Tribute to Steve Cooke

It has been 9 months since we said so long to our dearest friend and tour manager, Steven Don Cooke. This is a video tribute and a poem that I wrote for his memorial

Oh Steve, how I long to hear your laughter
A cacophony of joy in your cadence rising and falling with every hilarious and pleasurable thought and breath.
I loved to watch it bring dimples to the corners
Of your mouth and creases to the side of your face.
The next time we meet, I will know it’s you by the kindness in your eyes.

Oh Steve, how I long to hear your one-liners. Your dry wit adding the perfect tag to every one’s punch lines, especially Ron’s. Thank you for being my husband’s sounding board, his brother, his twin. Promise to save me some good one-liners for me the next time we meet.

Oh Steve, how I long to watch you struggle and then soar
at golf; cursing and praising at every other fairway and pin. The long rounds, the great talks with your buddies and at the end of it, the reward of a perfect Margarita. I love the way you called me “Margarita”. I’m certain where you are, the golf game is effortless and the Budweiser is cold.

Oh Steve how I long to hear you sing.
Always a melody on your lips as you walked through the door and got down to the business of the day. I instantly knew your approach by the exact rhythm of your announcement; always pounding thrice on the door. It’s not easy running a tour and herding cats or French Bulldogs. Gurdie will miss her boyfriend and Pearl will miss the food. You watched over us with such careful detail and graceful execution that only a true friend could give so freely. I will miss you saying things like “OK, Ron’s on ‘suck dick & cook’ so you got about 10 minutes before you sing”. 

Oh Steve, I will sing for you now and always.