A Tribute to my buddy David Warden My friendship with David Warden was way too short. He always had a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone. And he also had an impish sense of humour. We were both members of Stamford Presbyterian Church where we worked together on the jam-making group. He was the only guy. We worked so well together and developed a good system where we figured things out between us but not without a laugh and a wink, thinking we put one over on Joyce, the leader of the group. After each jam-making session we had a list of things to check. He would always say, dont worry about it Joyce, we can just blame Kathy if it is out of place. If someone misplaced a wooden spoon, he would grin and say Kathy took it. Needless to say, we were always chuckling and it never seemed like work at all. Last summer, we really missed him and his name always came up as we were working. We both served on the Board of Managers. David worked tirelessly and he was responsible for getting the Fire Code system up to date and approved by the Fire Department. If an extra hand was needed on a project, David was there to help. He cleaned up after church on Sundays and he was a great voice in our church choir. We will always miss him here. One year ago on Easter weekend, we came into the choir room to hear that David had had a stroke. We had a really difficult time being upbeat for the special Easter service, especially when we didnt know how bad things were. The past year was difficult for David and his wife. He was in 3 different hospitals before he finally went home. He even managed to find humour in the hospitalizations. One day when I was visiting him, he told us how on the night before the nurses had to rush all the patients to the end of the hall because one of the pipes in the ceiling broke and water poured down everywhere. We were shocked, but David got that silly grin on his face and said that they were just trying to drown him. We had to laugh with him. When David was finally moved home, I was privileged to stay with him when Nancy needed to go out. But it was not without its challenges. They had a ramp put in so that he could be moved outside but it was steep. You have to know that I have two gimpy knees. So when I tried to go up the ramp, I had to make a run for it and after 2 or 3 tries, would finally get in. By the time I got in, David was already laughing and he would say, glad you could make it. After a few months of this, Nancy finally said that it may be better if I used the back door! I said, You have a back door?!?! It was clear sailing after that. The thing that amused David the most about our visits happened when I sat on a different chair. It was really comfortable but as soon as I sat on it, I knew it was too low and that I was in trouble. When Nancy came home, I stayed for a bit and then it happened - I could not get out of the chair. I tried 3 times but kept falling back into it. It didnt help that by this time both Dave and Nancy were crying with laughter. Nancy suggested that I grab the end of Davids bed for leverage. Nope no go! Then, they suggested, that I use both hands and as I looked at both of them laughing all I could think of was pulling Davids bed over and both of us on the floor under the bed. But I had no other choice and thank goodness I was finally upright and he was still safe in his bed. I was embarrassed, but it did my heart good to see them both having such a belly laugh and easing their burdens just a bit. The next time I saw Pastor Anita, she said that she heard I had a good visit with David. No explanation was needed and we both had a good chuckle. We have truly lost an earth angel and gentleman but Heaven has gained one. There is a quote by Rufus Wainwright. Theres no life without humour. It can make the wonderful moments of life glorious and it can make tragic moments bearable. So David, it is your humour and joy we will remember so that we can bear being without you in our lives. Good bye, my friend. Kathy Murray