Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Wonderful fan mail

I came across this letter from a fan of Davey's in England.  It was dated April 25, 1999.
I found it quite touching and inspiring, as these days I am at a loss sometimes for what to do and where to go with my life, though many years have passed since Davey died.  I still need his direction and somehow this letter came into my hands this morning and I am sharing it with you now, as maybe it can help more than just me, today.  I know it meant so much to Davey, to have fans like this one. This dear fan  probably met Davey in person along the way.  By the sound of his comfortable prose, I feel like we surely must have known him.

His letter goes like this:

Dear Mr. Smith,
     I have just read in my paper of your unfortunate situation.  As a wrestling fan (as is my wife) for many years, having seen you and your cousin Tommy (Dynamite Kid) winning your first English titles and as boys  against bigger men you both have much to be proud of, having been - always - the best fighters throughout your careers, singly and together.  Sadly your chosen calling is so physically demanding, where pain has most often to be hidden that I can well understand your willpower and determination to fight on through the pain of severe injury as you must have done many times and we are both so very sorry to hear that you have both to bear severe injuries with immobility too.
     It may be little comfort to you, but I heard today of the death of Rick Rude as a result of an injury and you are still here - be thankful - it could have been you, down that same road!  I'm a cranky old pensioner living on pills and as I hear news of people I have known passing away I always say to myself, "There but for the grace of God," etc. and feel thankful, because if you look around there is always someone who is worse off than you and though it's humbling, it gives me some comfort when I'm downhearted.  Perhaps when you've been over here in recent times you may have seen on TV occasionally in an advert, a sad figure of a man crippled to the point of total helplessness and can only talk with the aid of a voicebox and yet that man has been able to study and achieve a professorship in mathematics and evolution and is greatly respected for what he has done despite his very severe handicap, so it would seem to me that you must now see what you can achieve in some other direction as you still have a fighting heart!  So don't even think of giving in -ever-!  Always stay a Bulldog!  At least you will have the support of your family and at thirty five, time is on your side for much more achievement in the coming years (I'm 76. too shaky to write or walk far, but I can still learn from the TV and enjoy a good book, take my wife for a drive, etc.).  Then sometimes we sit and look at photos we've taken over the years when we could travel and do things, so we are so thankful, it could have been so much worse for us.  We've grown up (& old) during a period of great change and innovation so all our lives we have had to change and adapt, to be aware, to keep slogging once a course of action is decided.  Although we haven't made a 'packet' (loads of money), we live quietly and securely as a result.  It's like turning to another chapter in your 'Book of Life' - a fresh challenge - O.K.?
     Our best wished to you and your family, also to Tommy and his.
                    Yours sincerely,
                     Win and Les