Richer for Having Known and Loved Don - John Warren

I had the privilege of growing up with Don as a fellow Missionary Kid in Brazil. Some of my first memories of Don were his amazing musical abilities, especially on the guitar. I still remember going over to his house (we might have been 15 or so) with Johnny Musgrave to hear Don play every song on the latest Beatles album. When he recorded some of them on an old 8-track machine, we were floored at the quality. And Don always lived with a sense of joy in his life.

As we grew older and went off to college and got married, we saw each other less but when we were able to spend an evening with Janet and him (and the boys) it was like we had just been together. And he always smiled and genuinely enjoyed life.

Finally, our own children grew up and went to college and got married and had children and years would pass between visits. But the last time I remember visiting with Don, he was still smiling and still living with joy.

I weep as I type because my circle of cohort from my youth is now smaller and we are poorer, yet we are richer for having known and loved Don...and I smile and enjoy life remembering Don.