Doug, my friend

I can't remember the day I first met Doug, but it was probably at one of the Coffee House gatherings held at Coyote Creek Farm some 15 years ago.  Other than his height, Doug didn't make a commanding first impression, but rather a gradual and substantial one.  Over time I became aware of his intelligence, his strong interests and ideas, and his genuine concern and kindness.  Doug was a lifetime sort of friend, not the passing sort.

Joe and I will always remember when we "ran into" Sue and Doug in Oaxaca.  The zocolo was crowded with thousands of people that day watching a performance, and thanks in part to Doug's light head of hair rising a foot above the average Oaxaqueno there, we negotiated the throng and eventually met up.  We had only vaguely heard that they would be in Mexico and had no thought of joining up with them.  We had such a good time together, a really famous time!  We went to an extraordinary fiesta in the small village of Santa Ana del Valle, where we were the only tourists.  There was a religious/drunken procession through the village, and every stop included shots of the local mescal.  The villagers were trying, and really succeeding, in getting us drunk.  Soon for no reason we could figure out, a male villager developed a sexual fixation on Doug, which made the rest of the day rather uncomfortable for him.  It was hilarious to Joe, Sue, and myself...I have to admit.

There are lots of other Doug memories to share.  We took a trip to Grenada to check out Doug, Moth, Browne and Grenada Chocolate Company.  Doug didn't overlap with us, but we traced all his footsteps there.  We had lots of gatherings over the years, and a fond memory is marching against the war with Doug.

Doug made all our lives better.  I wish he could have seen the results of this election!  Love, Cathy