Back in the late 2000s I stumbled on a blog named Puntabulous.  From this blog I found a whole horde of online friends.  I've met them all, some multiple times, except for two of them.  Through these online friends I've been to NYC four times, Ohio, a cabin in West Virginia countless times, I've hung out with them in Toronto, they've stayed at my house, I've gone to Bradford PA and the Lucy museum, and Pride in DC and NYC with them, they've just been phenomenal friends. 

The first one i really got close to was Dave S in Ohio.  I have no idea how we got so close to swiftly, but we did.  And during one season of Project Runway, he and I would watch it and then each right up a review.  We'd merge them and post it on my blog (you can probably find those reviews if you go back here and search for them).

In October of 2008, I went to Columbus and hung out with Dave S. for the weekend.  Had a wonderful time.  In October of 2009, he came here and then we took the train to NYC where we hung out with and met a group of the Puntabupeeps at a karaoke place, then got food and hung out into the evening.  Another wonderful time. 

After that, Dave S. kinda drifted away from the group.  He and I stayed in touch for a lil while and then he drifted away almost entirely.  About two years ago, I stumbled on him on Twitter and we corresponded there and sent cards and messages and stuff.  I saw his visits to his mother, I saw him with his first grandchild earlier this Fall.  I saw his pupper Ethan a lot.  And I saw a bunch of nearly naked pics of him on Twitter, which is what he posted the most there. 

Earlier today, I saw a message from his son on Dave S's Twitter account.  Dave S died this past Friday, December 13, 2024.  No other info.  I have no idea if he as sick for a while, for a little bit, or if it was sudden. 

I am shook, shook in a different way than when my Fairy Godfather Mark died in February.  Mark had been sick for years, very ill for the last three months of his life.  And he was older than me by 9 years.  Dave S.'s death was a total shock and surprise.  And Dave S. was a year younger than me.

I'm numb. I really don't know what to say or what to feel.  We've not been close for some time, but still....it's just such a shock. I've been passing the word to some of the Puntabupeeps who I think knew him, but since he has been out of that loop for like 15 years, there's not many.   I...I just don't know what else to do.

Here is a pic of Dave S back when knew in 2009 when we were in NYC for the Karaoke.

And this is a pic if him from his Twitter feed earlier this year, over the summer I think. 

I know this isn't much of a tribute to him, certainly not considering how close we were 2008-09.  But I'm kinda in shock, this is really the best I can do right now. 

Rest in Peace, buddy.  HUGS.....

POLT