web_site_logo.gif (4948 bytes)

---------- Ben Gaffney (nephew) ----------

It's hard to write something about someone close to you when so much about them has already been written. So the only way I know how to begin is to write about the Chris that I knew, my uncle.
     I personally want to thank everyone who participated and pitched in to the HelpGaff site.  Chris always knew that he was loved by his friends and fans, but through the posts and donations he truly saw how powerful that love was, which gave him the strength to fight.
     I feel like there are only two people in my life that have ever made me feel completely comfortable in my own skin: my father, Greg Gaffney, and my uncle Chris.  All three of us just got each other, our quirks, senses of humor, everything. 
     As a child I remember always wanting to be a part of the bond that was so obvious between my dad and Chris and as an adult that is exactly what I got. Chris was like a second father to me; between the two of them, someone always had my back. When I moved out of the house that I had lived in with Chris during my late teens, he told me that I could always rely on him no matter what, and he never broke that promise.  No matter how much time had passed, it was always like we had never been apart.
     Some of the best times of my life--growing up, becoming who I am today, were all spent with Chris.   Half of my support team is gone now, and it's hard to come to terms with.  But at the same time, Chris has made me a strong enough person to know that I will be able to make it through this.
     Now, although it's hard to not have him here, in a way I feel like I still do.  Everyday I am reminded of him and what he meant to me. In my memories, through articles of clothing, pictures on my wall, music on my iPod, and in conversations with our mutual friends, he is with me everywhere I go; he will never really be gone. Chris is more with me now than ever. His humor, music and spirit are still here, in me and in all of us. Maybe he's just on tour…

                                   

GODS and HOT ROD LINCOLN.  The Hacienda Brothers proceeded to play, fittingly, GONE.  In a dramatic finale, the band closed with "one of Gaff's favorites", an instrumental version of DANNY BOY, which left not one dry eye in the house.   God Bless You Gaff, we love you, we miss you.  Amen.

its essential intimacy intact.
I really don't know what else to say right now, but I feel that I have to say something. First of all, I want to again thank everyone that sent messages to Chris and donated funds to his cause. It means more than you'll know to Chris, his family and me. We are still raising money at www.helpgaff.com to help with the existing medical bills and other various expenses including a forthcoming memorial service.
After twenty-some years I have thousands of memories of Chris. Through those years of songs, laughs, countless barrooms, eternal highways, broken hearts, screw-ups, bail outs, close calls, busted strings, elusive dreams, flat tires, stalled engines, hard hangovers, bad gigs, great gigs, in between gigs, tragedies, triumphs, secret jokes, bad TV, worse food and now, tears, Gaffney always had my back. I never had to worry about nothing or nobody if Gaffney was with me. I don't know what I ever did to deserve it but, God, I was blessed to have Chris Gaffney as my best friend.
Chris's and my friend, B.J. in Omaha, said it best for me in a email yesterday. She said that I now have a "wild angel looking out for me." Yeah, I do believe that's true.      I'll still see you in Cuervo, brother.      -- Dave