From tutoring me in algebra to helping me quit smoking…

through breakups, wild adventures that somehow landed us in drunk tanks, and hitchhiking back from Santa Cruz…

from partying with Flogging Molly to luxury stays in Vegas…

late-night conversations that turned into sunrises…

roaring, can’t-breathe belly laughter…

from sticky, dimly lit dive bars to the kind of places where you dress up just because you can…

from playing cards, to playing with Penny…

to helping me set up Christmas when life felt like it was barely holding together…

to helping me make the move to Humboldt…

No matter the moment, no matter the setting, it was always an honor to stand by his side.

He had this way of lifting people-- quietly, consistently, in whatever way they needed.

Penny still has the teddy bear he gave her for Christmas.

I found myself holding it the night I heard… and I haven’t really let it go since.

He is so deeply missed.