This was a rough statement of things that I said at Danny's Celebration of Life . . .

I wasn't sure IF I wanted to or would speak today, but, since others have opened up and said things in celebration of Danny's life, I feel compelled to do so also.  Where did I meet Danny?  At Merck, of course.  He'd come up to the counter at the stockroom and chat with me amongst leaving his "gum for sale" for others to buy.  It became a funny thing between us and I started calling him "gum boy."  Although I only knew him for about 12 years of my life, I spent 6 of those years living with Danny.  He was a very special part of my life during that time and he always made ME feel special.  We did just about everything together.  For the most part, Danny was a loving, caring person with me.  He would make me laugh with some of the silly things that he would do.  For example, he'd pull his pants up, real high. like an old farmer and stick his belly out.  It was hysterical!  He grew especially fond of my one, now very old, black cat, Oscar.  When I'd go to the shore for a long weekend with my Mom, every month of the summer, HE and Oscar would "hang out."  I'd call to check in and he would tell me, "Oh, me and Oscar had dinner together" or "me and Oscar watched a particular show," or "Oscar and I did that."  He was quite close to my cat and I wish I could have brought Oscar here today to celebrate.  He is now very fragile and it won't be long before Oscar joins Danny.  During the times that Danny and I were no longer living together, we remained close, if not seeing each other much in person because of Covid and whatever, we would speak on the phone pretty regularly and often have long, live chats.  I would let Danny see Oscar during these chats and he would actually talk to Oscar through the phone.  It was soooooo cute!  At any rate, Oscar's health has been declining and I will soon have to make that decision about allowing him to cross over the "rainbow bridge."  I think it may have been during the last or second last time I ever had a live chat with Danny, he said to Oscar, "hey goober, it won't be long for me either."  THAT really stung me.  It hurt so bad.  I didn't want to hear that.  I was sooooo hoping that he'd soon be able to come visit me in my new house.  I really had a hard time coming to grips with the fact that soon Danny would not be in my life anymore.  I had asked him on January 17, the last time I ever spoke to him, if there was anything, ANYTHING I could do for him -- whatever he wanted.  He didn't really have any super special request.  He merely said, "just take care of yourself."

Yes, Danny and I had some tough times and issues but everyone does these days.  I will always prefer to cherish the good times that he and I shared together and hopefully I will get to laugh with him again one day.  One thing that Danny always used to say, and I will continue to repeat his quote until my time comes . . .

"We never know how many haircuts we have left."

Love you Danny.