You never truly know how much you love and care for someone until the very moment, that you realize that you have lost them. How much friendship truly means between two individuals. What that friendship truly means to another. A close knit tie. It means so much, and to find out that you haven’t had the opportunity to say goodbye, is hard on each and everyone of us.

I cared a great deal for Don as he trudge his way through life, trying his best to be what he felt was right for him. He gave what he felt he could to those he respected, but he gave it straight from the heart. He was honest with those he cared for, and supported when he felt it was necessary, for he too, had been through a great ordeal. He knew in his heart that the cards he was dealt, were not topped with the ace of spades, but did what he could to try to improve his hand.

I am so proud to know, that Don, in the last days of his life, accomplished and won big time, something he truly felt was necessary. Ridding himself of an addiction, of which he had been a slave to, for so many years. I only wish I could have been in his company to congratulate him. It is my feeling, that he was aware, that his days were numbered, and to make the best effort he could, to not only fight, but also win from that slavery, that he had lived with for so long. In my book, he always was a winner. He held the principles he believed in, close to his heart, and lived his life accordingly.

In the last few years of his life, Don learned how to cut hair, so to enhance, if just a little, his income. He offered to cut mine at one time, and now I am sorry that I didn’t take him up on his offer, but do know that extra cash, gave him just enough, to pay for the drinks he, at the time, loved so much. There were a couple of times that he asked to borrow money. Upon handing him any amount, remember telling him, not to expect to have to pay it back. He insisted, from pride alone, that he do so and when and only when he felt that flush was on his side, handed me what ever amount he could afford. I would instantly go to the bar and purchase him a beer, telling him, money was not the basis of friendship. Understanding was and he showed his appreciation after hearing that from me, with a big smile and a hug.

Don gave me more than I ever imagined without even thinking about it. He gave me an unconditional friendship with respect, caring and understanding. Support when he knew I was hurting, and always a big smile upon meeting him, whether it was in the pub, or anywhere we took time to share our lives.

Don carried with him, deep in his heart, a great sense of pride for the life he was experiencing. He was a man of great honor and he felt the same for the friendships he held close and dear to him.

Don and I met at the Dufferin, while I was in the process of honing my skills on the pool table. TO. Don as he used to call himself, was one of those that I observed intensively, as to how to hit the ball and make it move in the precise direction intended. He was never fast, but slow and methodical. He watched his opponent carefully, so to gauge what intensity to use against an opponent. If he felt, that he was losing, he would make little comments, to try to put his opponent off, so they might just miss their shot, and he take advantage to win. I learned from him, that hitting the ball hard, was not necessarily the best way of accomplishing any particular shot, but softly so that after sinking a ball, the cue ball, would end up in an exact position for the next angle. Don planned his shots, two, three, even four balls ahead. Also if he knew he didn’t have a good shot, played his ball, so that his opponent, would not have a good chance at their next positional shot. I am so proud, to have learned what I did from him on the table.

So it is today, in front of you all, that I honor a proud, honorable, and very respected man of greatness in his own right. As much as I truly miss him, I do know, that his spirit, is not only flying high in the heavens above, with the good Lord, but also, right now, smiling down upon us. I am grateful that the good Lord, gave me the opportunity to know him, and I wish him well on his next journey. He will be missed by many. I know for me, it is going to take some time, to get used to him not being with us. And every time I win or am about to win a game of pool, I will say, “this one is for Don.�?God rest your soul Donald Bond.

Now I feel a little better, and yes I can feel him with me today. I know that he is flying high above the clouds with his relations. God rest his soul.