Don,
Thank you for sending Rick’s darts my way, because strange as it may seem, I’ll cherish them. When the box landed in my mailbox the other day, I was happy & sad at the same time because although I want them, it caused me to fully think about why they’re now mine.
I miss Rick.
I was surprised by the package’s heft and was wondering why it was so heavy, because I knew one set of darts was nowhere near that heavy. When I saw that large blue dart bag, I hoped out loud the set I wanted was in there. As I started pulling dart sets out of the compartments, I felt like I was emptying a dart case clown car, I had no idea how many sets of darts Ricky Who had! And as much as I would have been happy with any set of Rick’s darts, there was a specific set I had in mind.
They were the set that Rick taught me to throw with. I didn’t know the model, but I knew they always felt the right weight in my hand, and they had a little relieve area for an index finger grip. They were in there! I also smiled when I saw the flights he had with that particular set. When we competed or played in a league, Rick always outfitted his set with Chief Wahoo flights while I exclusively threw Andy Capp flights. The set had two Chief Wahoos and one Andy Capp installed! He must have borrowed an Andy Capp from me when he damaged a Wahoo during one of our matches.
It seemed like a sign.
Losing a friend like Rick was troubling, and I imagine losing a brother like Rick would be gutting, so again, my deepest condolences. Rick and I had a great run as friends going back to the mid-nineties. I haven’t backed completely into the number of the year, but I know it was before he turned thirty-six because I remember sitting next to him at a tavern buying him a beer for this birthday and he told me he was 18 again, meaning 36. We acted like 18 and had a ball working and playing together. It was a very fun time of life.
Rick taught me about communication. It took me a while to figure that when someone from Cincinnati says “please” sometimes it means what a Cleveland person says “excuse me” or “could you repeat that”. I was also schooled in the phrases “who dey”, three-way (it’s not what you think), warshroom, but for some reason my favorite Rick phrase is “ate-up”. He also always chose to pronounce my last name as Paté with the old school European accent, and I responded in kind by calling him Vinder.
I remember going to that awful apartment in Richmond Heights, where the elevators smelled like piss, to help him move. You’re parents were there as well, and the four of us had a good time together. Your parents were a riot but their care and concern for their Ricky was obvious. A couple years later he introduced me to Donna when she came up for a visit, and I ribbed him about liking his sister. For the next twenty years he would say something like “I talked to my sister”, or “I visited my sister” and I would say “which sister” He would either say “your sister” or the “other sister”. It was a fun personal joke we went back and forth with dozens of times. When we talked he always told be what was going on with you, Bev, Craig, and Donna, and he was so proud of his nieces and nephews.
Although our time and talks weren’t as frequent as they used to be over the past couple years, I felt we remained close in spirit. We’d talk music, food, football, and his favorite – the Tribe! I miss him a little more with all the excitement at the corner of Ontario and Carnegie recently.
And oh shit, the food! The only thing stronger than Rick’s culinary output was the joy he put into it. Over the years he whipped up such fabulous fare, appetizers, steaks, lobster, and sides without end. I don’t think Rick was much of a desert guy, but by the time I was done with the tasty main courses there was never room to eat more anyhow.
Since there was a surplus of darts, I offered the choice of a set to my friend Steve. Rick actually got him started playing darts as well. The three of us, and others (yourself included) played in a couple leagues for 5 or so years. Steve has kept playing non-stop for twenty years so Rick is responsible for his hobby/habit.
Rick was supportive of my writing and I think he’d be happy knowing I’m put his darts to good, albeit more inaccurate use than he did.
Anyhow, I just wanted to thank you again and let you know your gift is more appreciated than you’ll ever know.
Sincerely,
Dale