1982, what a strange year it was.
I remember hearing about the new people who moved in up the street and I recall wanting to welcome them to the neighborhood. As luck would have it, this new family had not one, but two young men my age; Dave and Randy Cummings. I was immediately intrigued by them as they were from Hawaii. Hawaii, just a far off island I read about in books and saw on TV, but here they were. right off the plane and in New York.
The first thing I noticed was that there wasn’t any furniture in the house, it was still on a ship. Their house, packed up into shipping containers and put on a ship. Boy, I had so much to learn about life. I was at a time in my life when I was learning who my real friends were. I was losing those I thought were and meeting others that would stand the test of time and then these two showed up. Dave had decided to take a year off of school and work so his brother, a year behind him, could catch up and then they could both graduate together and attend college together so Randy and I attended school together while Dave was at work with his Dad at a Cable Company. Cable was just becoming a think in the New York Suburbs and not everyone had cable yet.
Dave, Randy and I hit it off and Randy, a handsome young man from Hawaii was an instant hit at the school, of course, his charming personality and smile didn’t hurt either. When Dave would get home from work, the three of us would all hang out and do what most teens do – we drank. We drank a lot and listened to great music. I’d never seen a collection of music as large as Daves. I can still remember listening to the Eagles and the smell of beer as we opened another cold one on our home made Cable Reel tables. On the weekends we’d have little parties, sometimes they would be bigger than expected but most of the time it was a just a few of the gang getting together to throw a few back and talk about cars and women and soon, the women and cars came along too. The times we shared, the stories we have. I could reminisce for hours about them.
Dave and his family were only around for a short time before they went back to Hawaii, their furniture never even made it here, but the bond we formed would transcend the miles. Dave was there for so many of my firsts. I met my first Girlfriend through Dave, took my first plane trip – a non stop from New York to Hawaii to see he and his brother graduate College, Swam and SCUBA dove in the Pacific for the first time, took my first train trip to see he and Nancy get married and he was the first wedding I went to of my friends.
I first learned Dave was battling Stage 4 Brain Cancer a couple of years ago, after I had passed through Chicago, where he lived with his wife and two children. I hadn’t gotten to see him on that trip as for some reason he didn’t seem up to a visit. It was after I had left the city that Randy told me what was going on. Ever since, I had been trying to get back and knowing that if you just say someday, it never happens so this time I put it on my calendar. I was going to be stopping in to see him on my way out to Kentucky this summer, but this summer was too late. Dave passed away Saturday, June 9th, 2018. My friend who had only spent a few moments in my life, but had made such a big impact, my friend who despite being separated by thousands of miles and time, remained close to me – was gone. I’d never get to see his big smile, feel his bear like hug or hear his wonderful laugh again.
I can only imagine what his family is going through. He was such a pillar of strength, a wonderful human begin and judging by the beautiful tribute his son wrote about him, a wonderful father.
Dave, my friend. I raise this glass to you as I listen to the song that reminds me of the days of our youth, contemplating life and talking about women and cars and how we’d make our first million. I miss you my friend.
Dave Cummings
May 14, 1964 – June 9, 2018
Please consider making a donation in Dave’s honor to:
United Cerebral Palsy
http://ucp.org/ways-to-donate/
Sincerely,
Larry Jensen
