Uncle Dave…we’ve lost another good friend:

Hello again, and welcome back to Ridin Out the Recession. We’d like to thank you guys for stopping back by!

Deb and I have a good friend and his name is Uncle Dave, or at least that’s how we’ve always known him. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I don’t know Uncle Dave’s exact age, but it has to be around 67 or 68.

Uncle Dave went to college with another friend of ours, Ronnie, who we knew as Turtle…Deb’s nickname for him. He was labeled this on account of he drove so dern slow. Honestly, when Turtle got out on the highway in his truck the hair on his head wouldn’t move an inch…with the windows rolled…DOWN!!

Turtle was a great guy, but passed about 4 years ago. Stopping now and looking back, it sure doesn’t seem like it’s been that long.

Turtle was survived by his wife Katherine, and their two sons. All of which are good people.

Turtle’s fit here is that he did go to school with Uncle Dave, and after many years apart, Dave moved to Florida from Texas to be nearer Turtle. Moved in right next door, and this is how Deb and I came to know Uncle Dave.

Uncle Dave was well liked by all of us, and we were blessed to get to know him. Red, our son, loved him, and they got pretty close themselves as Dave bought a home across from Red. Red has since moved to St. Cloud, but Uncle Dave’s new home was still near Ronnie and Katherine…right around the corner.

Uncle Dave was a Miami Hurricane fan, and me…I’m a Fla. Gator fan, so don’t think we haven’t been in some heated discussions in regards to college football! But, they were all in fun, and we did it just to aggravate the other one!

We’ve had a bunch of cooks, either down at Ronnie and Katherine’s, or here at our house, and Uncle Dave is just part of “the crew!” If you were cookin, and wanted to throw out an invite, Uncle Dave would 9 out of 10, oblige you.

Uncle Dave is always one of my favorite guests when throwin a cook. The reasoning behind this is very, very simple…he doesn’t eat much!

I don’t know that I’ve ever saw Uncle Dave mad at anyone. Maybe that’s just his nature but unlike me, if I’m mad…you know it! Uncle Dave though, just doesn’t seem to get excited. Sometimes I wish I were more like that…but only sometimes!

I’m a firm believer in not holding your emotions inside, but to let em rip, if need be. Why? I feel you live longer if you release your pent-up feelings, rather than hold them in and dwell on them! LOL! I don’t know how true that statement is, but that’s my story…and I’m stickin to it!!

If you are outside working, Uncle Dave always comes by with a toot of his horn, and a wave of his hand.

He lives by himself, and I really don’t know if he’d have it any other way. I believe he likes his independence, and he cooks and cleans like a dern ole housewife. Seriously, when you go to his home…it’s immaculate.

I swear to you, there’s never a dirty dish, a dirty rug, or anything at all out of place. The color of his carpet throughout his house…white, and I’ve never seen even one dirty spot on it since we’ve known him. To me, that’s amazing!

Well, I believe 3 to 4 months prior to Deb being diagnosed, Uncle Dave was diagnosed with lung cancer. He went through the chemo regime, and for the last 3-4 months has had very, very little quality of life.

He was given morphine and oxycodone (is that how you spell it?), acted like he felt some better, but the poor guy looked wild-eyed. A couple weeks ago Uncle Dave fell and broke his hip, and was put into a hospice home.

He fell off fast and every time we’d go he’d look a little worse. Poor Katherine, Ronnie’s wife, and her son Tommy, and his wife Judi were there most times. All night some times.

Uncle Dave was very close to the whole family, and they loved him as family. He really didn’t have much family of his own, and none were here, but Katherine and them stepped up, and kept him in love. They are again, a fine, fine bunch of people.

Deb and I rode up there Christmas night to see him. He was asleep, but I do believe he’d crack his eyes once in a while. The nurse came in and told us that he could hear us, but was too weak to respond. We stayed a little longer and left for home about 8 pm.

At 3:30 am, the next morning, Uncle Dave went home to be with our Lord. We sure are going to miss him, but we’re ecstatic that his pain is over. We know he’ll be in good hands, and will be looking down upon us.

What a terrible disease this is. We pray daily that someone will figure out the cure. We have lost too many friends this year to this disease, and it breaks our heart with each one.

Please join us and pray for all the people afflicted by this disease, and pray for their families as well. It’s a tough road to hoe, but if you’re stricken with it, it’s a road you must travel. It’s in God’s hands.

We have been so blessed that Deb is doing so well. She still does any and everything, just as she always has. What a tiger she’s been. I’m here to tell you guys, she’s never complained, and there’s not one ounce of her soul that doesn’t believe she’s going to whip this. I’m convinced!

Her positivity should be marketed and sold!

In closing out today, please say a prayer for Uncle Dave, and anyone else with this mess. Keep aware of your own body, and if you see, or feel something that may be out a wack…check it out! Time is a major, major player in regards to cancer. So, the quicker you have it diagnosed, the better it is for you many times.

God Bless you all, and Deb says to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub and Deb

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2 Responses to Uncle Dave…we’ve lost another good friend:

  1. JohnMinn says:

    For those in the “antiques” group, any disease is a big problem because the bodies healing system is shutting down.
    Lost a very dear friend Gordy and after the funeral all his dear wife and I could do is hug each other and wash each other in tears.
    Painful to lose a friend, but then again the level of pain is a bit more tolerable because they knew where home was. I miss Gordy, but I am looking forward to seeing him once again when I get home.
    Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that you will be there with some of the greatest heros the world has known, and you will be able to have conversations with individuals such as Abraham, Joseph, Paul, Mark and John just to name a few.
    So Gordy is likely in his glory because he always had ever so many questions.

    • admin says:

      Good morning John. How are you , buddy? Thanks so much for your insight, it was appreciated. I’d never thought of it quite like you laid it out for us. Of course we’ll miss Uncle Dave, and we’ve always taken heart in the fact that from the pain perspective…it would be better.

      Also we’ve always understood that all of our family and friends that had gone on before us, would one day be back by our sides. That in itself is so comforting, but I’d never before considered all “the heros” you speak of. Our Lord and Savior, yes, but not all the others. Don’t ask me why??? John thanks again for your comments today…they’re very much appreciated, my friend!

      Anyway…

      John, we hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas, and wish you the very best New Years in 2012! Matter of fact, we wish ya’ll the very best in all things! Thank you so much for all your help, concern, and prayers in Deb’s regard, and things are going well! Ya’ll have been so wonderful to us!

      Please give “Miss Ardy” our regards, and tell her we wish her all the best in “TRYIN” to keep you straight!! LOL!

      Thanks for everything, John!

      Hugs to both you guys!!

      Dub and Deb

      PS… Although the oil may be in Texas…the “dipsticks” are all in DC! LOL…sorta!

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