From Lisa Cherkasky

See The Cakes

Date: Mon Jun 23, 2003 2:03:35 PM US/Eastern
To: Dabneyc@cox.net

Dear family and friends of Doug,

I will always be happy that Doug shone his brilliant beam of light on me. Doug was/is my link to the unknown, my guarantee that I will not succumb to the stereotype of middle-aged suburban mom. While I cannot imagine him in dotage, I was counting on his leading the way there with style and verve.

The world is a much less vivid place, as was said, and I am a much less vivid person without his friendship. Margaret Finch called Doug a lightening rod for creative people, but he was also, maybe more, a divining rod.

One thing I especially liked about Doug was that he liked women. And that he had an eye for unusual, futuristic garments, clothing made from petroleum products in my case. If not for that, we may not have become friends. Margaret Finch introduced us at a party at her place in DC and I believe my pants left more of an impression than I ever could. Doug saw the humor in a pair of handmade, hip-hugging, bell-bottom, zebra-striped Lycra pants. He asked me to make clothes for the doll inhabitants of Dollenium and I did, with Lisa Elliott.

Daily mail anticipation is not what it used to be. I miss him!. Miss our conversations and correspondence, his handwriting and drawings, quirky taste in home furnishings, humor, amazing brain, changing hairstyles, mind-bending ideas, eccentricity and sweetness. I liked that he had me order for him in restaurants.
Very trusting and adventurous.

Doug had a worldwide network of mutual admiration societies and I was one of his beneficiaries - extremely fortunate in that. When in his company you could bask in his undivided attention - both his attenas UP.

I think Doug was not done here, but was in the midst, deeply engaged. For him to be done would be unimaginable, instead he was mid-stream, a beautiful place to be. Hooray for being so alive and so happy.

With lots of love,
Lisa