An “Idiot” (aka Philosopher) At Home

Dear Jessica Brennan,

I think it is time we gave a nod to our friend Dave. People like Dave don’t come along in life twice so if you meet someone like him, you want to make sure you pay attention.

As you know, many nights at the Waltzing Weasel we have talked about writing a TV show for Dave, based on the template of the Ricky Gervais production, “An Idiot Abroad” where Ricky sends a reluctant Karl Pilkington around the world to eat bugs and fly on the outside of an airplane.  Our show though would be called, “An Idiot At Home”.

Dave, like Karl was born in Manchester, UK and I’m sure, despite Karl’s adventures, Dave has bragging rights on things that Karl could only imagine. For example, Dave was run over by a Double Decker bus (yes he went right under it) and came out without a scratch. He has also been run over by a golf cart twice (once driven by his wife, Jude). Perhaps though Dave’s greatest and most Karl-like gift is his ability to make insightful observations and offer advice.

Profound statements like, “Stonehenge. There’s something a bit odd about that place.” And, with genuine sadness, “I feel bad for Sandra Bullock.” Why Dave? “Because we’re fun and she doesn’t even know us.” Well said. Poor Sandy.

As a human being, they don’t get any better than Dave.  He’s the guy you can count on and over time you start to expect and respect the wisdom of Dave, and he never disappoints. As words flow like, “Your cat has exactly the same problem as my lawn mower” or, “I’m in the top 2% in Canada in finger dexterity”, you nod, knowingly, not wanting to appear like you don’t quite understand. Dave is a visionary, a bit like Chauncey Gardner in the 1979 comedy-drama “Being There”.

If he shouts, “Hey  Jude look! It’s my Uncle Roy if he was Japanese!” You can sort of see Uncle Roy looking back at you through the face of Not-Uncle Roy.  In those awkward medical discussions that are impossible to get out of sometimes, where someone is going on and on about what they need replaced, removed or inserted, Dave offers up helpful, simple solutions. “Can’t she go to Saskatchewan to get that done – because there’s no one there.”  How true.  There is no one in Saskatchewan. Totally empty.

Once when listening to a country singer Dave pointed out observantly, “My shaver makes that same noise,” and on the continued topic of music, Dave gratefully pointed out, “I’m glad they advertise things like Home County Folk Festival so I know where to avoid on the weekends.” Oh Dave.

One late night as Dave was driving me home from an event a guy went by pulling a rickshaw. A very tired Dave mumbled, “If you were born a horse you’d know it, so stop dragging that thing around.”

Dave is one of a kind and I don’t know what we would do without his wisdom to guide our lives.

We love Dave and I guess in truth, he summed up this blog post himself when he once said, “There’s a part of me, I’ve never understood.”

Love Mum

xo

PS – There’s so much more, but for now please know, all of the above statements are credited to Dave. He said them exactly as written.