Ladies and Gentlmen
I am saddened to relay the passing of one our own. March 17, 2008 (St. Patrick's Day) DmdDnif (formerly Xords for those that knew him by that name) left us.
Known out in the real world as 'Ole Sarge', 'That Crazy Cajun', or just 'Kelly', he had been trying to recover from damage done by heart disease for around two years. Well, I guess it being St. Patrick's day and all, his big Irish heart finally had enough.
For the past two years he had been living with his daughter, her husband, their two daughters, and recently his new grandson. The time gave him an opportunity to get to know the little ones and to finish his book on his experiences in the police action over in South East Asia. His passing was sudden and not really expected.
While I'm not sure I could call him a gentleman's gentleman, or anything like that, I can tell you that he was as principled an individual as I have ever met, and a true friend.
I for one will miss his wit and common sense advice (on life, drinkin, wimmens, and whatever).
I hope they have a Spit 5 with his name on the cockpit waiting for him.
He would regularly send out reflections on life as a Grandpa. He was becoming quite a talent, something of a cross between author and philosopher.
I'll close with last of these that he sent:
Fang
Nothing is as I remember it. Stretch spent the last week worrying at her front teeth with single-minded six year old obsession. Since last night was parents night out, Grampa had the helm long past normal duty hours. Soon enough, it happened.
Why my shift, and why not in the fifth grade as I recall?
“Grampas, loosk!”
“What?”
Mum toost fell out!”
“Yech! What makes you think I want to see that? And it didn’t fall out, you goofed with it until it did. You better hope your big one is ready to come in.”
“Wast ready. Mama staid tho.”
“You’re a mess. Watch out for the carpet.”
“Were’st tha bag?”
“Stretch, don’t worry about the damned Tooth Fairy, get a tissue. I’ll get the bag.”
“You know the tooth fairy too, Grampa?”
“Grampa knows everyone, Little Buddha, that’s why I’m Grampa.”
“Huh?”
“You don’t think they just let anyone be a Grampa, do you? You gotta know the right people for such a cushy slot. Me and the Tooth Fairy often kick with Santa when they’re in town after work. Used to be another guy, but I quit seeing Jesus regular like after I quit drinking all that Tequila.”
“Grampa!”
“What?”
“ . . . "Mud out
eta: For those that don't know DNIF is an abbreviation for Duties Not to Include Flying. Niffers was a career Air Force man, and very proud of it. Upon retirement, he started his second career as a Field Engineer working on MRI machines.
