We were playing a game of my invention when Dan walked into my coffee shop and my life. He joined in and even complemented me on the creation of an (admittedly, semi-mean) game that (nonetheless) made him smile. I would see him here and there with a group of mutual friends; at a show he was prefoming in, at a party, on his front porch couch in riverside. I would invite him to my own get-togethers where he would always notice if I was a little bit withdrawn, and try to get me out of whatever cocoon I was in.
His curiosity made his eyes sparkle, his knowledge made him chuckle. He found joy in the insights he had, and resisted the smugness, aloofness, and unkindness these things seemed to inspire in myself and most of the people I was close to. He remained kind, caring, and open even after I had fallen out with the group of friends who had connected us.
His last words to me can pull me out of dark corners of my mind still, just as he would do years before during the parties when I would go quiet. I am so thankful to know him, and I really wish I could have given more to his life- or maybe even just let him know that his part in mine was a brighter spot than he probably knew.
