76. Friendship

It’s been over two years since I started posting memoirs and essays on this website.  Before that, I had only jotted and noodled loose thoughts. I never dreamed I would finish and publish anything, that I’d enjoy doing it regularly, or that anyone would bother to read my work.

My audience is narrow, and that’s alright. I have never intended to broadcast my work. You must know by now that I am sharing my stories as I simultaneously work through the bugs and kinks in my life. End result? Not the point. It’s my journey, and I share it with the humble hope that I can tickle a few funny bones and touch a few hearts.

Through the years, I have had this oral story-telling thing that sometimes entertains and sometimes flops. I don't really like speaking that much, but then I watched my wife organize and write her grandmother’s story. Linda was so satisfied and healed by her work. So, one day I woke up and decided to start writing, and I reckon I found my voice.

I've opened myself and become closer to many friends and family members, even over long time and distance. My cousin Carroll lives in Alabama and I haven’t seen him since we were was young teenagers. We went for many years without knowing much about each other. Now, he connects with me pretty often in response to things I’ve written. So, too, with colleagues and classmates around the country. Today's story is about one who comes to mind, my friend and former employer, Dave Satterlee.

I’d never had a likeable boss or a pal in the workplace until I worked for Dave. He was co-owner of the advertising/printing business that hired me out of design school to be their first in-house art department. I had much to learn about the business, and my work habits needed help. Dave was my encouraging and patient teacher.

Dave and I conferenced, collaborated, debated, and usually arrived on common ground. Some of my coworkers would air-doodle a vague idea of what they needed me to create. Dave, however, was more thorough. Whether a banner or a 2" label, he sketched it on graph paper; described it in a paragraph as well as an itemized list; and then brought it to my office to discuss in detail! Even then, he said I could check back with any questions. With that, all I had to do was make it look sharp and print-ready. His company transitioned from supplying business forms to include promo advertising. From that point my creative side became more useful, and we learned a lot from each other.

Of all the people I worked with in that company, he was really the only one who was genuinely interested in knowing about me beyond my technical and artistic skills. Enjoying each other’s company, Dave and I ventured out for lunch occasionally.  Lunch was a good time for us to commiserate or strategize over workplace issues. Just as important, we shared friendly advice on personal matters. We winced and laughed over tales of our years of youthful errors and triumphs. Often, we talked about my time as a war-avoiding hippie and his as an enlisted Navy airman. Such contrasting… yet converging backgrounds!

We shared colorful tales from our family trees; mine mostly distant ancestral legends, his very much a living story. One of the first jobs Dave brought to me was his own personal project, a memories booklet with stories and photos gathered from his extended family. He wanted to celebrate the many reunions at their favorite old beach cabin in Washington State. That, plus Dave’s eager interest in my funny little tales, was formative encouragement for my writing.

Dave is a generous and gregarious host, a family man and an all-around good citizen. I met his family and visited his amazing historic home for his daughter’s wedding. Years later, I was present to celebrate Dave’s remarriage to Christine. He’s an avid outdoorsman, and a talented builder with both the vision and the skills to create and maintain his grand log home and wooded waterfront property. A visit there can include a walk down his beach trail to excellent clam and oyster gathering spots!

After retirement from the advertising business, Dave moved from Seattle to Quilcene, the town of his boyhood memories, out on the Olympic Peninsula. I wasn’t sure if we’d continue to have a relationship over such a distance, but soon he became very involved with the local historical museum’s purchase and restoration of the old Worthington estate.  I was asked to help by designing a logo for the project as well as many fund-raising, promotional, and membership materials. The group’s purpose is to make the mansion and grounds a focal point for the town as well as a regional venue for weddings and events. Dave’s infectious community spirit got many people involved in the project, including me, as I have become a small cog in the wheel and a champion for their cause. I appreciate Dave and the other committee people for keeping me socially connected and active in design work. It’s fun work for me, as I’ve gotten to see the end results of my efforts when they realize their goals. It’s the best of all things—when the work I do is of value to the people I love!