Some very sad news indeed

[chochiyo_sama]

Last night, just as I was settling down to go to sleep, my cell phone rang.  Dave Kelley's name came up--i almost answered it with a smarty pants answer like, "Who are you, stranger?" or make some comment about his scraggly beard that I always tormented him about.   But I didn't.  It was a good thing.

It was his wife calling to tell me that Dave had passed away yesterday morning.  I was so shocked I could hardly believe it.  I knew he had been in the hospital with a collapsed lung, but I figured he would be getting good care and that he would come out of it--he was a tough little bugger.  He wasn't supposed to have lived to come home from the hospital on the day he was born, but he lived anyhow to graduate from college and marry and have two children and two grandchildren. 



He adored his little granddaughter and was so thrilled that I was making her a bunch of doll clothes.  Now he will never see them in person.  :( 

His wife told me, "He really, really loved you."  I said, "I know.  i loved him too."  He was an enormous ball of compassion and love.  He sometimes referred to himself as 'poppa' because he became a father to all those who needed parenting.  I will miss him incredibly.  it breaks my heart to see his name on my phone list and know I can never call him again.

I feel incredibly bad that i did not contact him more often this spring.  I kept promising him I would every time he called and asked me where I had been--but school was keeping me busy, and I have had other issues that have occupied my mind as well.  sigh.

The world has lost a truly good man.

Good night, sweet prince.  May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.