The year was 1993. My parents just dropped me off for my first semester in residence at the University of Waterloo. It was the January semester. I had never felt so alone. There was a knock on the door and in came this guy in a power chair with a helper. He was carrying beers on his lap. He introduced himself as Jeff Rasmussen… But he said, "People call me Razzy." In sharing a beer with my new friend he began to tell me that the residence was divided in two: people born with a disability and people who acquired a disability via accident. Jeff and I felt being born with a disability was the blue blood of disabled royalty. This is true. Little did I know at the time this was going to be someone that I would spend the next twenty-one years graduating, entering the workforce together, travelling together, each finding our soul mates, playing practical jokes on people, and becoming close friends.

This Is My Friend Razzy.

Razzy and I were neighbours the first couple years of university. Having thin walls between the rooms and big stereo systems was a bad combination. I could always count on being woken up to thunderstruck blaring from his room at 7am after a night of partying. To this day the words Thunder… Thunder… Thunder still haunt me. I am still Thunderstruck.

This Is My Friend Razzy.

Razzy was really studious spending hours doing math homework. He would still find time to participate in Sega hockey tournaments. Every time we would beat the able-bodied people on our residents floor… Razzy would point out that they got beat by two gimps.

This Is My Friend Razzy.

When my dad passed away Jeff reached out to me. He consoled me from far away and let me know that I had to keep moving forward because that's what my dad would want. Razzy admittedly didn't know what to say, but he always offered to listen.

This Is My Friend Razzy.

When razzy would call me at work he loved to be put through reception and leave the message, "Hi, this is Jeff Rasmussen from Revenue Canada and I need to get a hold of David Dame urgently to discuss his outstanding taxes". In a short time the rumours would fly around work.

This Is My Friend Razzy.

In our single days as we would approach girls at the bar. All of us would do our best to introduce ourselves with our best opening line. We all had lines except for Jibby...he just had to start playing his guitar (musicians had it easy). When these girls would ask what Jeff did for a living, he would reply, "I'm the tax man. I'm the one who takes your grandmother's house." He loved seeing their reaction…

One night at Phil's (a bar) Raz introduced me to a group of girls as 'His Retarded Friend, Davey". Like a good wingman I rolled with it...

This Is My Friend Razzy.

I had the privilege of travelling on trips with Jeff to Los Angeles and Chicago. Anyone that has ever travelled with Jeff knows the detailed itinerary he puts together that must be followed. He has the itinerary organized in fifteen minute chunks to maximize our vacation. One night in Los Angeles we went bar hopping down the LA strip. The rest of us consumed an extraordinary amount of alcohol while partying. The next morning when the rest of us were struggling to get ready for the day to adhere to his itinerary, he laid into us. Razzy roles in and says, "It stinks in here! Someone open up the Jesus Christ-ing windows. I'm leaving without you and by the time I get back your lazy asses better have this room cleaned up or I'm going to roll some ass when I return." You might not think someone in a wheelchair is intimidating… But he delivered that speech like a boss!

In the late 1990's you could view your hotel bill from the TV in your room. Razzy would check the bill 6 times a day to make sure we did not order porn or room service. During our vacation our hotel bill was the most watched program in Los Angeles!

This Is My Friend Razzy.

I remember during our trip to Chicago when Jeff first started dating the lady that would eventually become his wife. Jeff was unable to hold the phone receiver himself so he had to have his buddy hold the receiver while he talked with her in front of us in the hotel room. I knew then that this relationship would progress from girlfriend to wife. Hearing the conversation, "I love you more… No, I love you more". Jeff had this conversation knowing fully that we would give him the gears the moment he hung up. A man doesn't endure that kind of punishment unless he really loves the person he was talking too.

This Is My Friend Razzy.

We played countless pranks on our friends and personal support workers. I can't share a lot of them on this post but refer to my blog post, "Disabled People Can Be Bastards".

This Is My Friend Razzy.

Jeff and I shared so many things in common. Having disabilities we pushed through the normal school system, graduated from University, and made our way into the working world. We overcame numerous obstacles. We would both find our soulmates. We would both make our parents proud to achieve things that others did not seem possible. It's true that you don't know what you got until it's gone. Our time with Jeff was too short. Dr. Seuss said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" I will try not to cry and smile. I'm a better person for having Jeff in my life. I'm glad to have shared this journey with him.

This Is My Friend Razzy. I miss you.