This weekend we all attended a special wedding for dear friends Alan and Esther. Alan was especially close to Dad. In a way they had a father-son type relationship. Alan had lost his dad when he was very young and looked up to Dad as a father figure.
The way Dad and Alan met was a little unusual, but not at all surprising if you know either of them. One morning Dad was having coffee out in the Florida room when he saw someone walking up the road. He called out, "Good morning my neighbor!" Alan headed u[p the driveway to say hello and the rest is history. They were fast friends and even had nicknames for one another - Skipper and Gilligan aka Little Buddy. The name Gilligan stuck and out whole family often calls Alan by that name. The two were a great pair and spent a lot of time together. Alan and his mom, Barbara, would often (and still do) spend holidays with us. I'm so glad that Gilligan and Dad found each other because they were good for each other.
We are all thrilled to see Alan and Esther happy and we could feel Dad there with us that day. I know he was smiling down, so excited for his Little Buddy.
