Salutations™!!
It was a bittersweet episode of The Less Desirables last night. On one hand, I got to see my buddy, “Superfan” Damien. On the other hand, it will probably be his last appearance for a while and most likely a long while at that.
Damien has been with the show (and friends with the hosts) almost since the beginning. We met in January 2011 when Brian, The Beer Guru and myself went on a little beer excursion to the Triangle area. The show started in February 2010, so we had just started picking up some momentum. We went to Durham and Raleigh that day, on the schedule that Jay (The Beer Guru) had laid out for us. We started in Durham and it was an early morning jaunt to get to this non-descript little brewery called Triangle Brewing Company as they opened because we had a long journey ahead.
We got in and did a little brewery tour. Afterwards, as we were all in lines doing the tastings and purchasing stuff, Brian and I walked over to the management and asked if we could put our TLD sticker on the cooler door with the other stickers that adorned the heavy aluminum slab. As Damien puts it, “I heard Tim’s big, booming voice saying ‘we do a podcast.'” He walked over and said to me, “a podcast you say?” And, Brian and I proceeded to give him the pitch: “pop culture, blah blah blah, this, that, blah blah, Beer!” We all shined a large grin and uttered a chuckle on that.
He said he’d give it a listen and he did. He even wrote to us to tell us that he enjoyed it and that he listened whilst he was working out or mowing his lawn or other various chores. He wrote in regularly after that. He has been the constant at most of our “Post-Holiday/Anniversary” parties (they weren’t all called that, then) and other than The BCPF, has been to more than anyone else, including all the co-hosts past and present. He made several appearances on the show itself, which was always a fun time for us. He has been with us, really, longer than when Eugene was part of the show. Eugene didn’t come until mid-2011. He’s been with us through Brian leaving, Caitlin coming, Eugene leaving, Bruce coming, Bruce leaving, Danielle coming, Caitlin leaving, Bethany coming. He’s been here the whole time. He’s even been on The Beer Dads with us.
He gives me tips on “out there” films that I either haven’t seen, haven’t heard of or hadn’t cared to watch. I would say other than beer, his movie expertise has been the most helpful to me. He’s always on the lookout for beers that he hasn’t tried and he’s not afraid to voice his opinion of my admitted ignorance of things.
Why am I waxing poetic on the dude? Because I don’t know when I’ll get to see him again. His lovely wife, his beautiful daughter and he are packing (well they have already) up and moving to Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday. Bad for us, but really good for them. His wife couldn’t pass up the job opportunity that was given to her. She is going to work for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. As Damien said, they “checked off all their boxes” on conditions of the job. It must be nice to get the “job of your dreams.” Wait… I already have that. But, for others, it must be nice.
The good news for us is The Less Desirables is available globally, so no matter where Damien goes and if he chooses, he can listen to our crap-spewing. He can still email and still be part of it. If we teach him how to Skype, we could have him on the show in that capacity. Also, he says he plans on making somewhat-frequent trips back and will definitely come back on when he is in. So, as he said last night, “this is only goodbye for now.”
Damien, you have been so important to the rise and success of The Less Desirables and you are a great friend to the show. More importantly, to me anyway, you are a great friend to me. I love you, brother. Safe travels and happy life to you and yours from all of us: the Beemans, The Less Desirables past and present and The Beer Dads.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!
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“We may not know what each day has in store for us. We could be gone tomorrow. Any minute could truly be our goodbye. But we do have this moment. This time. Today. Right now.” – Grace Gealey