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The Hearbeat of the Home
Andrea Shea King – The Radio Patriot
DAVE’S CLOCK
Rhonda (Dave’s longtime friend, roommate and caregiver) sent me Dave’s wall clock — he had promised it to me a long while ago when during a phone conversation, I remarked on how lovely was the sound of the chime as it marked the half hour — I could hear it! I could picture him smiling as he told me that every house should have a pendulum clock — it was the heartbeat of a home — and that when he was gone, I could have it — he would leave it to me. Trying to keep a sobering moment light, I joked that it would be symbolic of all the time we spent together on the phone…
I mentioned that conversation to Rhonda last November while she was here to help scatter Dave’s ashes on Cape Canaveral beach.
She never forgot. She packaged it up and sent it to me at Christmas…
After returning to Florida late Sunday night following a two-week Christmas holiday in North Carolina, the first thing I did yesterday was fetch the huge box from the post office.
I found the perfect spot for it.
After carefully unpacking it from buckets of foam popcorn and yards of bubble wrap, I rearranged my living room to accommodate Dave’s clock (spent all afternoon cleaning and moving furniture!!!) and though I was exhausted afterward, I stepped back to admire it, excited to incorporate Dave’s “heartbeat” into my home.
The clock is ticking — the heartbeat of a house, as Dave once described it — and the chimes on the half hours are a delight to hear — almost heavenly!
He lives on with every beat.
!snip!
Follow Andrea on Facebook.
I understand that to do that you must “friend” someone. Could there ever be a more devoted friend?
Menderman
January 8th, 2013
I read this earlier in an email from her blog. Beautiful story! Beautiful clock!
Nutjob
January 8th, 2013
To bad more patriots weren’t this thoughtful, Rhondas friend looking down must be proud as she is!
Hanoverfist
January 8th, 2013
The heartbeat of America.
grayscape
January 8th, 2013
Clocks are some of the most incredible and comforting inventions.
Merry Poppet
January 8th, 2013
A wonderful reminder of a great friendship.
Kairn
January 8th, 2013
Very touching story. What a lovely memento from a dearly departed friend.
Clock a tickin’ and time marches on.
Rosemarazzle
January 8th, 2013
That is a wonderful treasure from a treasured friendship
ironyCurtain
January 9th, 2013
Beautiful story, Andrea.
Mr. Pinko
January 9th, 2013
Third Wave Dave – great guy. He is missed.
Andrea Shea King
January 9th, 2013
Thank you so much for reprinting this and for your kind comments. Writing about the clock was a catharsis for the empty spot Dave left in my world. It’s going to take a while to get used to the new normal.
Dave was a huge fan of Johnny Carson, and when Carson retired and the show went off the air, Dave missed him so much he bought the multi-CD of Carson’s shows. (Which he bought for me too).
So having IOTW was his 21st century version of “Heeeere’s Johnny!” We loved reading you at the end of the day — often while we were together on the phone, laughing until we were in tears!
You guys are the best. Bar none, THE BEST. Thanks for the laughs. They lightened his load.
really enraged
January 9th, 2013
Very, very nice, Andrea. Thank you.
old_oaks
January 9th, 2013
I keep a 35+ year old family pendulum going, for better or worse, I haven’t figured.
Mary Jane Anklestraps
January 9th, 2013