Today was the day that we, the people who knew and loved Derek K Miller, stopped what we were doing and gathered inside the Arts Club Theatre on Granville Island and paid our respects to our dear friend.
Unfortunately I must apologize to the rest of the people who gathered inside the theatre to pay their respects to Derek. I’m afraid my little girls made it difficult for others to focus on paying their respects to our friend. I am sincerely sorry for that.
Derek’s Memorial was described as being “kid-friendly.” And I know that Derek would have been pleased to see the many parents and kids who were in the theatre for him.
However, kid-friendly requires some thinking ahead when you are the Papa of twin two year olds.
Just near the start of the memorial my Sweetheart and I slipped into the front of the theatre just to say hi to Airdrie (Derek’s widow) and our dear friends Steven Schwartz and Raul Pacheco-Vega (Hummingbird 604). And then before we could cut back out of the theatre to watch from up in the lobby, the service started. My Sweetheart and I were in the front row of the theatre, on the side away from the doors. A worst case scenario for people with volatile little kids.
It didn’t go well. I won’t go into detail other than to say that one of the girls tried climbing on the stage while Derek’s high school friend was talking.
Remember watching Tony Roma walking across the field after a crushing play-off loss? They called it the walk of shame. That was me today. Walking across the front of the theatre, under the gaze of the gathered blogosphere.
I hope that our sideshow did not detract from Derek’s memorial service. I offer my sincerest apologies for not planning ahead for today’s service.
Derek we love you and will forever hold you in our hearts. Thank you for the time we had with you. Peace be with you.