OK, The Man has been thinking about what to say and as my fingers hover over the keyboard, I still don’t find the words…. But here goes….
Dennis Downey was my friend and I am proud to say that… And as it became very apparent to me as his days wound down and then after, hell, who wasn’t? Sure, Denny could be a little rough around the edges. So how could he have soooo many friends from all walks of life? I don’t have enough space in this dopey column but here are a few reasons: Dennis cared about you and he made sure you knew it, he would always ask about how your family was doing, how was life, how was your health? It wasn’t just small talk, he really wanted to know. He loved kids, his kids, your kids, even strangers’ kids… whether it was as swim team coach, his annual appearance as the jolly greeter at the Christmas craft fair or teaching the fine points of hunting and fishing, Dennis was there. He was generous. I remember one time mentioning that we had a car accident and he, without hesitation, handed me a set of keys and said “Here, take my truck, keep it as long as you need” and looking me straight in the eyes said “And I don’t ever want to hear another word about it”… Or the time, sensing we needed a little time away, tossed us the keys to his trailer in Newport for a few days of peace and quiet and said with a wink “Try to not burn it down”… Typical Denny (although I noted use of his prized O’Downey for a spin around the bay was forbidden. Everyone has their limits ;~). He was funny: once inviting me to his house for a dinner of “Beluga Whale” which turned out to be a trick for me to attend a surprise party for my 50th birthday; the time he was my running mate for The Man’s ill-fated presidential bid in 2008; or giving me crap about my love of cycling and my “tight black French lace shorts” (but he always knew how many miles I had ridden the previous year)… Double D was above all a world class hugger, and I don’t mean a little squeeze but a full on bear hug that stuck with you for a while… And I think a lot of you can relate to that. So as Cindy, the family and the many friends Dennis touched continue the grieving process, I suggest we all take a tip from “Dennis Downey, Silverton Oregon”….before we hear those words to “get our affairs in order.” Live like you have it all figured out, don’t take yourself (or life) too seriously, be comfortable in your own skin, be genuine, be good to your friends, spend quality time with your family, and above all, hug like you mean it.
And just so you know, even in the last dark days Big D hadn’t lost his sense of humor…. His advanced directive reads, and I quote, “I’m Irish, don’t give my liver to a Mormon”…
So long, old friend… ………………………………….
