This guy.
David Yule. Husband of my best friend on this planet, my best friend of 30 years, Barb. I've blogged about her here before.
David Yule was a fucking force of nature. Most of the time he scared the hell out of me. He knew who he was. He had opinions and wasn't afraid to share them, often loudly. When he laughed, he had the most fabulous crinkles on his cheekbones and he laughed often.
He was larger than life. He worked hard, played hard and loved his family ferociously. He married Barb when she was 21 and OHMYGOD they look like babies in their wedding photo. He said things like "Ok. You were right... and I was that other thing."
This isn't the most articulate blog I've ever written, but I don't care. I'm rusty and getting back into it again and this one hurts so I'm just throwing words onto the page.
Barb and Dave were (are? I hate this) the best team I have ever seen. Was it perfect? God no. I remember one time when he made her mad and she drove to see me in Nakusp (a 3 hour drive) just to vent. She tells the story of when he tried to throw out the Disney videos she used to watch with their kids and she threw her wedding dress at him, saying "Here! Why don't you throw this away too?!!!"
But together they were magic. The were a team. They worked hard to move forward in the same direction, overcoming adversity and balancing one another. They loved each other like no other and created a life that was a solid foundation for their amazing kids and a safe and wonderful place for friends - their many, many friends from all over the world.
David worked in Russia and he loved it. Barb kept the home fires burning while he was away, working, driving kids to hockey and once again, they found a beautiful balance. He couldn't do what he did without her and he was her anchor. When he was home, they always found a way to squeeze everything out of their time together.
And now he's gone and it's left a hole that I can't describe. Barb without Dave? How is it even possible? But it is. It's real and it's stupid and it makes me want to scream because if there was ever a man who deserved a long life it was him.
But life goes on. The sun continues to rise and set, as unthinkable as that is after a tragic loss like this one. Barb has found a way to move forward because he would expect her to and he still finds ways to nudge her along as only he could.
Barb will be ok. Jacob and Sara will be ok. But the world is a bit dimmer and less interesting without him in it.
