David's Quilt of Life

By Angie Osborne

 

This is what I shared at the memorial service yesterday........................

 

As I sat down and contemplated what to share with all of you today, I was overcome with so very many thoughts and stories.  It soon became very clear that if I was to share everything…….. we would be here for a very… very long time.  What I share today will simply be the beginning of stories to be shared at events and gatherings for years to come.  David lived a very full almost 43 years and that can’t be summed up in a few minutes and neither can 19 years of marriage or 17 years of parenting…. Not to mention all the years of friendships.

About 6 months ago David came home from one of his chemotherapy sessions with a quilt.  It was made by the “Gig Harbor Quilters”.  They had come to the clinic and passed out quilts to anyone who wanted them during their treatments. 

 

It’s an amazing quilt….. the time, effort, patience and love that went into making it is evident.  The collection of years of different fabrics.  Fabrics that alone are nice, and pretty…. but when sewn together … tell a story and make a statement.

 

As I think of my husband …. What he meant to me….. to Kelsey and Malia…… to family members…… to friends….. to community members…… I think… what is David’s  story……

 

I think David’s story it very much like a quilt ~  a compilation of so very many people and events.  His days were  spent making his…. quilt of life.

 

As we sit here today…….each of you no matter how well you knew David….or for how long you knew him…..or how old you are……. you are part of his quilt and he part of yours.  

 

When I look at the quilt David was given that day at the hospital…. The various fabrics… Halloween, Christmas, floral, bold striking colors, simple elegant designs, traditional designs, childhood patterns, st. patricks day……..yet all stitched together with a common thread.   Some of the fabrics related by color or theme… others seemingly stand alone …. But together no matter what the connection or not….. they complete a unique, elegant, distinctive quilt.

 

Each and every person here today is a square on David’s quilt of life.  Many of you know each other…. Many of you do not….. the common thread bringing all of us together today is David.  He is a connection we will all share for the rest of our lifetimes.   As you sit and remember your time with David…. I hope each one of you will walk away ~ confident and comforted knowing…. your contribution to David’s quilt of life, was so important, valued and appreciated ………..

 

In true David form…. He was constantly impacting people and making his quilt bigger by adding squares with each breath he took.  Even now that his quilt is completed….. there are people being touched by David and he is still adding to the quilts of others….…. The printer of the programs as well as  the people who enlarged all of our pictures were deeply touched by the small glimpse of David they saw through our memories. 

 

As I looked at the quilt he brought home,  I was also struck by another thought…… while the front of the quilt is all different patterns, the backing is made of just one single fabric.   I find comfort in believing that Kelsey and Malia and I are that backing.  We were that solid , constant in David’s life.  David loved his family…. he also loved that his family supported him and made it possible for him to be David…… to go on fishing trips… hunting trips…. Work….. golf trips…….the list goes on…. but he always came home to us.   Him the better person for all of his experiences and us all that richer for the stories and adventures he shared.

 

I believe we are each in the process of making our own quilts of life.   I know that mine is so very full of David squares……..and he is definitely part of the solid backing of my quilt.  

 

Each of you will have David’s presence in your quilts of life.

 

I also know that my quilt has many squares to come as do Kelsey and Malia’s ……and David would be so disappointed if any of us went a day without moving forward and creating new squares on our quilts.  The squares we have already created with David will Never fade or go away…. If anything they become more loved and cherished as time goes on …. Like that old blanket or teddy bear you could never let go of. 

 

I truly believe one of the ways David touched so very many people in his life and constantly added variety to his quilt was through  his generous spirit.  He was a “Pay it Forward” type of guy.   David would randomly buy coffee for the people behind us in line……. In italy we met a young couple while having dinner in one of the small towns of chinquetera….. they were from Australia and had saved money to take this trip….. on our way out of the restaurant David paid for their dinner.   David did things like this from the day I met him until the day he died.  He made me tip the young man who delivered the hospital bed..…… I wasn’t really sure if it was appropriate to tip someone delivering a bed….. but….. David looked at Kelsey and I and said Tip him.   So we did.    

 

I know David would so appreciate everyone challenging themselves to think of him …..and randomly ….. “Pay it Forward”.

 

There are so many things I will miss about David………………

 

I will miss that knowing look from across a crowded room……………….his touch………the sound of him walking in the door…….. his smell……………his smile………….his laugh

 

I will carry with me always David’s love ………… I will watch the wonderful young women we created make their own quilts of life..…..and I will forever cherish my fabulous, amazing, squares created with David……….he touched my soul.