I was talking with a friend last night and he was sad because his cousin died on Christmas Eve. Knowing that my Dad passed in September, and my best friend (my dog) died the very next day, he declared that it had been a very bad year for us, and that hopefully 2025 would be better. My immediate reaction was that it was a GREAT year - I met two grandchildren for the first time, in June, then had a great three weeks with my Mother after my Dad passed, and then had a great week at Christmas with my Mom, another granddaughter, and my brother.
But...it also got me thinking about friends who had passed, and I just want to say how much I miss David Cuneo. David was one of the few friends I met through pipe forums, who I spoke with regularly. It was always such a pleasure to talk with him - he was a true expert on many. maker's pipes, especially Danish pipes which were his favorites, and if he wasn't an expert on the pipe you were discussing, he could could still give you some great insights. And he was an incredible tobacco blender - his discussions on the subject always immediately went beyond my mental capabilities. But the most important thing was how excited he always was to receive my phone calls, and I imagine this was true of anyone who called him - he really made you feel like a special friend. David was going through a lot of physical problems, and had been for a while, but he didn't dwell on these things; in fact, he was more upbeat than most healthy people I speak with. He's not someone who I will ever forget.
But...it also got me thinking about friends who had passed, and I just want to say how much I miss David Cuneo. David was one of the few friends I met through pipe forums, who I spoke with regularly. It was always such a pleasure to talk with him - he was a true expert on many. maker's pipes, especially Danish pipes which were his favorites, and if he wasn't an expert on the pipe you were discussing, he could could still give you some great insights. And he was an incredible tobacco blender - his discussions on the subject always immediately went beyond my mental capabilities. But the most important thing was how excited he always was to receive my phone calls, and I imagine this was true of anyone who called him - he really made you feel like a special friend. David was going through a lot of physical problems, and had been for a while, but he didn't dwell on these things; in fact, he was more upbeat than most healthy people I speak with. He's not someone who I will ever forget.
