doyle, doyle

today at work i interacted with a lady staying in our guest accommodations.  she said she was enjoying her stay immensely and needed a few food items from our gift shop.  

she shopped, placing her items on the counter and i asked, as always, if there was a membership name i could look up for her.  "well, yes, doyle," she said.  there were two doyles in the system.  i queried which was hers and she simply answered, "yes".  then added, "they're both mine.  but my husband passed away."  

looking down at the name again and back up at her, i said, "i'm so sorry to hear that, wait a moment...brian doyle...as in the author?"  "the very same," she smiled.  

i didn't have to ask the rest.  brian doyle was one of my favorite nw authors and it was a huge blow to the literary community when he passed away from brain cancer may 27, 2017 at only age 60.  witty, full of faith, and a quirky style of reverent irreverence, his book "the grail" was my first introduction to his writing style.  and you may have read "martin, marten" another best-seller.

"we always stay here, my boys and i, every year to remember him," she added, as two young men approached the register to join her.  "these are our--my--twins".  handsome young men with curly hair and bright eyes looked back at me.

introductions made, they told me more about their husband and father.  his widow remembers how lightly he traveled in the world like the native american inspiration in "mink river", always giving things away, as if he knew his time was short.

"it's not about stuff", she said, "it's about people and experiences. he only would take what he needed, even on trips, a water bottle, a paperback, clean shirt...very simple. the rest he would just give away."

the twins, looking back and forth at one another, passed on advice they learned from their dad.  "it's not just the big moments," one said, "it's all the little moments in between.  dad taught us to be present for all of those small, everyday moments because they make up a person's life."  

"yeah," his twin added, "definitely stay curious about life.  his curiosity was amazing, that's what i would say."  

for more on doyle and his works, click here brian doyle

i mulled that wisdom to myself like a mantra as i buttoned up the store for the day:  travel light, enjoy the little things, stay curious.

a fitting remembrance of a fine and witty soul.  

and it seems fitting to say thank you twice, so thanks doyle, doyle.