Wednesday, March 27, 2002
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Wednesday, March 27, 2002 |
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Remembering Dave and the fireworks After Dave Hamrick's funeral I could not help but think how he would've enjoyed having us all there in one place. The words of the Townes Van Zandt song, "None But The Rain," echoed through my mind. Dave would've gotten a kick out of all of us. Thanks to all of you at the paper for your beautiful tributes to this very gentle man. Those of you that only worked alongside him may feel a loss at never having played with him. Those of us that only knew him as a fellow caver or soccer teammate feel the same way we never really worked with him. The truth is that we all both worked and played with him; he was the same to all. I first met Dave in 1985 while caving with him. Dave would attend one of our yearly gatherings where hundreds would celebrate the bounty of caverns that our part of the country conceals. I was in a group of cavers that stayed up all night with him in Valley Head, Ala., as he played and sang John Prine songs on guitar with a huge bonfire as a backdrop. It remains a special memory of mine: Simple souls gathered around a singer of song meeting the dawn. My favorite memory of Dave is at the same gathering a few years later. The bonfire was blazing and a bag of fireworks had been produced. We passed it among ourselves not really knowing what to do with it. As the bag reached Dave, he turned without hesitation and tossed it into the fire. The result was fantastic! The bag had contained more than its share of explosive finery and the result was pure run-for-cover! Dave's visage backlit by the resulting display was classic! He stood there with his Alfred E. Newman "What-Me-Worry?" expression. When all the commotion subsided, a spontaneous roar and applause saluted his act. He smiled and bowed for the crowd. To all that had the honor of knowing Dave as a friend and coworker, we are better for the chance to be among a giant. Thank you for your words. Dan Hills Stockbridge
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