Lost Friend
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: General Correct Craft Discussion
Forum Name: Off Topic
Forum Discription: Anything non-Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8950
Printed Date: December-25-2024 at 9:38am
Topic: Lost Friend
Posted By: 75 Tique
Subject: Lost Friend
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 7:36pm
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I realize this isn't going to mean much to any of you, but I needed to vent/share a quick story. As most of you who have paid any attention to my posts might recall, my interest in skiing and CCs goes back to when I was a kid. It was always a part of my life, but the year I really became a fanatic was 1972. I met a friend through swimming, he lived about 60 miles away, so we only saw each other occassionally. But that summer, I was 17, he and I got together almost every weekend to ski. We taught ourselves to barefoot by stepping off, and of course the harder the fall, the bigger the laughs. We didnt have a spotter, so a little handy work with a life vest, a ball for a head and a baseball cap and we had "Rog" our spotter. We were the only ones around that could barefoot and were almost celebrities on the lake. We must have put a thousand hours on the old Mustang that year skiing, footin, and trying just about every goofy stunt we could think of. It was definitely the most fun and most memorable summer of my youth. Tom and I went in and out of touch over the next 30 years, but hooked up once or twice and did some skiing together. I only recently reconnected with him, to find out he had moved to Atlanta. I just got word today that my buddy has died. It fills me with thoughts of that summer of 72. Sorry about the downer post...just one of those days.
Larry Tom  ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
Replies:
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 8:09pm
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I'll be the first to say, Im sorry for the loss of your dear friend and he seemed to be an important part in your life at one time and stayed in your heart the rest.
truly sorry, Eric ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: Hollywood
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 8:14pm
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Rog is a pretty good driver!
Never know when you will go, gotta make the best of it. ------------- |
Posted By: 62 wood
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 8:41pm
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Larry,
Sorry to hear about your friend....but now there will always be a spotter in that seat.. Great pic by the way.. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1117&sort=&pagenum=6" rel="nofollow - 64 American Skier 62 Classic.. 73 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: Riley
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 9:52pm
| I'm sorry to hear that Larry. You're fortunate to have had him for a friend, and to have such good memories. Gret picture. |
Posted By: bkhallpass
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 10:21pm
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I am sorry for your loss. BKH ------------- Livin' the Dream |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 10:26pm
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Larry, Just keep remembering those good times with your lost friend. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Barracuda
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 10:29pm
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Larry- Truly sorry for the loss of your old ski buddy. What great memories you must have.We all have buddies like that- shared summers on the lake raising hell and having a blast together. Never imagined loosing that buddy.
-Brad ------------- Former: http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=759" rel="nofollow - '86 Nautique http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=507" rel="nofollow - '65 Barracuda |
Posted By: quinner
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 10:50pm
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Wow, sounds like Tom was a great guy and will be missed, it is awesome he was able to leave a mark on your life Larry, and my guess is you are one of many lucky enough to have known him, let the memories live on forever.
------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1143" rel="nofollow - Mi Bowt |
Posted By: Barracuda
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 11:06pm
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Larry- I just made the connection. Yes, your buddy Tom must have been quite a guy to have been your son's namesake. ------------- Former: http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=759" rel="nofollow - '86 Nautique http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=507" rel="nofollow - '65 Barracuda |
Posted By: 87BFN owner
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 11:13pm
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Larry sorry to hear about you losing a friend. ------------- |
Posted By: boat dr
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 11:45pm
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Larry, I too feel the loss for you of your longtime ski buddy.There is this device that we use everyday that will allow you to keep up with old and new . This is not a computer for E Mail nor is it a Blackberry for text messages,it is a plain old phone.
I call a lot of my CCF buddies quite a lot,and at times just to ask how their day went and what is new in their life. Pick up the phone and call, or return that call to share how your day went.Sometimes you may not need them but they may need you.... ------------- boat dr /diaries/details.asp?ID=4631 - 1949 Dart /diaries/details.asp?ID=1533 - 1964 American Skier |
Posted By: jbear
Date Posted: November-09-2007 at 11:56pm
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Larry: I think you know I started out the same way...took the same pics...and have many of the same memories.
As time marches by...things change...we move on...memories are what we carry on with us forever. So loved ones never really "die"...they are always alive in your heart thru your memories. This is one of the BEST things about what we share here. The stories...of these old boats...and old friends. But the boat dr has a good point...pick up that phone and make a call...whether to a friend or family member. Once today is past it is gone forever...and boy does time pass fast! Thanks again Larry...for sharing and stirring up some of my old memories! john ------------- "Loud pipes save lives" AdamT sez "I'm Canadian and a beaver lover myself"... |
Posted By: 05 210
Date Posted: November-10-2007 at 1:21am
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I'm sorry to hear about your loss,Larry.It's always tough to lose a friend.
Mike ------------- http:/diaries/details.asp?ID=2219" rel="nofollow - Air Nautique 210 Team 640 hours, not 1 regret |
Posted By: farmer
Date Posted: November-10-2007 at 10:44am
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Larry, I'm sorry for your loss. Don't apologise for the post.No one should have to go through it alone. Gary |
Posted By: The Lake
Date Posted: November-10-2007 at 11:29am
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Larry,
If its any consolation your story is an inspiration as to the value of friendship and the need we have to be connected with others. I agree with what all you guys are saying, we should pick up the phone a little more often. I got a feeling God knows all about skiing--He walks on water too. Chuck ------------- Walk on Water www.coldwater.me http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=775&sort=&pagenum=3&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970 - 69 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: 81nautique
Date Posted: November-10-2007 at 11:34am
Larry, Sorry for your loss but all I can add is that you are lucky to have had such a good friend and that you were able to keep in touch through the years. When I look back at pics from the hey days my biggest regret is that I've lost touch with all of the old crowd. This my favorite pic from those day, the 4 hardcores heading out for some early morning footing. If my math is right , the guy standing is now 67. Life is too damn short.
 ------------- You can’t change the wind but you can adjust your sails |
Posted By: tullfooter
Date Posted: November-10-2007 at 3:12pm
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Larry
Sorry for your loss. Your friend Tom, sounds like my childhood buddy Brett. We were like brothers, they called us Starsky and Hutch. We started skiing together around 1978, I taught him how to foot, he improved my slalom skills. There was nothing but boats, skiing, cars, and of course girls. You never forget a friend like that and that's what is so great. You will always have those memories of Tom, some you can share with others, and probably some you shouldn't share. My friend moved away for 17 years, but is now, back in our area. I think, come spring, I will get Brett footing behind my new/old BFN. Thanks for the thread, Steve ------------- Play hard, life's not a trial run. '85 BFN '90 BFN White Lake, Michigan |
Posted By: 67 Lark
Date Posted: November-15-2007 at 7:51pm
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Nice tribute to "TJ". Maybe I was driving the day that picture was taken. Remember when you two jokers put on the following skit for me?... "hey, do you know Art? Art who? Art Tee-shun. Oh, I know Art tee-shun well". Well, maybe you had to be there. I had to spell it phonetically to make the point. Anyway, to continue the story of "Rog", (short for Roger) , he was created in the boathouse lab one erreee night as our flairs had burned out and we couldn't ski anymore that night. We wanted to be law abiding skiers by day and needed a spotter, which he became. The funny part is that small lakes in the Adirondacks were patrolled by the county and we got a retired Calvary sheriff who was 80 if a day. We called him "pops". And to him Rog was real as rain, even up close and believe me, we spent a lot of time tied up next to pops showing him our "reg-is-ter-a-tion", our "pa-da-dals" and what ever else he asked for. Its like he couldn't remember he asked us for all those things just the day before. Just a few more Kayuta Lake memories and TJ was part of all that. ------------- Rich Hineline |
Posted By: JCole
Date Posted: November-15-2007 at 9:09pm
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Larry,
Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, but what better place for memories but down on the lake together. The others are right, we should stay in contact with our lake friends, and continue to share the wonderful memories we have. This post was great to get started as it really makes us think and remember our great times. Again sorry for your loss, and thanks for sharing the picture. ------------- Jane |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: November-16-2007 at 9:01am
I, too, have a lost friend...and I think just this way about him. Sorry for your loss. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
62 wood wrote:Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: November-19-2007 at 1:25pm
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Just a few final thoughts. First, thank you all for your kind words.
Went to the memorial service for Tom this past weekend. At a table of memorabilia (pictures, articles, awards...) were four pictures of him footin' that he had saved from the same day as the picture I posted above. 
(Poor cell phone picture of one of the four photos there. I remember this picture, I had given it to him way back then.) I got up and spoke a few words about the great times we used to have and how that first summer we skied together was one of the best ever. Afterward, a woman came up to me and said "you dont know me but I feel like I know you. A few months ago, Tom sent me a copy of the video of you two barefooting together that you had recently sent to him and he said how that first summer "was one of the best ever". It was something to just hear you use the same words to descibe that time you had together." I'm glad and flattered that he remembered those times and shared them just as I have here. ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |