smith744 --------------------->

[NFA]

Thank you to everyone who helped me connect with Smith, which I was able to do on 9/27 and share the following message about my Uncle DBIrie

Smith, you’ll probably remember my uncle Dave from Chicago.... from your time together in Negril and believe you had stayed with him in Chicago a few times. You and I met in Negril I think in 2005 (my name is David too). wanted to reach out and let you know that he passed away last night, he was in fairly bad shape for a number of years. I got the chance to be with him a few weeks ago while he was in the hospital and i brought some pictures to view with him...most of them were from Jamaica. we had a bunch of laughs and as you know he really loves that place. the most happiest I’ve ever seen him is when he was there.... unreal what effect that country had on him. he told me that he spent over a year there all time combined. he really appreciated your friendship and i know you spent a lot of time on the 7-mile. Anyway, wanted to check in and let you know.... be safe brother much respect and Hail Up Uncle Dave! If you think there are others on the board that should know, happy to post something, but i also know he had not been on there recently... much of it because he was too ill to travel and hard for him to think about / read.

And ill say some more here and include a few pictures of my Uncle DBIrie.

He really did live for Jamaica and specifically Negril, he spoke of Negril to me from when I was as young as I could remember. Sneaking me aside during a Thanksgiving dinner to show me the Lion tattoo from a recent reach probably when I was in the 6th grade. He introduced me to Bob Marley around the same time, which lead me to Reggae, which is still the vibe for my daily life. DBIre took me to Negril for my first time about 20 years ago, and I have been back many times since, and at first I understood his spirits desire for that place, and now have come to have the same inclination—always wanting to be back there. He spoke of this message board a lot, and appreciated a place he could go and catch some of that vibe from others who shared the same passion. And he appreciated the friends he made here on so many occasions. The ironic, unexpected and point proving part of it all, is how hard it was for David to talk about Negril when he became too sick to travel about 10 years ago….he stopped posting here, and I had to initiate the conversations with him about Negril ever time we spoke which was extremely sad to me ….but it would only take a moment for that to fade and we were back talking about it all again and he would always ask ‘how many times have you been” and “when are you going back”. When I pulled out the pictures during my last visit with him in the hospital he told me “you are making me home sick”. But was happy to hear I was in Negril for a friends wedding not too long ago, and that the wedding location was because of my uncle since he took me and I took them to his favorite place. Last words from me to my uncle was to thank him for showing me Jamaica and teaching me reggae.

Hail Up DBire ! And a reminder to us all to continue to spread the vibration that has a hold on us and to appreciate what’s in front of us and live for the things we love.

Much respect,
NFA

Headline from his Obituary:

Many years ago, David found his spirit on the cliffs and beaches of Negril, amongst the people of Jamaica whom he considered part of his family. David returned to Negril many times since, and in all, spent more than a year at his favorite place; mostly walking the 7 mile beach, since as he said "he felt the happiest, healthiest and most carefree than ever" when doing so.