Tales from the Trail – the Guy I Didn’t Meet

I woke up this morning in the Davenport Hotel—the old Davenport—in Spokane.  (When I was growing up we had a maroon leather couch that my mother always called the davenport.  How davenports morphed into couches and then into sofas is one of the mysteries of the universe.)  And what the hotel Davenport has to do with furniture davenports is another mystery, but it’s a gracious old hotel and our spacious corner room has what I consider a book tour miracle—two comfortable chairs as opposed to one comfortable chair and one desk chair.  In terms of comfort, the people designing ergonomic desk chairs could take a lesson from the people who used to design … well … davenports.

So this is Tale from the Trail number four.  That means we’ve been on the road for more than a month and more than 4000 miles.  Today in Spokane is the last major day of the tour—two events and one interview.  In a little while I’ll need to get my hair washed and ironed and my make up on to be ready for the interview.

But before I do that, I’d like to tell you about a guy named Howard Malley.  Howard became a fan of mine early on. His was one of the first names in my database when it switched over from being the Doghouse Call List—from my rolodex—to an e-mail list.

The people reading this probably never heard of Howard Malley, but they’ve seen his name and I’m pretty sure most of them are familiar with his work.  He was part of the team that produced the video for “We Are the World.”

Howard and I corresponded over the years.  A book would come out, and he’d let me know what he thought of it.  During that time I learned something about him.  He lived in Westlake Village in California, had a wife named April, and had been medically retired from the entertainment industry for a number of years due to muscular dystrophy.

A couple of years ago, he sent me an e-mail asking if I would consider putting him in one of my books as a character.  I told him no, I wouldn’t do that, but I would dedicate a book to him.  That book was Proof of Life.  The dedication reads:  For Howard G. Malley whose ongoing battle with Muscular Dystrophy constitutes a daily and courageous Proof of Life.

Just prior to the publication of Proof of Life, Howard’s health situation worsened to the point where he had to move into an assisted living facility.  When the  Duel to the Death tour schedule was posted, Howard sent me a note.  He was excited to see the Burbank event listed on the calendar and was making arrangements to come.  He also asked if I would mind if he had a T-shirt made, featuring the cover of “his” book.  I told him to have at it.

On March 24, the day before the Burbank appearance, he sent me a note saying the T-shirt had arrived, but he had come down with some kind of intestinal bug.  Since he didn’t want to risk spreading it to me, he said he wouldn’t be coming to the event.  As an author on tour I appreciated his decision not to share, and I told him how sorry I was to miss him.

We were back in Seattle when I heard from April that Howard had passed away on March 29.  I’m so sorry I missed him, and I know April misses him terribly, too, but here’s the thing. I’d like the whole world to see Howard’s T-shirt.  And do you know what else?  I just gave everybody reading this what’s commonly referred to as an ear worm.  They’re going to be humming, “I’d like to buy the word a coke” for the next several days, and they’ll have no idea why that happened or where it came from.

It came from you, Howard Malley, so rest in peace.  I think we both just made lots of people smile.

12 thoughts on “Tales from the Trail – the Guy I Didn’t Meet

  1. Oh how I look forward these “tales’. So hopeful the tour has been successful for you, and your not to exhausted from traveling. I also have traveled for a month, spending time with my recently widowed Mother. Not the same number of miles but a trip back and forth between states. When I get home…I sit and stare into space for awhile…thankful for Blessings I have, most all Home!
    Wishing you a warm welcome home, to your beautiful garden, you have shared in the past, hopefully with new blooms awaiting you.
    I am puzzled by the “ear worm” and “coke” is anyone else?

  2. Davenport sofas were made by the Davenport Furniture Co. in Mass. now defunct. The name became generericized many years ago. I remember living in Wichita, KS in the early 50’s and my grandmother always referred to the sofa as the Davenport.

    So there you go.

    Have a great day!

    • I just looked up davenport on Wiki. A. H. Davenport bought a furniture company around 1880 in MA. The sofa or couch got its name from him. The name is more common in the Midwest. I remember we called it that in Iowa.

  3. A true fan to the end as we all are for you. And, yes, I am humming that tune. Rest Well, Howard.

  4. A lovely memorial. I loved that coke video, as I love your books. I am hummimg the tune now…I hope you have enjoyed your book tour this year. I hope to see you again later this year at the Red Mountain Library in Mesa, Az.

  5. What a beautiful remembrance of Howard.
    I also love the Davenport hotel. I first saw it when I was attending Washington State College. That is what it was called when I went to school there.

  6. Very nice. Sorry that Howard didn’t get to see you. I already was humming the song. One site I belong to is Growing up in Long Beach (CA). Yesterday someobe started reminiscing about ad jingles. Coke was a big one!

    Hopefully you will get a chance to relax very soon. Thanks for another great blog.

  7. A beautiful memory to share with all your readers.
    I remember humming I’d like to buy the world a coke whenever I’d hear it. Still do..
    My Grandma, Aunt & Uncle and many cousins lived in Reardan, WA for many years which isn’t to far from Davenport which I’m familiar with to.
    I still have many cousin living in the area who were wheat farmers for many years in the area.
    What a good ear worm and song to leave with your readers.
    PS Suzie..ear worm means a thought came to you with a song and you may not remember reading about it along the way. It’s just there in your head.
    Thank you for the blog.

    • I should reread my post before hitting send.

      I meant my gramma, cousins and aunt & uncle lived not far from Spokane in a town named Reardan.
      There really is a town named Davenport that has nothing to do with how davenports morphed to couch to sofa..

  8. I and many of my Emerson College classmates remember Howard as “one of the good guys”. He will be dearly missed this June as we get together for our 50th college reunion.

  9. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING HOWARD TO THE FOREFRONT. A GREAT AND WONDERFUL MAN FULL OF FUN , LOVE AND A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE EVEN WITH HIS MD BATTLE. ALWAYS WANTING TO HELP FAMILY AND NEVER SINGING HIS SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINMENT LIFE. HE WAS JUST ONE OF THE FAMILY AND THE FATHER OF FOUR GREAT KIDS.
    YOU COULD ALWAYS SCORE WITH HOWARD JUST BY BRINGING HIM SOME WHITE CASTLES. WE LOVED THAT MAN.
    UNCLE WISH

  10. I remember the first time by ex-wife’s father talked about sitting on the davenport and watching television, I had no clue what he was taking about..He was from Sioux City, IA and I always figured it was an Iowa thing..Then, John Sandford came up with the Prey series set in Minnesota with a lead character named Lucas Davenport and I just figured that is where he got the last name.

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