn’t disappointed.

He started off with the line “Half of the marriages in this country end in divorce, and the other half …”

and I swear he paused, as if to invite the audience to join in. So I shouted out “… end in death” (which is the punch-line to the joke).

I swear it was so quiet I heard crickets.

Jeni of course came right over, shook my hand, and thanked me for helping out with the show, and then he asked my name.

“Tarus,” I replied.

He immediately adopted the most effeminate manner and said, “oooooh, Tarus. We’re skipping the names and getting right to the important information. Well I’m a Capricorn, Leo rising …” and he riffed on my name for 5 minutes.

Then he asked for my last name. “Smith, ” I said, as my sister was laughing so hard she almost fell out of her chair. He pushed for my real name and I finally said “Balog”.

“Blog? Your name is Tarus Blog?”

I took my shot and said, “C’mon, Rich Jeni isn’t the most common name in the world”.

“Okay, okay. We have a babe in the crib. You have a choice of two names. First, ‘Richard Jeni’ (nods approvingly), or ‘TARUS BLOG’ (grimaces). Throw that bracelet away.”

Brilliant. So quick. He will be missed.