KW Six Month Update

Dear Friends and Family,

Today marks the 6 month time period since David died. He has been so very missed and has missed so much in that time:

* Carson's 21st birthday
* seeing how rich he was in friendships at his amazing, beautiful, heartfelt memorial
* Seeing how many of his friends have stepped up to help me with the yard, the house, with the business, financially and emotionally
* seeing how much his friend, Johnny Mag, loved him...enough to buy DW's Harley
* our 31st anniversary
* his mom's 80th birthday
* our nephew's college graduation
* our other nephew leaving for his army mission overseas somewhere
* Carson studying for the LSAT 2 1/2 months (he takes the actual test Oct. 4th)
* Logan's promotion and moving into a condo with Michelle
* Our friend,Jones's 50th birthday party/5 year cancer free, party on Labor Day
* me, learning how to manage all the bills and accounts

The dive company that he had been with that fateful weekend in March, has gone under. Soon after coming back to phoenix, they closed the shop in Mexico. Then they sold the shop in Tempe and the last I heard, creditors were closing in on them and they were about to declare bankruptcy. At least what happen to David won't happen to anyone else through that company.

I am slowly learning to take care of myself emotionally and financially. I'm back at school now and have a wonderful group of students who give me reason to smile and play each day. I have my faithful companion, Coconut who brings me joy and love and is here for me and is so happy to see me when I get home. With the help of most all of you, I was able to downsize my "stuff" over the summer and have a massive yard sale. My house went up on the market at the end of July. This is a terrible market to sell in so I am practicing patience as I await those perfect buyers.

I just wanted to give you all a small update on life at the Wheet household. Also, to remind you of the importance of this day. Please find a moment or two to think about David, Dave, DW, Leroy today. He loved you all so much, as do I.

Love,

Kathy

Message from Kathy Wheet

Dear Friends,

Please excuse this impersonal way of communication... sending a mass email to everyone. I love all of your emails and phone calls! I apologize for not returning them yet. There are so many that I am just too overwhelmed by it all. I have been stunned by the amount of love and support that has surfaced. I have so many loving and supporting friends who have stepped up and surrounded me helping me get through this. I have my own entourage!

When Helen, Judy or Don takes my phone calls, I want you all to know that they give me your messages right away! I am truly drawing on my yoga training and knowledge right now to help me see the situation as it is and just take one step at a time.

The arrangements for Dave's memorial were solidified yesterday. It is going to be exactly what Dave told me he wanted if this should ever happen to him. The dress is completely up to you. David had a tough time being "formal". He really had a thing against ties! So if you are able to come on Saturday, please wear whatever feels right to you. There will be jeans, Hawaiian shirts, Harley Davidson shirts, Suns/D'Backs shirts, and others will dress more formally. So please be accepting and non-judgmental of whatever dress you see on people. That is not what is important, YOU being there is what is important!

Here is the information:

The memorial service for David will be held on Saturday, March 29th at 3 o'clock. It will be at Hansen Mortuary at Desert Hills. 6500 East Bell Road, Scottsdale AZ 85254. Following will be a celebration of life gathering here at our home. Dinner is included. Also, there will be a microphone for people to use to tell stories about David. God knows there are a lot of stories about the man! So please think about him and if you are hit with a story to tell, please be prepared to do it! We will have a videotographer here recording this so that the boys and I can go back to listen and relive stories about this beautiful, great man in our years to come.

There is a David Wheet blog on a Ribfest website that friends have formed. I haven't seen it yet but I hear that it has already taken on a life of its own and people have begun writing about David. This will be another treasure to keep for Logan, Carson and I. That website is: http://www.azribfest.com/azr/blog/

Love to you all,

Kathy

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Memorial Service: Saturday, March 29th, at 3:00 PM

Hansen Mortuary at Desert Hills
6500 East Bell Road, Scottsdale AZ 85254
show map

Following the service, will be a celebration of David's life at the Wheet home.

Tribute to David Wheet

I wanted to take a moment to pause and give thanks to a friend who passed away this past weekend. David Wheet, our friend, comrade, father, husband... we love you and will never forget you or the impact you have made on our lives.

To view and post any comments, thoughts, memories, whatever, click here or click on "# comments" below.


David Wheet
October 21, 1954 - March 22, 2008


Goodbye
by Gwydion Pendderwen

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there. I did not die.

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To view and post any comments, thoughts, memories, whatever, click here or click on "# comments" below. Additionally, a photo tribute can be found at azribfest.com, or by clicking here.