Well David, by now I'm sure Stephanie has found you up there in Heaven, she left us October 30th this year...so you two should have a lot to talk about.  It's hard not having her here with me, so I know how your Mom feels even with Cathy still here to take care of her, I know first hand the emptiness she has been feeling since losing Terry, then Pops, then you...I got the sweetest card from your Mom today.  I would like to say I wish I lived closer to her, but I still love it in the mountains...there's not a day goes by that I don't hear the words "if I was you" and think of you...I miss you, and my birthday phone calls.  You and Steph can share stories about me now, I know you'll make her smile...

I found a dog roaming around work, she had been hurt, she was a blue pit, the guys at work were scared of her, and being the animal lover that I am, I left food out everyday until she trusted me, then I coaxed her into my truck...I was afraid the guys at work were going to shoot her, and my oldest son had pits, and I thought he might take her.  Well, his pits didn't like her, and I didn't know what to do, so I called David and asked him if he would keep her until I found her a home.  Of course, over the phone he said no, he had just lost his dog, Caesar, he was hit by a car, and he wasn't partial to female dogs, etc...so I drove over to his house after work with her in the back in a crate, you know, just kinda dropped in and she happened to be with me sort of thing, his heart melted when he saw her, and he said he guessed he could keep her while I found her a home, it was too cruel to keep her locked in that crate...well, it was only one day later that he called, and asked had I found her a home yet, I said no, but I have signs posted at work and online, he said "take your signs down, take her off the internet, I've found her a home"  He kept her, not even a day, and he fell in love with her, she was a sweetheart, very protective of him, and very selective of who could come around him.  He named her Dixie, I called her Dixie Dew.  

He got her spade, and took her everywhere.  She was tolerate of his Mom, and loved his Dad, but for some reason, never liked his sister, in fact I think Cathy refered to her as the demon dog...so one day I decided while I was there to get Dixie's leash and walk her around the yard, David lives next to his Mom, so as I came around the corner, Dixie spotted Cathy, and off she went, dragging me behind, literally dragging me on the ground, to get at Cathy, with me screaming for David to help me, and him watching and laughing.  I finally did get to my feet, and get control, she broke my finger I was hanging on to the leash so tight, so never again did I make that offer.  I knew better.  Later on he told me that every time Cathy came over to see his parents, Dixie would hear her coming down the road, go to the window and watch, and start barking as soon as she pulled in their driveway.  If she went to the window and was wagging her tail, then he knew it was his Mama or Pops coming across the yard.  She was an excellant guard dog, he was never worried about anyone breaking in.

He told me he would never let a dog sleep in his bed, his sister and I both had small dogs, and we let them sleep up in the bed, usually at the foot of the bed at our feet, after all, these were our babies and that's what women do...so he was out sick from work a few days, and I went by to check on him, and take him some chicken soup (cause that's what we "mom's" do), and I knocked, he hollerd for me to come on in, and he was in bed, under the covers, and who was right up there laying next to him but Dixie...he said she was keeping him warm because he didn't feel good.  He shared his food with her, he'd eat half and give her half, she was one spoiled and loved pit, and I was so glad he fell in love with her.  She got cancer, he had her operated on but the cancer came back, but he babied her until it was her time, and cried when she was gone.  

I saw many sides of David over the years, the loving Father, the devoted Son, the Protective Brother. the Faithful Husband; one of my true friends, and I really miss him -  He used to annoy me by saying "if I was you" as he proceeded to tell me what I needed to do regarding everything and I'd remind him he wasn't me...