Umepojk i Tråvad: Don, you'll never know how much we miss you already! (på svenska längre ner)

tisdag 2 september 2008

Don, you'll never know how much we miss you already! (på svenska längre ner)

Just got word that one of our very best friends passed away yesterday, days after turning 68. Don LaFontaine, just like his wife Nita, was one of the most wonderful human beings you’d ever meet, and absolutely without competition the most generous.

When Christian was born, they simply thought that it was time for their grandparents in Sweden to see him and Mattias, so they gave us a trip to Sweden. They wanted to make it easy for us to go, without having to worry about the cost. A few years later, they thought it had been too long, and gave us another trip to Sweden. When my dad turned 70, they thought it would be nice for them to visit Los Angeles, and so, of course, gave them a trip. In between there were a couple of trips to Deer Valley with Don, Nita and their girls, with wonderful ‘country club’ skiing. We could have come without a cent in our pockets. It could easily feel a bit uncomfortable when everything is so financially one-sided, but that was never really the case. The one time I brought it up with Don, he simply, and without in any way boasting, just said that they wanted us with them, and that he made as much money in a few days, that I made in a year, so what was there to talk about?

Then there were day trips to Napa Valley and San Diego with a few other couples, in between many fantastic parties, and many wonderful dinners (although not nearly enough), at their house or ours. When we went to San Diego to celebrate Don’s birthday, we visited an outdoor arts fair. Little did we know that Don and Nita kept track of what we liked. When, together with two other couples, we were in Don’s limousine, on the way back home (Don and Nita stayed in SD for a few days), the chauffeur stopped on the side of the road, went to trunk, and came back with presents for us all, of course wrapped, and of course things that had caught our eye at the arts fair.

Don was known as ”The Voice of God”. If you watch American TV, it’s been impossible not to hear him, as the voice over announcer on CBS, NBC and Fox. And you could never avoid his trailers when you went to the movies.

I can still remember when Mattias was a newborn, how Don and Nita would come over and almost literally fight to hold him. I’m not sure Don had plans to become a dad again, but holding Mattias helped convince him, and they have two wonderful girls.

To the right, you’ll find links to both Don’s and Nita’s web sites.

Don, I only wish there was time for one more wonderful dinner! We’re going to have herring as an appetizer tonight, and when we do, I’ll think of you up there in heaven with Steve, enjoying a martini with all the proper accompaniments, out of the trunk of his car. I’ll try to take comfort in the fact that while we’re crying, you’re laughing with your best buddy!