I have a  couple stories  I would like to relate about Uncle Don….

When dad owned the marina in Hastings, Don would always come over to visit.  I always remember him saying hello to everyone and then saying to me – with his half; a happy grin…. “Hows it goin Canoe Foot?”    I was only 11 or 12 at the time, but me and my size 9 feet were soooo mortified.  Him and my dad knew it, and they had a lot of fun at my expense.  Up until the last time I saw Don, the first thing he would ask --- “Hows it goin Canoe Foot?”.

One more….

My best friend growing up was Steven Crate.  Around the time we were 9 or 10,   Steven would come over to the shop to get me to go somewhere or just hang out.  He loved to give dad and Uncle Don a hard time.   I remember this one time when Steven was particularly colorful with the two and them.  They ganged up on “the boy” (they used to call him), grabbed him by the ankles and dunked him head first in the minnow tank a couple times.  The tank was full of minnows.  I don’t remember Steven mouthing off at them much after that. 

Those two were terrible.  I hope they’re both in heaven hatching up more teasing for when the time comes to see them again.