True friendship
Hi Zephyr,
You don’t know me but your daddy was, and always will be, one of my truest friends from when we were young. We met in high school mainly because we hung out with some of the same people, so we would spend time together anytime the squad linked up. Like if there was a foggy day schedule when we didn’t have to go to school until late in the morning or even until the afternoon, we would all meet up to play video games or eat brunch. Usually both. Other days it would be after school, riding bikes and skating at the park or anywhere around town that the day might take us; down to the river, out to the “cuts”, someone’s garage, wherever. Honestly, sometimes it was during school when we would just ditch class, but I hope you don’t copy that example. School is important.
I want to tell you about a few of my favorite memories of your daddy. Everyone in high school called him Weaver, I don’t remember anyone calling him Daniel except the teachers! And usually the teachers were saying “Daniel, please stop talking.” He was such a social butterfly, always telling jokes or teasing someone. Back then we used to call it gassing someone, or roasting them. He had such a way of doing it that even the person he was gassing would end up laughing along with him, so not like a hurtful way but just to be entertaining in an otherwise boring situation. Maybe in inappropriate ones but still, he was so funny.
Both of my favorite memories of Weaver include our other good friend Keaton. But they’re memories about 4 years apart. Sheesh, when I type that I realize how long our friendship actually spanned. And how many memories there are throughout it but it’s too much to type it all! So I’ll tell you about two special ones.
The first one was in March 2010 at Keatons 18th birthday party, which he threw while his parents were out of town and they had no idea about. It was this big, beautiful house and it was packed with beautiful people all night long. Anyway, people were getting drunk and being idiots (the two go hand in hand, you will learn about that eventually) and two guys started fighting so Weaver pushed them apart and was able to talk them both down to a chill level again. He was very good at talking. But the funny thing was after he was done being serious and handling the awkward situation it had gotten dead silent by then and he just let out this huge fart, it couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. It broke the tension and everyone started laughing and also running for the doors and windows. Then he decided he was hungry so a couple of us went to get food and we ordered like 100 Jack in the Box tacos and brought them back for the whole party . The next morning we knew we had to get that place spotless as if there had been nothing and no one there to keep the secret from Keaton’s parents. Unfortunately, we dumped all the recycling into their bin and that’s how they still found out. Keaton got kicked out of his house for that. But if you ask him he still says it was worth it.
Fast forward through a couple years of seeing each other randomly because Weaver was living in another city, but whenever he was in Fresno we would all chill just like old times, and by then it was 2014. For most of those years the spot to chill was Keaton’s apartment that he shared with his brother. We were always hanging out there, ordering pizza almost every night and still playing the same video games . I had just had my daughter the year before, her name is Trinity, I hope someday you two can be friends. So anyway, I couldn’t hang out as much as before since I had a new baby, but one night in September Weaver messaged me saying he was back in town permanently and he wanted to go over to Keaton’s. Meanwhile, Keaton was about to move over to Texas so the apartment was basically empty, which now seems strangely symbolic. I told him I’d have to bring my baby with me and if that was cool then I was in. Some people change up after their friends have kids, but Weaver was so loyal and down for his friends he didn’t even miss a beat he was just like “On my way, I’m picking you both up!” I almost didn’t go but now I am so happy that I did because that was the last night I saw Weaver. The last hug and precious smile I got to treasure in real life. We talked sometimes since then but didn’t see each other again.
I hate that it was so long ago and that life got so busy after I became a mom that it passed by so quickly. But it is a perfect memory of everything that made Weaver such a beautiful blessing in my life. He had a flame that burned so brightly within him that it lit everyone around him on fire too. Now he’s passed that to you, Zephyr. Your daddy loved you with his entire heart. And his love surrounds you forever. ♥️
Sincerely,
“Vee”