Two weeks...

Yesterday marked two weeks since we all learned of Dan's passing. In some ways it seems like its been an eternity and in others a mere flash. I like to think that a sense of normalcy will return at some point, and it most assuredly will, but yesterday brought about a lot of instances where Dan seemed all around.

It started on my morning run. I got up early to do it, and on my warm up to the beautiful Chestnut Hill Reservoir, it occurred to me that Dan always made fun of me and/or couldn't understand why I got up "early" - i.e. usually by 8 or 8:30 - everyday when I only had class three days a week and those were all in the afternoon. Now, here I am, not only up early, but up early running for Dan. For some reason that struck me. I supposed it was simply because I just wished he was around to still make fun of me; even if it was for not having my dissertation finished yet. The run itself was good. A relaxed and tranquil five miles, not too cold, and I actually felt pretty good. (Chestnut Hill Reservoir is pictured above with BC's iconic tower looming in the background)

It was later in the evening that things hit home. I was taking the bus over to Anna's to attended the belated pseudo-surprise birthday party her roommates were throwing. As the bus approached one of the stops near Harvard I realized I was staring at the spot where I last saw Dan alive. It was Saturday night, September 26th, we had just seen the new Tucker Max film and stopped in a bar to have a few beers afterward. Dan had been pressing me to see the movie all week, and now I couldn't be more glad I decided to forgo continuing to nurse our Friday night's hangover to meet him and a couple of our friends to do so. We left the bar around 11:30, and Dan went somewhat out of his way to walk us to the parking garage before he headed to catch the train. As we always did, we shook hands and said our usual "talk to you this week." But that was the last time I saw Dan; and that'll be Dan Haubert for the rest of my life... He'll be standing on a sidewalk in Cambridge, that crazy blond hair, a khaki jacket, jeans, and most of all, that genuine smile of his as he said goodbye...