My Goodbye to "Motorcycle Dave"

I am writing this post on my blog to say goodbye to my employer and friend of six years. My family and I left for vacation to Seaside Oregon to have fun on the beach for a week on Friday May 15th. I took in the payroll to Dave as we headed out of town, not knowing that it would be the last time I would see him. On Sunday, as we were looking at the beautiful Multnoma falls in Oregon, only an hour or so away from our destination, Josh, Dave's son called me and told me that his dad died Saturday night out at the Knolls while riding his ATV. Apparently, he was trying to go up an embankment too fast and rolled his Tyrex. The roll bar crushed in and according to the coroner, Dave died from "Extreme Whiplash" or I guess it is something just short of a broken neck. I was devastated. Dave made me crazy some days with his wacky finance strategies, but never failed to make me laugh. He told me things would be okay when I was stressing, and enjoyed seeing my girls twice a week. His shop was a huge part of my life for 6 years and I am having a hard time trying to come to the realization that my friend and my job are now gone. I am so grateful to have worked for Dave, he gave me the chance to stay at home to raise my girls while earning a paycheck. I missed his memorial service because we were in Oregon, and it was so hard for me, not being able to say goodbye. I had to pack up all of his files and take them to his son, sister and ex-wife for them to try to figure out what to do now. I see a lesson in this... be prepared. Dave had no life insurance, no co-signers on any of his bank accounts, no will or trust, no list of his debtors, he really left his family no clue where to start to close his business. Now it is going to take lawyers and time to get all of his things sorted out. If I can say anything to everyone out there it is: Please think of the future and your family and friends. Make sure that people know what you want and where your documents are. If you are not organized in any part of your life, make sure that you are in this one part. Nobody likes to think about their death, but it is so important that you do and prepare for it. I'll miss you Dave and I know that you went out the way you wanted to... having fun! Love ya!