"A friend is long sought, hardly found, and difficultly kept" St. Jerome

Accountability

Flying with him in the middle and using my jacket to keep his leg pushed together so they weren't uncomfortable.

Learning and growing together like we did in Perry's Sunday School class

Participating in each others family traditions and creating our own

Goin to Tennessee and eatin Sunday lunch with the family.

Watching entire tv series together especially Syfy. One all time favorites was Battle star Galactica.

Trying to make a movie, I still regret not following through for you and always wil

Playing in your dad's truck and accidentally knocking it out of park. Then it rolling back in to the steet.

MDA conferences in Birmingham

Birthday sleep overs as kids, staying up all night play games like mash, and truth or dare.

Riding in the back of the van next to him, Both of us napping and listening to Christian music. I Cherish the friendship I thought every up and every down just the same. God blesses me and shows me mercy through Dake.

Walking in front of Dake through big crowds like a plow, clearing the way for him to drive through; Concerts, winterfest, and big spring jam.

Helping raise puppies like when it meant staying up all night with a worm bottle of milk and Mona's head resting on my leg til it falls asleep. Dake would keep track of the puppies and which ones need to be fed. He depended on him because he knew them by name while I couldn't tel a difference between any one of them and Bambi.

How it drove him crazy when Pop Pop would ask him "how are those girls treatin ya" but then it would one of our topics every time I visited.

Songs like "Everybody dance now " Lean on me Voice of truth White flag I believe I can fly 10000 reasons

The wheel of his chair falling off and him not freaking out

Chinese fire drill in traffic on the way to winter fest.

Long quite comfortable Sunday afternoon snoozes. I believe him to be one to sleep much better on a rainy Sunday after than any night of the week. It was tought to disturb his slumber for Sunday night service. Looking back though it all worked out well.

I really miss flying with Dake. He is the only person I have ever known that wanted to sit in the middle seat. On top of that his legs would start to cramp if they weren't pushed together. That meant I could keep my knee pushed against his which gave me a little more room. Now when I fly I must resist the urge to push my knee against the person next to me.

His unique ability to put up with my craziness like a hoist and life vest.

On the rare occasion that I put my foot down, he would respect it and at times encourage it when he knew I needed to put my foot down and set a boundary.

The art cart, a snack from Mrs. Lynn, and Dake's true/unique/good artistic ability. I learned a lot on that bus. it went beyond canvas and sculptures.

One of the places to visit on his bucket list was the Grand Canyon. I really really wish we had gone. His view of the Grand Canyon now is probably way beyond any imagination. A part of me wants to envy God for being there when Dake saw the Grand Canyon.

His presents/presence

The moments when we were the only ones that understood each other And his thinking that I could be his translator

A phone call from him especially when it was to plan my next visit. This was huge.

Trying to dig to china in your parents flower bed.

Sharing a bucket list. Wish ya were there today Daker. I went to a real barber shop today and got a real shave from a real barber. It was truly a one of a kind experience that I'd never have had without knowing ya.

Naming Oreo and little ace and other stray neighborhood pets, then building them homes out of card board boxes

Jumping off the top level of our fort just for the thrill

Playing foot ball in the front yard and trying to learn how to spit the best with the kid from across the street.

Building bridges over the creek in the backyard

Wonder years Big Bang theory Walking dead Heros

Ninja turtles The original Power rangers Doug Funny and Quale Dog Many more Saturday morning cartoons and Mimi's towering pancakes

He always wanted a 1969 Volkswagen Bus. Every time we saw one we would point it out.

Watching him pick on his sister out of a pure love for her.

His Words of encouragement including those at the gym

He listened to me ramble no matter how dramatic it was

His respect and appreciation for having his experience when another was struggling with similar

His Dislike for almost everything alcoholic

The grunts not because it bothered him but because he couldn't stand it any more and felt bad to inconvenience someone

His understanding of my unconditional love that gave him the freedom to share, do and say without fear of repercussion

The humble exceptance that he didn't know everything and didn't expect someone else to.

He was always there and always available

When no one else would join me, I could count on him

His help in life's decision making

The questions he asked to get me thinking and refocused

His accountability

The ease of socializing when he was around.