I was with Dave and few friends at the Tropical pub in Belmar.  In the group was a girl that we were trying to set Dave up with. 


Dave and I had been at the mall earlier in the day  and he picked up a nice pair of sneakers.  If you knew Dave, then you knew he always had to have white sneakers  and they always had to be clean.


It was a typical shore night, and there was a line of people to get into the Tropical, so we were waiting outside.  As usual in any line there was some bustling and people cutting through, well the girl we were trying to set Dave up with, moved out of the way for someone to cut through the line and she  stepped on Daves sneaker.  Dave looked like he had been slapped!  He looked at her and said , " Damn, did you just step on my sneakers?"  I couldnt believe it.  He started mumbling about how hard he works to buy "nice shit", and " nobody repects nothing."  I looked over at Cheryl and didnt know what to say . LMAO  He put his foot up on a post or something that was right there and started wiping the infintessimal smudge of his sneaker... 


Later on at the end of the night he said to me...."how do u think it went.?"  LOL


Damn, I miss yu so much man.         

I remember years ago taking Dave camping down in Delaware...we were roughing it alittle, weather wasnt great butwe had waterproof tents, warm clothing and lots of food.  There were public showers, my goodness we were at the beach...Memorial Weekend...anyway next morning off to the showers hes on one side me the other,him not knowing i could hear him talking to himself. Am I a little b or a man i hear him yell as he braves a cold shower, there was no hot water...lol. I had the best weekend...I will miss you very much peace my friend

Dave was constantly on me about trimming down my bushy eyebrows. He would say " Bro, you better trim them octopus eyebrows down, you want me to get the weed whacker out and trim"m up for ya?"  

All,

  Here Dave was giving us a toast as he was the Best Man at our wedding. Though I can't remember exactly what he said, I can say for certain there was a joke or two that I was the brunt of and he had everyone laughing.......as usual.

There isn't any story that I could write that could let anyone know how Dave was.  All the times we spent together just sitting at the house, shooting the shit, smoking our cigarettes.  But there is one story that I hope he still remembers because I do.  My brother Sean had come down to pick me up from Alabama to go back to Jersey and spend time with everyone.  i was staying with Dave and Angel.  She had just had Taylor, and I was at the apartment, Dave had to run back up to the hospital.  Before he left he said if I was going to eat something it had to be in the kitchen.  He left and of course being a 13 year old boy, I had to get something to eat.  So I find a can of spaghetti Os and heat it up.  Well me being me, I decide to take it to the living room, and eat in front of the T.V.  But of course I spill the bowl on the carpet.  I grab a towel and clean it up the best I could but as we all know it left a huge red stain, so me being slick I move the chair over.  He comes home and of course I act like nothing ever happened.  About 5 minutes later, he asked why is the chair moved, I told told him I didn't touch but of course I used the chair to cover the mess.  He gets up and moves it back, exposing the red stain.  And those of us that know Dave know exactly what he said " Damn man how you gonna spill Spaghetti Os all over my floor and shit."  Years after, we would be sitting around talking just killin time and he would never let me forget that I stained his carpet with Spaghetti O

 I remember it like it was yesterday.  There are certain days in your life that you will never forget, because the impact on your life was so sudden, so violent, so unexpected that they have been indelibley etched into the fabric of your mind.  Mine, was a phone call.

It was a beautiful summer day.  I still remember the heat emanating from my skin as it tried to heal from the sunburn that I got that day as I spent the day with Sherry and the kids by the pool.  Frolicking, laughing, yelling, listening to music as we played in the water.  Can there be any better time than free time spent with your family?  As the day wound down, we put some burgers and hot dogs on the grill.  The sound of the meat sizzling on the grill coupled with the wafting smell of barbeque put the capper on a perfect day.   I remember sitting on the deck upstairs as we wrapped up dinner. A summer breeze from the shore tried to cool my overheated skin while at the same time reminding me that my bathing suit was still wet, wrapped in a towel.  I remember thinking, "This is what its all about."

Once dinner wrapped up,  the kids went to play, and I went to play a game on the computer.  Sherry got to clean up dinner.  I was putzing around on the computer when the phone rang.  I remember the breeze on my face, coming in through the office window, as Sherry yelled down to me, "It's David, want me to get it?"  As I sat there on this perfect day, I thought to myself, ..."  Aww man, I have to get up to get the phone,...He's probably calling to talk about the Steelers upcoming season, or maybe he wants to bust my balls again because I don't call anyone,  or maybe he's calling to bullshit.  Well I dont want to bullshit, I want to sit here and not have to get up, and play my game, and just be all about me." " Na", I yell  up to Sherry, "I'll call him back later."

The next call I got from my brother was six days later.  It was Chris, calling to tell me that David was dead.  I crumpled on the stairs with the phone in my hand. This couldnt be right, I even asked Chirs if he " was joking."  " I just talked to him the other day....." I started to say,  but I trailed off as I realized, no I didn't , I never took his call.  I was "too busy" to pick up the phone.  Maybe David needed me then?  Maybe David knew something was going on and he wanted to talk to me?  Maybe David just wanted to tell me he loves me?  Maybe David wanted to call and just hear my voice as he often did with Chris and I when something was bothering him?  I will never know.  The last time David heard my voice was on my answering machine while I sat on the computer ignoring his call.  The last thing David heard me say was " Sorry I can't take your call right now." 

I'm sorry David.  I wait for your call everyday now.  I promise you, I will answer the phone, I promise.  I will be waiting for the rest of my life.

This isn't a story, its just me in my twisted way trying to cope with a Brother's loss. Whenever I come hear its to see Dave's face in the pictures posted. It's kind of like a weird therapy session. I know everyone that ever knew Dave misses him, but not like me. Don't get me wrong, I know its painful for all of us, but I'm here to tell you today how lost I am  without my Brother. Dave and I had a special relatiionship, not that he didn't with his other siblings, that's not what I'm saying.  My heart is crushed today for some reason, flashes go through my head of past times and events and what I might have done to help him. Maybe I could have done something, been a better brother , been there for him more, been a better example. Being the oldest I used to protect him, if I could just protect him again everthing would be alright.

Happy St. Patricks's Day  Dave.  I love you and miss you.  They say the hurt lessens over time...I'm still waiting.

Sheen

How I laugh when I remember Dave:

Dave, stopping at the local Wawa to get a cup of coffee and the "HoneyBun".......too funny.

Dave when he gets off on one of those long dissertations on a subject he really knows about......

Dave, mauling a little baby to death, Hugging it , sucking up all the oxygen, the stroking of the back of the head, the kissing on the cheek, (Stop Dave your giving the kid whisker burn!) he just loved litlle babies and kids.....

Dave, hanging out with his brothers, cracking busting each others chops until somebody gets off a real good one on Dave and he catches feelings and says... Oh you got jokes ! ...you know someones struck a nerve at that point. .......  :-)

Daves laugh ,...... would always make me laugh...that loud  (3) Ha Ha Ha......

Dave, referring to Sean as Sheen, or me as Crempf ....hahahahaha....

Dave, telling a story, he was so good....so funny.....Dave really was a very very funny person......he could have you rolling laughing .

Reminiscing, this word has new meaning to me now that my brother is gone. Here is just a little something.I remember when we were young, 10-14 years old and we were just beginning to know what cool was, girls, and being tough,Dave always wanted to go everywhere I went, Sean too for that matter. Being the minority and growing up in our neighborhood wasn't easy. Anyway, all we had was each other, and  that was ok with me,cause we were brothers, and always would be.  I would tell Dave sometimes that he couldn't come with me and my friends and he would get so mad. One time he said to me Chris, you don't love me and that  I was embarrassed of him. I told him no way, it's not because I don't t love you, but because I don't want you doing the same stuff I was.  He just wanted to be with big brother. Dave was as tough as they come,always had his brothers back and wasn't afraid to show or tell anyone.I guess what I'm saying is that, I couldn't have had a better brother or friend. Dave I love and miss you.                                                                                                        

Remember:

1.  The Dorito's picture with his friends in front of the Statue of Liberty?

2. Getting caught eating Nana's dietary chocolates?

3.  Dave what are youeating?   "Nuffin"

4.  "Na Dave, the Steelers traded Greg Lloyd like 2 years ago"

5.  Rememebr the block he threw  during flag football?  Lol, he talked about that for weeks

6. Remember Dave and Chris arm wrestling at Uncle Sal and Aunt Jennies?

7.  The Christmas Dave bought himself a remote control car but said we could use it =)

8.  There wasnt a more patriotic American, or a soldier more proud of his service than Sgt. VanLew.

I remember... 

                        My First Christmas in Heaven
      
                               Author Unknown.
     I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
     With tiny lights like Heaven's stairs, reflecting on the snow. 
      
     The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear. 
     For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year. 
      
     I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold  so dear 
     But the  sounds of  music can't  compare with the  Christmas choir  up
          here. 
      
     I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring, 
     For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing. 
      
     I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart. 
     But I am not so far away, we really aren't apart. 
      
     So be happy dear ones, You know I hold you dear. 
     And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year. 
      
     I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above. 
     I sent you each a memory of my undying love. 
      
     After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
     It was always most important in the stories Jesus told. 
      
     Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do. 
     For I can't count the blessing or love He has for each of you. 
      
     So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear. 
     Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

David:

We do not need a special day to bring you to our minds.
The days we do not think of you are very hard to find.
Each morning when we awake we know that you are gone.
And no one knows the heartache as we try to carry on.
Our hearts still ache with sadness and secret tears still flow.
What it meant to lose you no one will ever know.
Our thoughts are always with you, your place no one can fill.
In life we loved you dearly; in death we love you still.

There will always to be a heartache, and often a silent tear.
But always a precious memory of the days when you were here.
If tears would make a staircase, and heartaches make a lane,
We'd walk the path to heaven and bring you home again.
We hold you close within our hearts; and there you will remain,
To walk with us throughout our lives until we meet again.
Our family chain is broken now, and nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.