On many cruises and outings he was my partner in crime, although he was over 20 years my senior, we both relished the ability to act like kids again. We both excelled at frustrating our wives at our childish behavior. Something I will continue on doing knowing he would love it.

I know many people will say that Darrel died of cancer and, technically, they are right, but to me Darrel was the shining example of someone who lived with cancer. I never heard him complain about it, and when he was in obvious pain, he wouldn’t let it slow him down. He was determined to live life to the fullest and I believe he succeeded at it.

My family and I were honored that Darrel and Robin spent some of their vacation with us this year. Darrel and Robin took Waylon out fishing and not because Waylon begged them to go, but because Darrel asked him if he would come along. It meant the world to Waylon to go out with his buddy Darrel, it also meant the world to me for him to do such a selfless act knowing his time was limited.

Waylon and Darrel in Canada.

It is things like this that I will miss most of all. Darrel and I went out in my dinghy to pull crab pots, it was a beautiful day and the sun was beginning to set as we made the run back in. Darrel was just taking the day in (and probably enjoying the fact he could just enjoy a boat ride on somebody else’s boat for once) and I turned to Darrel and said, “You know what?” and he replied without looking over, “What?” I said, “Fuck cancer!” and with his trademark sideways smile he replied, “Yep” without ever taking his eyes off the water or the sunset. Might seem like a silly thing to most for me to recall, but I saw it as Darrel heading into the sunset with a smile on his face. That is the Darrel I will always remember and, of course, that infectious laugh of his.