I knew Don for most of my life, and although I’m still young he made such a difference in those 10 years. Although I can’t really remember life without him, I still remember my first time ever meeting Don and I did not think much about this moment until my mom told me about it years later. When I first met Don I saw completely past his disabilities, I had no questions, no dirty looks, and most of all no judgment. I saw this as a normal reaction until my mom was telling a story years later about when Don complimented her on how well she prepared me for his disabilities, to which of course she asks what he is talking about, and he explains how in all of his years of touring schools or just being in public he had never had someone(much less a 5 year old kid) accept his disabilities without as much as a question. He explains that most children thought it was gross or weird and asked him loads of questions, so my mother must have given me some kind of warning talk to prepare me. My mom being the ever so blunt woman she is responds with “Seriously Don do you really think I’m that organized, I did not even tell her” From that day on Don and I had a very close friendship that was completely judgment free(with the exception of a lot of Elvira jokes). I think everyone can agree with me when I say Don really lived up to his book title, for those of you who haven’t read his book it is titled No hands, No feet, No problem. Don was not only able to function like a person without any disabilities, he did better than some of us. Throughout the years Don and I did everything together, he coached my basketball team, took me to countless Hawkeye basketball games, gave me hundreds of nicknames that I can promise will never go away, made me more cookies than I needed in a lifetime, and even taught me to drive and it is and honor to now be driving his car. Don taught me that there is no excuses and that you should live your life how you want to and do what makes you happy no matter what obstacles may be in your way. Don overcame just about every obstacle that he could have ever been faced with in a lifetime and did it all with a smile on his face. Everyone learned something from Don and he is still teaching us lessons from beyond the grave. Don, you influenced every person in this room and many more, we will never stop missing you. From yours truly, Elvira, Wednesday Addams, Black Sabbath, and the countless other nicknames I earned through the years.
