How does one write a post about the death of a friend?

My friend’s name is Dave. I began a conversation with him in 2016. In November of 2016 I was hit by a hit-n-run driver on a bright sunny afternoon while riding my bike with bright clothes on. I laid on the ground and watched as he drove away without even a tap on his brakes. To this day I believe it was on purpose.  Fortunately, all I escaped with was a huge hematoma on my left hip. I began doing some research and found out there was an organization called 3 Feet Please. It’s goal was to lobby every state to put into law that a car must give at least 3 feet when passing a cyclist. My research led me to Dave. We struck up an email conversation and then it went further until in 2018 he flew into Indy airport to meet me personally and to stay at our house. He stayed with me and Jo for a few days, went to church with us, then returned home. We became fast friends. His job allowed him to work remotely and he spent two winters out of the Arizona sun/heat in Maine (of all places). On the drive back home, he always stopped and stayed with us for a day or two. 

Time allowed us to deepen our friendship and then one day he said, “First Class tickets have been purchased for you and Jo to come visit Susan and I for about a week.” First Class? Like WOW! Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I would fly First Class. So in late February of 2024, Jo and I flew to Phoenix and we met Susan for the first time. She and Jo became fast friends, and that seldom happens with Jo. They put us up in a hotel for the week and gave us a car to use for the time we were there.  Meanwhile, we spent the evenings together and then three wonderful days in Sedona and the Grand Canyon. 

In March of 2024 (less than a week later), Dave called and spoke gibberish. I called back and got a voicemail. He was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma. Life span of those are usually 12-18 months…maybe. Dave tried several medical procedures, all designed to give them more time, Susan said. He has been in ICU the past few weeks and late last week was moved to Lund Home of Gilbert. Susan called yesterday morning to tell me David had passed away sometime in the night. “It was too soon,” she said. But Dave also didn’t want to linger. 

Pray for Susan and Dave’s family. Jo and I will go out as soon as she decides she would like us to. We offered all along to do so, but it was not to be. Thanks for praying.

{Note: I purposely left out his last name}