12 months ago, today, on Nov. 12th, we lost a very good friend. The first time I met Dave, for some reason, we just clicked. I'm not sure why....Maybe it was because we both loved wit and repartee and loved to tease each other...Maybe it was because we were only 6 weeks apart in Age. Or maybe it was because I came from small-town Quebec, spoke french, and could relate to his beloved Carolle in a way no one else could. Whatever the reason, we instantly bonded and became very good friends.

Dave was a man who had a sense of purpose, whether that purpose was as a loving and adoring husband to Carolle, or as a loving and supportive father to Natacha, Deb, Dan and Rachel, or as a devoted employee, passionate about his work, or as a caring friend, or in the end, as a communicator and even educator about his illness, as evidenced by this website.

I dont know how many of you know how important the number 13 was to Dave. He married the love of his life, Carolle, on Dec 13th, 1986, and from that day on, everything was about the number 13. Most people celebrate anniversaries once a year and some celebrate every month. Dave and Carolle would celebrate every multiple or combination of 13. Dave would call Carolle and say "Happy 13th!" and she would scramble to figure out the connection that day had to number 13. it might have been 4213 days since they had been married, or it may have been 6435 days, which is 13 times 495 - which was last year sometime...He did keep track.

Dave was ahead of his time in the way he embraced high technology. He is the one who started my husband, Sonny, and I on the internet. Now this was almost 10 years ago, before anyone else was on the internet, even though now we wonder how we could ever have done without it. He also gave me my first palm pilot, 7 years ago, to show his appreciation when Carolle stayed with us for awhile after selling their house in Stouffville while Dave was first in Texas. As a matter of fact, when Sonny and I were visiting them in Austin last year, Dave upgraded my Palm Pilot as he had got himself the latest model.

In addition to having an office at Texas Electric Cooperatives, where he worked, Dave set up an office in their home. This office was outfitted with 12 computers which monitored, managed and backed-up the network at Texas Electric Cooperatives so that he could be in total control of his work environment from home. These were his computers - not the company's. This was his passion!

You may have read the book "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom. Well, I figure by now, Dave is there and has met up with at least 5 people from his past. Today would have been his fathers 85th birthday and Dave is once again with the man he respected so much in life. He's also setup the largest duplicate bridge game and he's sitting at a bridge table with his good friends Eric and Mercedes, as well I'm sure he's already organizing all his former co-workers from Bull, Honeywell, MAI etc by forming the biggest network anyone has ever seen...that big internet in the sky!

In closing, I'd like to read a poem that has brought me comfort since Dave's passing...

The Day God Called You Home

God looked around his garden

and found an empty place.

He then looked down upon his earth

and saw your loving face.

He put his arms around you

and lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful,

He always takes the best.

He knew that you were sufferring,

and he knew the emotional pain.

He knew that you would never

get well on earth again.

He saw your path was getting rough,

and the hills were hard to climb,

so He closed your weary eyelids,

and whispered "Peace be Thine".

You've left us precious memories,

your love will be our guide.

You live on in our hearts,

you're always by our side.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

but you did not go alone.

For part of us went with you

the day God called you home.