Look up more
I loved reading this and remembering the old rabbit warren of Isthmus editors and writers, my first real colleagues and the most wonderful people I’ve ever worked with (“Remembering David Medaris,” 10/27/2016). Marc Eisen captures David’s essence, but he doesn’t mention David’s Hawaiian shirt collection! When I think of David, I see orchids. I see the many, many loud floral prints he wore to work every day as a sign of good-natured kookiness. And I remember him telling me one day that he’d resolved to “look up more.” I always think of that advice when I find myself barreling down the sidewalk, eyes on the cracks. Then, I look up at the clouds and absorb something brighter.
Tenaya Darlington (via comments)
I met David back in the mid-’90s when he wrote a story about my obsession with building snowshoes. It was wonderful and obvious that he wasn’t just writing a story; he really wanted to know everything about snowshoes. A few months later we built shoes together, and consequently became great friends.
I’ve had the honor of paddling, camping, snowshoeing and skiing with him, and we had regular lunch dates for almost 20 years. During those lunches I would sometimes mention something in a book I was reading, and he would drawl “now, stop right there...” and pull out his ever-present notepad and write down the title. That was David’s mind. He was certainly not a dilettante, but rather had a burning, aching desire to really know everything and to share what he learned. He never stopped asking questions. Thoughtful, meaningful, poignant questions that made me think about things differently.
In short, David was a mahatma — a great soul. I miss him.
Darren Bush (via comments)
David and I were student journalists for the Regent Review at West High School and shared a passion for long-distance running — although I do not recall either of us having varsity speed — and writing. It was always good to cross paths with David as he was one of those from the Madison wonder years who never strayed far from his roots. I send my condolences to his family, including Isthmus staff. David was a very, very good person.
Joel DeSpain (via comments)
