Friday, August 4, 2023
Uncle David did not live close to us as I was growing up, but whenever he would come
back to NY it was a very special time. As smart and knowledgeable he was about so many, many
things, his humor and humanity were just as shining. (It was not until later on in life that I learned that such a combination of smarts, humor, and humanity is not something that necessarily goes hand in hand with most exceptionally smart people.
Two quick 'car related' anecdotes:
While visiting NY while he was still in Med school, he took my sister and myself to the
Museum of Natural History. He drove us in a beater car that he had at the time (Plymouth Valiant?) and was able to shift the transmission in such a manner to make it sound like a person passing gas. Incredibly funny stuff to young grade school kids. The joy and laughter that he had at making us kids laugh made things even that much funnier.
Many years later (I was about 18 or so) and in Denver for a few days, David was kind enough to offer to teach me how
to drive a stick shift car (Subaru Wagon?) Well, he was a good teacher - but I was not the most adept driver. While trying hard not to kill the clutch while releasing it - my memories of him good naturedly saying "That's better", when it was MOST untrue, made us both laugh and still makes me smile. We did persevere for a while longer, and later on when I owned a stick shift, I always remembered who had the patience and humor to sit as a passenger instructor.
What a light to the world.
