|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Mon Nov 17 2003 - 15:05:24 EST
Hi all. It seems like I've been lurking on this list for years. Today
I finally have a reason to write and wish I didn't. I want to share a
little information about a man who some of you on may have met as he
and his wife traveled the Caribbean in their catamaran Nero.
I met David Duthie sometime in 1980 when he owned a restaurant called
'The Yellow Brick Toad' in Lambertville, NJ. At the time, the Toad
lawn was used as a launch area hot-air balloon flights. My first
balloon flight originated at the Toad, and I subsequently crewed for
others, then piloted my own balloon out of the same location. Over
the years, many, many hours were spent after flights at the bar, with
friends at the annual Christmas party, or enjoying a quiet dinner
with David as host. And he was a perfect host, greeting customers
with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. An innovative
restaurateur, he worked very hard to make the Toad the special place
that is was. Innovation, however, does not keep a restaurant alive
for over 20 years. David was the Toad and the Toad was David. His
style, personality and dedication are the reasons he achieved success
in a business so wrought with failure.
When I left NJ in 1990, I knew that David had done some sailboat
chartering, but it wasn't until January 2002 that I found out he was
going cruising. My husband (also well acquainted with David from the
ballooning days) and I were at the Atlantic City boat show, strolling
the aisles, when a man, who recognized us, stopped us. It was one of
those moments when you know the person, but can't remember what stage
of your life they belong to. David Duthie! - what a nice surprise -
what are you doing here...? Since we last saw him, David had gotten
married, sold the Toad, bought a boat, and was going cruising! We
asked where, they said wherever. We wished them luck and asked for
the boat name, hoping to meet them on the water someday. The last
time we saw David and Kristen, they were hand-in-hand, striding from
the boat show to their new life aboard Nero.
We just found out on Friday out that David passed away last summer.
He and Kristen got as far as Trinidad before discovering he was ill.
While I wish David had more time, there's some solace in knowing that
he did get away and realize his dream. If anyone on the list knew
David, I would love to hear any little story about your encounter
with him.
I hope that those of you putting off fulfilling your dream, no matter
what it is, can find the means to do it now. Life is short.
Kathy
Moody 376
Pe-Ka-Bo
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada.
http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/A1TolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|