he got me started

[chuteless 1]

My brother Bob died last Wednesday, Oct 3rd of a heart attack. He and I had a great sibling rivalry for many years, and one day in the Spring of 1962, he told me he had made 3 parachute jumps.

OOOps...he did something I hadn't done. I got busy, and a couple of months later, I phoned him and asked him how many jumps he had.

THREE, he told me, just Three.

Well, I have 12, I said. . I managed to get ahead of him.

He was my closest partner in every mischief and danger we could devise as kids, and its a wonder we lived as long as we did. He was 73 in May....I am 75 in October.

Sad to lose a brother....my inspiration to take up jumping.

[skymama 37]

My condolences to you and your family.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Usetawuz 1]

Sorry for your loss.

_________________________________________
The older I get, the better I was!

[jonstark 8]

Sorry for your loss Bill. I'd love to hear more stories when you're in the writin' mood.

jon

[BIGUN 1,406]

Bill, my deepest condolences. I too, when appropriate would like to hear more of yours and your brother's antics and mischief.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[wmw999 2,534]

That has to be hard, Bill. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Aww Bill, Im so sorry for your lose. As the others have said, in time wed like to read of the antics you two were involved in.

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[upndownshop 0]

Bill
So sorry for your loss, my younger brother and I have a similar relationship.

As the others have said, if you feel like honoring us with your stories we will be there.

Sounds like we all owe your brother thanks for inspiring you to skydive, thus allowing us to be blessed with your presence in this sport.

God Bless you and yours

Hope you managed to enjoy your 75th.

[chuteless 1]

Thanks so much for your kindness....all of you. Its been a very hard last 3 days, and to make matters worse, I found out he had been cremated shortly after passing away. I have never had a close relative cremated before, and it hit me hard, because now there isnt a grave, or anything to show Bob was ever here.

There seems to me to be an empty hole where his body should be, and there is nothing. His wife has a small pile of ashes, about the amount one would get from a fireplace log....and I have found this quite disturbing...but nothing can change it now.

I have decided to plant a maple tree on his birthday ( May 22 2008) on the banks of the Etobicoke River where we used to hunt, and shoot everything up. At least that will serve in place of a headstone, and be a reminder of Bob's presence on the river years ago.

It so happened that I was hiking up that river with my 7 yr old grandaughter at the time Bob died, and perhaps he might have left earth when I was telling Renee about how in 1947 he and Gerry were walking the very same path we were on through giant pine trees.

Once again, thanks to all for your kindness.. I will tell you about some of the things that could easily have taken our lives many years ago, except for the grace of God.

In a few days, I will put something on the TRIVIA thread.

Bill Cole