A Night To Remember With My Friends Damian and Doc
By: Brett Thorp
It might be a little long, but a great memory to share with all of Damian's friends and loved ones.
Here's to liars, cheaters, thieves, and drunks.
If you lie, may you lie for a friend.
If you cheat, may you cheat the devil.
If you steal, may you steal a young girl's heart.
And if you drink, may you drink with me.
The age we were slips my mind, but the night is still fresh in my head. It was a weekend night in Gloucester City when Damian, Doc and myself were sitting around the Gallaghers's house trying to figure out what we should do. I don't know whose bright idea it was, but we all decided to get beer and head down to the Little League fields. Since we couldn't even drive yet, Damian had some toothless Gloucester folk get us a thirty pack at Gloucester Liquors. Truthfully, I can't remember how the hell we got the 30 pack from that side of Gloucester all the way over to the fields by Johnson Boulevard, but we did. It was a cold night with drizzling rain, and I can remember thinking that Gola (the local bum) was going to jump out and scare the shit out of us because we were hanging out in his house. Luckily, the scum bag was living down by the minor league fields at the time.
It was actually very eerie because all the trees were bare as a result of late fall. Every step we took, we could hear the cracking of the branches and leaves on the ground. I can remember being such a wimp and thinking that one of the neighbors was going to call the cops on us because they could hear us walking back there. This must have been a talked about hang out because we weren't the only ones back there when we got further into the woods. There were a handful of people our age and older doing the same thing we were doing...being minors just trying to have a good time with our friends while drinking a cold brew. Let me tell you, they were cold and there was no need to get the beers down as fast as you could in fear of having that warm beer. All beers stayed cold on this frigid rainy night!
Things were going well and we were mainly keeping to ourselves away from the other people. It was one of those nights of just shooting the shit in general about school, family, friends, and that hot girl in school with the short skirt. We were all acting tough, building each other's self- esteem up, like we knew we were studs in Gloucester Catholic H.S. and every girl wanted us. The only question was, did we want them? Little did we know, that we were actually the wimps that had no balls to go up and initiate any kind of conversation. About 3 beers into the evening, we heard sirens going off like crazy. Realizing that the sound was getting closer, we began to panic because we thought they were coming for us. Not knowing what to do, I said "Leave the beers and let's get the hell out of here!" Visions of me being thrown against the wall by my father were rapidly flashing through my mind. Damian, on the other hand, replied in his Irish brogue "Thorp, there is no way I am leaving this beer here, help me. Doc help me!" Like dumb idiots, Doc and I followed his lead and stuffed our pant legs and sleeves with the remaining beer. We looked like three of the Michelin Tire Marsh mellow look-a-like fella walking down the streets of Gloucester. Yes, I know what you are probably thinking. Why the hell would any cop sound their sirens if they were coming to bust us? Yes, I know they would have snuck up and then busted us. Unfortunately, we were a bunch of novices and shit our pants. It turns out that it wasn't even cops, but firemen on their way to a call. The fire station was right down the road from the woods where we were drinking.
I have no clue how we did not get caught by any law enforcement agencies that night in the woods or walking the streets. However, we did get snagged that night. All three of us went back to Damian's house and continued drinking the beer that we snuck into his room. Damian and Doc scaled the back porch wall and got the beer into Damian's room. We got lit up that night singing away to the Doors, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, CCR, and so many more great CDs that still remind me of Damian. Doccy passed out about 3:30 in the morning and Damian and I decided that we would be chefs and cook up some great omelettes. While we were cooking, Damian noticed the already opened bottle of wine that belonged to his mother. It was such a feast, home cooked omelettes and wine at 4:00 in the morning. Our feast was over at exactly 4:01 A.M.! It could have been the burnt smell of omelettes in the pan or the loud clatter of wine glasses in the kitchen that morning that woke the Mrs., but to this day I still have no clue. All I remember is lifting my drunkin ass head off the kitchen table and making eye contact with Mrs. Gallagher staring right at us with the most evil glare anyone could wish not to see. "Damian, what in God's name our you doing?" Mrs. Gallagher questioned. "Me and Buck are eating some omelettes and washing down with this wine," he slurred. (Buck was the name Mr. Gallagher thought I told him when I called one evening) Again, visions of me being thrown against the wall by my father were rapidly flashing through my mind. Luckily, Mrs. Gallagher never told my parents about this, at least I think, and this night went down as one of my all time favorite memories of Damian.
Thank you for taking the time to read about one of my memories of my dear Irish friend. This is just one of the many fond memories I have of him. No matter what mistakes he may have made in his life, nothing will ever change the fact that I am so proud and thankful to have known a wonderful person like him. He was the most unselfish person and ALWAYS put his family and friends first. Damian, although your farewell was unexpectedly quick, your life was long and beautiful to the people you touched. Thank you for taking me under your wings as a friend and showing me what a sincere friendship is. I will never forget you!
It doesn't matter where you go on this earth, Damian's love will always be alive in our hearts and mind for the rest of our lives!