Monday, December 30, 2013
Little Boys Ski Weekend 2014
Looking forward to being back at Sheba Bay in a few weeks! The boys shall gather with a multitude of Derf stories to be told, and relived. Anybody have a pair of Jalapeño lounge pants? Thanks Karen for making this great weekend happen!
Monday, April 11, 2011
"Go Dogs, Go!"
From Brennan on 4/11/11. A great story and memory from years ago. It was pretty tough sledding for the kid this time last year. He did make his presence abundantly known this weekend by guiding our alma mater to their 1st NCHA title. If there was anything Derf was passionate about in college it was attending the UMD Bulldog hockey games – he spearheaded every “sleep at the door” group ticket buying adventure; even the one that landed him in jail for "over-exuberence" when Bruce O’Brien sold one of our student section tickets to a highway patrolman without telling anyone (like Derf would have heeded that anyway). When Frykman, McGuire and I went to the court house to fetch him that next Monday morning he was more wrecked than when he went in, which was pretty blotto – our first case-a-thon, as I recall. Seeing him curled into the fetal position on the witness stand, we wondered if he hadn’t been paired with an abusive cell mate all weekend. Turns out he’d had 11 cell mates and someone smuggled contraband in and there was little rest for anyone over the weekend. There was also the time he introduced ~ 10 Japanese exchange students to hockey. They went ape-s__t over the checking and couldn’t get enough of it - they were out of their seats with every hit. Next game they all made origami warrior hats to wear to the game and these were no little pirate models – one was 3 feet tall ~2 feet wide and had a Japanese flag on the top – looked like they were proclaiming a hostile take-over of the Empire State Building. F__ing hilarious. From then on, Derf was the U.S. Ambassador of the Japanese contingent at UMD.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
A Song for Derf
9/2/2010 Hi All, Finally got around to putting some thoughts together and writing a song. It's been on my mind for a while. Thanks to many of you who contributed your words and memories of Derf. If I can figure out how to post a recording of the song, as amateur as it is, I'd share that as well.
So Whatcha Gonna Do With Tomorrow?
…a tribute to the wonder of Derf… Am,Dm,E7
So whatcha gonna do with tomorrow?
Whatcha gonna do with the day?
Life is all around us; Derf up there to guide us.
Don’t let attitude get in the way.
For no one is promised tomorrow.
No one is given a day.
If you don’t know how to spend it, give it to Derf to bend it.
He’ll point you in his own blessed way.
Chorus
Cause he is ‘a happy go lucky’
Living and wandering free.
With one eye lookin atcha, the other couldn’t catch ya,
Live life to its fullest his plea.
Well whiskey was one of his callings
Adventure his passion and call.
Angel on the one side, Devil on the other
Wouldn’t listen to either at all
On the water or flying up yonder
He showed us that childlike wonder.
If Karen was his upfall, then bollo was his downfall
That’s the spirit that he put us all under. Chorus
From Twin Cities to Sheba Bay
Copper Harbor through snow all the way.
Break one law, not two, when you’re driving on thru
He said was the only way. Chorus
So whatcha gonna do with tomorrow?
Whatcha gonna do with the day?
Life is what we make it; don’t you ever waste it.
Derf your attitude forever today. Chorus, Tags
So Whatcha Gonna Do With Tomorrow?
…a tribute to the wonder of Derf… Am,Dm,E7
So whatcha gonna do with tomorrow?
Whatcha gonna do with the day?
Life is all around us; Derf up there to guide us.
Don’t let attitude get in the way.
For no one is promised tomorrow.
No one is given a day.
If you don’t know how to spend it, give it to Derf to bend it.
He’ll point you in his own blessed way.
Chorus
Cause he is ‘a happy go lucky’
Living and wandering free.
With one eye lookin atcha, the other couldn’t catch ya,
Live life to its fullest his plea.
Well whiskey was one of his callings
Adventure his passion and call.
Angel on the one side, Devil on the other
Wouldn’t listen to either at all
On the water or flying up yonder
He showed us that childlike wonder.
If Karen was his upfall, then bollo was his downfall
That’s the spirit that he put us all under. Chorus
From Twin Cities to Sheba Bay
Copper Harbor through snow all the way.
Break one law, not two, when you’re driving on thru
He said was the only way. Chorus
So whatcha gonna do with tomorrow?
Whatcha gonna do with the day?
Life is what we make it; don’t you ever waste it.
Derf your attitude forever today. Chorus, Tags
Monday, May 3, 2010
Dancing with the Derf Clan
Good morning,
First I want to thank Dave for doing this, what a beautiful way to celebrate Derf's life, share stories, emotions, connect and keep Derf's memory alive.
I too was deeply moved by the celebration on Saturday night, wow, what an outpouring of love, laughter, joy, food, friendship, and tears, it was an great way to express the Derf spirit in all of us. And what a group of friends he has! I so get why you all were friends - (speaking to the "boys' here) you are so much alike; open, gregarious, generous, adventurous and passionate. I felt like I had met a group of kindrid spirits and indeed I did.
And hey, is the "Lawnmower and sprinkler" dances something you all did around the campfire?
My great-nephew Alec and I love those goofy-clunky-sappy oh, so fun moves! We'll be doing that one forever and rest assured we'll do it at Sheba Bay this summer at the annual Cullen clan gathering!
I want to invite everyone to share more Derf stories, the ceremony held at the church was actually a contintuation of Saturday night - music, stories, sharing food and support at the passing of our friend Derf. The man was greatly loved - and that is such a testament to how he lived his life.
I'll be back to share more later, thanks again all of you for sharing your selves.
In gratitude,
Audrey
First I want to thank Dave for doing this, what a beautiful way to celebrate Derf's life, share stories, emotions, connect and keep Derf's memory alive.
I too was deeply moved by the celebration on Saturday night, wow, what an outpouring of love, laughter, joy, food, friendship, and tears, it was an great way to express the Derf spirit in all of us. And what a group of friends he has! I so get why you all were friends - (speaking to the "boys' here) you are so much alike; open, gregarious, generous, adventurous and passionate. I felt like I had met a group of kindrid spirits and indeed I did.
And hey, is the "Lawnmower and sprinkler" dances something you all did around the campfire?
My great-nephew Alec and I love those goofy-clunky-sappy oh, so fun moves! We'll be doing that one forever and rest assured we'll do it at Sheba Bay this summer at the annual Cullen clan gathering!
I want to invite everyone to share more Derf stories, the ceremony held at the church was actually a contintuation of Saturday night - music, stories, sharing food and support at the passing of our friend Derf. The man was greatly loved - and that is such a testament to how he lived his life.
I'll be back to share more later, thanks again all of you for sharing your selves.
In gratitude,
Audrey
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Celebrating Derf
Having just arrived home from the visitation and gathering for Derf, I felt compelled to start this venue for sharing feelings, stories, pictures, and thoughts of Derf with each other. For in this fast paced world, those that gathered this weekend are brought together by this singular fact: each of us have been touched by travelling a portion of our life's path alongside Derf.
I also need to acknowledge the personal touch so evident in this weekend's events. From a casket made by friends hands coming together in tears and sweat; to the display of items atop the coffin; to posters, picture books & slide shows; to a celebration orchestrated in love by many, many hands, this was a remarkable experience for all of us. I'm certain the service Sunday afternoon shared the same thoughtful and personal touch.
It is an HONOR to have known and loved Derf. He was one of those 'one of a kind' characters in life who are irreplaceable. Which also means he left us all with incredible and hopefully indullible memories.
It is a PRIVILEDGE to carry a bit of Derf's in my heart. That spark we all know comprised in part as love, part as spirit, part as this unknown energy source, all saturated with a dash of Derf's own variation of zany.
And it is our DUTY to wear Derf's spirit on our sleeve. To share his love for life and his unique charisma with those around us. To remember and celebrate him whenever we gather. To laugh, joke, and hug everyday. To live life to the fullest in all that we do. Just as Derf did.
Scat 4/25/2010
I also need to acknowledge the personal touch so evident in this weekend's events. From a casket made by friends hands coming together in tears and sweat; to the display of items atop the coffin; to posters, picture books & slide shows; to a celebration orchestrated in love by many, many hands, this was a remarkable experience for all of us. I'm certain the service Sunday afternoon shared the same thoughtful and personal touch.
It is an HONOR to have known and loved Derf. He was one of those 'one of a kind' characters in life who are irreplaceable. Which also means he left us all with incredible and hopefully indullible memories.
It is a PRIVILEDGE to carry a bit of Derf's in my heart. That spark we all know comprised in part as love, part as spirit, part as this unknown energy source, all saturated with a dash of Derf's own variation of zany.
And it is our DUTY to wear Derf's spirit on our sleeve. To share his love for life and his unique charisma with those around us. To remember and celebrate him whenever we gather. To laugh, joke, and hug everyday. To live life to the fullest in all that we do. Just as Derf did.
Scat 4/25/2010
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