Today hit a bit harder. I'm sitting in the pub, and a unfamiliar number is texting me about pictures. So I responded with question marks thinking it was one of those wrong number phishing scammers. I recognized the name, a friend's wife, she is asking for pictures of some of the events we did together, ect. So I asked if something happened to Dave, that I didn't know about At this point, she informed me that he had a massive heart attack, and died a few days later in the hospital. Dave was an interesting character, Vietnam vet, serving in the Navy, Army and Marine Corpse was was the quintessential grumpy old man, very gruff exterior, but a heart of gold. The service is scheduled for Saturday, and yes, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
He was a founding member of out "Froth Blowers, Vat 12" Brothers of the White Ash and Morocco Shrine Smoking Fezs. I'll miss his stories.