This is sadly NOT an April Fool's Day post.   Today is the heavenly birthday of my friend Dave S. 

Dave S. was one of the original Puntabupeeps.  He and I grew to be good friends over the Project Runway of that year, doing Palace posts on it together (you can probably find them all if you go back search in the 2008 posts).  Later that year, I went to visit him for a weekend in Columbus OH.  And we had a blast: he was a model in an underwear show at a local gay bar, we walked around town, went to art museum, and went to a retirement party for one of his coworkers.

  And then the next year, in October of 2009, he came here and together we went to NYC to surprise a group of Puntabupeeps for the weekend: karaoke, late night dinner and drinks, and then a tour of the city the next day with Jere and FDot.  And then we returned here and he returned home.  Another blast.

We kept in touch a bit after that, with Dave S. exploring more of the gay side of his bisexual and talking to me about it over the phone.  He actually ended up being a stripped in Columbus (and taking gigs in Cleveland and Cincinnati at times too).  

And then, he disappeared.  Wouldn't respond to any emails or anything, from me or any of the other puntabupeeps.  I couldn't find him online.  Even found a friend of his online I heard him talk about and he said Dave S. had kinda disappeared from him too, although he knew he was alive and around.   And for more than a decade, that's the way it was.

And then a few years ago, on Twitter, I just happen to run into him, under his stripper name Spike Warden.  I messaged him and we began chatting again.   And did so somewhat regularly. 

And then this past December, there was a post on his Twitter account from his son Chaz.  Dave S. had died, and the family asked for respect and understanding in this time of grief.  No mention of what he died of or how.  And I couldn't find an obituary anywhere online (but Columbus is a big big place and so maybe I just couldn't find it). 

Dave S. younger than me by a year or two (or three I forget), and clearly in better shape than me, so it came as quite a surprise, a devastating surprise.  I still think about him from time to time, and the fun we had together.  I hope his kids (and grandbaby, he got to meet him a few weeks before he passed) are all doing well.    I just really feel....loss.  And sadness.  I wish I had gotten to see him and person and talk to him again one time before he passed. 

Happy Birthday my brother, and Rest In Peace.  

POLT

POLT