This is a long read, and I apologize for that, but I feel like I need to share this with someone. Back in 2005 I transferred from the USS SHREVEPORT to the base at Millington, TN for my final tour. I bought a boat and one of the first places I went fishing was a small TWRA lake called Glen Springs. It was my first time there and on the lake I ran into a loud, obnoxious, boisterous, opinionated Yankee from Maryland named Dave Lorenzo. He was fishing that day, but he normally worked at the bait and tackle shop on the lake. This guy had absolutely NO filter between what he thought and what came out of his mouth. You never doubted where you stood with him. I'm not sure exactly when we became friends, but we did. Three years ago Dave and his wife moved to Cherokee Village, AR. We stayed in touch and got together a few times a year to fish, shoot the breeze, drink beer and just have a good time. On one occasion I was working hard building a barn. It was just my wife and I doing the work. He called me and I told him what I was doing. He asked if I needed help, and I'll never forget what he said when I said yes. He said "I'll be there in three hours." Late last year he called wanting to know if I could help him after bow season ended with some kitchen remodel work. He didn't know when it would be, but it was a bit above his skill level. I promised that when the time came I would be there. Well, the time came, and as it turned out, that time was weekend before last. Unfortunately, it coincided with our "world famous" Shelby County Bowhunters Association annual cookout/bow shoot/beerfest. The plans had been made and I had agreed to be there also. When I told the other club members I couldn't be there I caught a lot of good-natured hell, but I told them that when I promise a friend I'll be there to help you can bet that I'll be there. I really wanted to be at this cookout and I really considered calling my friend to postpone the work to a later date. I didn't, though, and on the 5th of April I left work a little early and made the three hour drive to his house. I got there at 4:00 pm on Friday and we worked hard. The work, of course, was accompanied by a lot of good natured ribbing, crude jokes and a lot of laughs, but we got everything done that he needed help with. He still had a few odds and ends to wrap up, but it wasn't anything major. He said when it was all done he would text me some pictures. It was good to see my friend again, help him out and get caught up on things. His wife was in Maryland visiting her family, so it was just us guys having a good time. I tried to call him Wednesday evening to find out if he'd finished the project and give him some grief for not sending the pics. He didn't answer. I called again Thursday. No answer. I sent a text yesterday morning. No response. Yesterday at 2:00 pm I got a call from his wife. She had been trying to get in touch with him also, with no luck. She called the police and had them check on him. My friend, David Lorenzo, had a heart attack and died in his home sometime on Wednesday, 17 April 2013. I was stunned, of course. I'm still stunned. It's so hard to imagine someone who was so full of life when I saw him two weeks ago is now gone. At the time I felt pretty good about keeping that promise to my friend and being there when he needed me. Now I thank God that I did. I got to see my friend one last time. I got to be there for him when he needed help. I got to sit there after we quit work drinking beer while watching a boxing match with him rooting for the favorite and me rooting for the underdog. Most importantly, I got to see the genuine gratitude in his eyes when I shook his hand as I got ready to leave Sunday afternoon. That's most important to me because had I not went to help, his last thought of me in this world would probably have been that I had let him down. That would have been hard to me to live with. Anyway, to wrap this up, I really don't have that many friends and I don't mind that. I'm not anti-social, but I'm not good at socializing. I have a small handful of friends that I would call good friends but Dave was one of those really good friends. There's a sign in our cabin that says "A good friend will come and bail you out of jail but a really good friend will be sitting there beside you saying "Damn, that was fun!"" Well, that was Dave. I sure am going to miss that damn Yankee.
Wow. Hard to even know what to say. Kind of puts what is truely improtant into perspective. Blessings to Dave's freinds and family.
I had something similar happen a while back, it reminds you of how fragile life is. I'm glad you got to spend time with your friend before he passed, I'm sure it's a time you'll never forget. My condolences on the passing of your friend
That's a story worth sharing and I'm glad I took the time to read it. Like you I don't have a lot of good friends. I have had a lot of friends that have come and gone and some of I still speak to on occasion but, a true friend is of great value these days. It's good to hear you were able to see him in his last days.
I am truely sorry for the loss of your friend but thank you for taking the time to share and serve as a reminder for the rest of us as to what is really important and the unpredictability of life.
From a yankee with out much of a filter also .... My Condolences, your a rich man to know true friend. Thank you for the reminder it something we should all take to heart...we are only as good as our word. My grandmother used to tell me as I was growing up to never miss a chance to show those you love your love, and she would say always do good things for others and don't look back. It all sounded better in Italian but the meaning is still there.
Glad you got to meet him one last time. My story is kind of the opposite. My friend got sent off elsewhere and I got sent here, hadn't talked to him in about a year and I was about to drop him a line to say Hi and see how things were for the past few days. Just found out that he took his own life. Too late now = \ Not trying to derail this thread, into my own little thing. I had just read your thread then the next day I found out. Glad you got to meet your friend one last time, makes me happy that one of us atleast got to.
1st of all my condolences Chief. 2nd of all, your a good man my friend. No surprise to me that you kept your promise. I think It's a great Idea that you posted this. It may make some of us think (myself Included). Respect my friend.
Johnny....you are a good man.... so dotty to hear about his passing but so glad to hear about the times and memories you guys made.... Opinionated Yankee, huh? Now I know what drew you and I together :D
Loud, obnoxious, boisterous, opinionated Yankee from Maryland named Dave? A lot of that in Maryland.... but... some of my best friends still live there. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. Like you say, we don't all have that many and it's tough to loose a good one. Boy, am I ever glad you kept that promise and I know you are too. There will always be another BBQ.... but only one last get together with Dave. Again, I'm sorry for your loss of a special friend. Special friends only happen once or twice in our life I figure. I got a couple and cherish each an every meeting. My best friend and I have been as tight as anyone can be since 6th grade. We wouldn't loan each other money....we'd give it to each other. We would stop everything to do anything for the other. We're now 69 years old separated by 100 miles. We talk every day and get together regularly. With my health issues at present he has been doing all the traveling. Real friends are truly special..
Thanks for sharing this story as it certainly gives us all another reminder of what truly is important....family, friends....and being a man of your word. I too have learned those lessons in my life over the years. I learned early on never to take any of these things for granted. Find peace in knowing that you were a good friend!!!!
You are both better for having known and befriended each other. He'll always be there in when you look at that barn or go fishing. Find peace in the friendship you have (and you know what I mean in putting that in the present tense). God Bless Brother.
So sorry to hear the news of your friend. Boy, that story is a hard one to read and to swallow. A great reminder to us all to remember what is important in life, friendships and family. He and you and your family will be in my prayers.
