A love story

by Michelle Chopp

A Love Story I guess mine is a love story. My story is about how David loved my friend, Angie, and his daughters, Kelsey and Malia. Even before David was diagnosed, he valued these women in his life. He woke up each day confirming his love for them. And, he did this not only in words, but in his actions. He used his creative, brilliant mind to show his feelings in so many ways. More often than not, I would walk away or get off the phone and say to myself “he did not”, knowing he had thought of yet another special gesture for his family. He was not shy about often telling others how beautiful, talented, and amazing Angie was. And, of course, she is all of those things. He would just stand there and smile at her – so proud of the woman he married. So many events, parties, and vacations, I could watch him look across the room at her – the admiration, concern and love in his eyes – and then the shared smile. Angie and I take Christmas shopping trips every November – basically filling the Suburban to the point where visibility is almost hindered. David was always “there” on our Christmas shopping trips to Portland each year. He “followed” us by Angie’s VISA purchases on the computer. Not sure many husbands would enjoy watching the money being spent, but he loved being a part of the shopping experience. This past year he sent us off with a care package – water, snacks, wine, our favorite chocolate (hers – white, mine – dark), magazines, and new organizers for our receipts. What guy does that? David, of course, always so thoughtful. And he was so proud of Kelsey and Malia. He was such an involved Dad, not wanting to miss their events and daily life. He planned special trips with them – trips that were at the top of their lists and times that both Kelsey and Malia will never forget. One of the trips our daughter went with them was to their place in Mexico. So, the airlines screw up and they are stranded in California for a night. David takes them to a mall, gives them each some cash and says “go spend”. The disappointment of not arriving in Mexico that day was suddenly erased – someone telling you to shop and spend – how great was that! Only David, his generosity and thoughtfulness never ceased…. I admire David for the relationships he had with people. Life, to me, is about those you touch, how you touch them, how you live and how you love. David mastered them all. There will never be a doubt in Angie, Kelsey or Malia’s hearts and minds in how they were loved by David. I will miss David for his brilliance, his creativity, his sense of humor, his smile, but most of all for how he lived and how he loved. Thank you, David, for giving Angie, Kelsey and Malia such unconditional love. We all can learn from the life you lived and how you loved. Michelle