Eulogy for Darol
First met Darol when he called me out of the blue. We've joked about that phone
call for years now, but when he introduced himself and said, "you'll be glad I
called." Dammitall, Darol. I really am. I'm really glad I got to know you.
Now that he's gone, I keep telling stories. Isn't that how our loved ones live
on? I started writing some of my memories while on the plane to visit him for
the last time. His boy celebrated his first birthday not too long ago, and
won't have any memory of his father. So here are a few…
Darol purchased a condo while I was still in college, and invited me to move
in. At the time, I owned a single pair of jeans, and was in no position to move
out from my parent's basement. He told me not to worry about that… it was
going to be all fun and games.
So, around Xmas time, he came home with 5 hair dryers. When I asked why, he
said that he got them in case he forgot anyone's present, but they got him
something. It proved to be a brilliant move, for one evening while I was
watching VH-1, a girl who had a crush on Darol stopped by with a gift. He
immediately ran upstairs to wrap hers. While he was gone, she noticed the
mistletoe I had hung up as a joke. He came back to find her perched underneath
it's blessings with puckered lips. While she was crushing, her affection wasn't
reciprocated. But what was a gentleman to do? He kissed her. However, one of her
long hairs had strayed its course and ended up in his mouth. He sputtered and
sputtered and spit it out… completely oblivious.
I guess that is what everyone loved about Darol. He was so thoughtful and yet…
Another time, Darol and I went to San Francisco for a technical conference
(Seybold, I believe). I brought along a bright pink sweater (it was the 80's
after all) and he gave me hell for it. "It's San Francisco! Are you really that
naïve?" My comments about it being "ribbed for her pleasure" didn't get him
to let off. But when a gorgeous lady walked by and told me how great my sweater
looked, Darol started looking for his own pink sweater.
He did get over his fear of pink, for after I moved up to Salt Lake City for
college, Darol joined me, and a coworker of his lined him up on a date to the
ballet with her sister. He picked her up doing some pirouettes while wearing a pink
tu-tu. I believe the episode is on some video tape somewhere. Leslie should dig it
up and put it on the internet.
After we both moved to Portland, he was traveling 3 weeks out of the month.
"Come on over," I'd say, and he'd promise. However, he'd often call up late and
say he was still coming, but he had met someone on the plane with a printer that
couldn't connect to their computer, and he'd be over once he got it working.
I mean, if all the people who had their computer fixed by Darol for free were
to stop by, he wouldn't have time to die. I'm going to miss you, bud.
The night Darol left us was very special. Surrounded by his family each one
reaching out, trying to hold him from leaving. Kanyon, you were quite upset and scared.
My daughter had thoughtfully given me a ball to bring as a present for you,
so you and I left and went outside to throw the ball around, while your
mother could grieve. That was so difficult to catch that ball through tear-filled
eyes, but your father would have done the same for me.
You are lucky to have a special mother who will take good care of you.
We all have cherished memories of your father, for he was a kind and thoughtful
man.
Your father thought the world of you, and would have loved to watch you grow up.
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