Let me tell you about my friend Dave. At first glance, Dave and I would not have made the most obvious of friends. When I first met Dave at the UB Anime club, we didn't really have a lot in common save for our mutual interest in Japanese culture. However that interest is what started our friendship. We both had great ideas for the Anime Club, so we both ran for office and got elected. We ended up working together(and sometimes against), but along the way we gained a mutual respect.

At first, I wasn't all that friendly with Dave. I found him impulsive and stubborn. Some of his plans were seat-of-our-pants too. Ask anyone who was in that poor Astro-Van on the way to Toronto and back. We didn't expect to leave parts of that van in Canada, but when you're driving that fast on the QEW, a muffler didn't seem very important for which to stop. Thankfully we made it back home safe and sound, although it was that Astro-Van's last voyage.

At first, I took Dave's antics with a smirk, but it slowly turned into smiles. Dave was all about living life and having fun, and I had come to want that too. Dave and I graduated from UB together, and while most of my friends had moved away, Dave was still nearby enough that we were able to hang out. We both had a mutual interest in video games as well- and we would often meet up and connect our computers together and enjoy an all-nighter of video games. Dave would often encourage outings as well to movie theatres or karaoke nights at a nearby bar. I wasn't a very social person then but Dave helped me out in this area of my life, and got me to open up.

Eventually, through Dave's encouragement, I moved into the same apartment building in Lockport. Now that we were both out of college, we had to become responsible. Our adventures were not as extravagant anymore as we had to consider more important things. Sometimes, Dave would ask me if he should refrain from buying some new game or comic book, or hold off obtaining some item of nerdy proportions. Perhaps my characteristic caution was affecting him as well.

Dave eventually left for Japan to teach English, but his real reasons was to soak up the culture. He loved Japan. He visited home and told me about his adventures there, and how much he wanted to stay over there. Dave was happy, but it was not to last. He started having health problems there to which the doctors in Japan had no experience, and he was forced to come home. He didn't have a place to stay so I offered him my foldout bed on my couch. He stayed with me, and while the arrangement was not ideal, at least I could provide Dave with a roof over his head and friends who could be there.

Dave was in and out of the hospital after that. Eventually we got him an apartment in the hopes he would improve- he did for a short time. We visited Dave as often as we could, played video games and tried to do the things we could do. We talked about our hopes for the future, and and tried to stay optimistic. Dave talked about going into criminal justice, or going back to Japan when he got better.

Eventually, Dave had to go back to the hospital, this time for good. We still kept up hope, that things were turning around, things were improving. Dave did improve enough that I was able to take him to my family's Christmas party- That was an adventure! Heavy snows and difficult driving made the trip memorable for both of us, with Dave acting as my second pair of eyes for some sign that I was still on the road. Through the grace of God made it safely to his hospital room, and we had one last adventure together.

That was the last time Dave and I were able to pretend he didn't have anything wrong going on. I visited as often as I could and we still figured out ways to hang out at the hospital, from watching a movie or playing video games. It became more difficult because Dave wasn't feeling up to playing, or visitors-and we had to work around my school and work schedule.

Eventually, Dave had to be moved and his health continued to decline. At one point I think he realized just how grave things were. He told me that he believed his days were numbered, but not to worry. I tried not to because I wanted to believe in a bright future. Soon after, Dave was put on a breathing tube and sedation. I still visited him when I could.

I didn't know what to expect when I came in Thursday afternoon. The nurses had always took a bit before allowing me to visit, but they always still allowed me to visit. When Lucy met me in the waiting room, I knew something was up. I knew this was it. Dave was awake and Lucy let me know what was happening, what was going to happen. It was difficult to hear it.

I couldn't be there Friday morning. I couldn't watch.

There will be no more adventures this side of life with Dave, and for that I am sad. But I'm grateful for his influence on my life. He taught me to live a little more, to not be afraid of socializing, and more importantly, he taught me that caring for someone, for being there for someone is what God wants all of us to do. I hope I live up to that expectation.