My friend Mike

[bbarnhouse 0]

Sometimes not often enough we reflect upon the good things,and those thoughts always center around those we care about. The loss of a friend is never easy, and many live with the ideology that it will never happen to them......never to someone they know. The sad reality is, if one stays in this sport long enough, it most assuredly will. In this life we are given gifts and lessons. If we are fortunate, we are given gifts that shine so bright as to fill a room.
My friend Mike was such a gift. He shone as bright as any star;people wanted to touch him and take a
piece for themselves...He carried himself with
confidence, and the smile he wore reached all the
way to his eyes.He was inviting and inclusive to all
that he happened upon.
Even as his physical self is no longer here, his
light shines in the hearts of those that knew him.
We feel blessed for having had the opportunity to
stand in something so brillant.
I recall a day in the not so distant past, Mike and
I had reserve rides one right after the other. The day was early, first and second loads. We met up in
the rigger's loft both laughing at our good fortune,
and he asking me if I managed to keep both of my
handles. The similarities of our mals was worth
discussion over lunch, and afterward We sauntered
out to watch our friends continue on with thier day.
We discussed our lives and hopes for the future.The
well laid plans expressed that day will never come
to fruition for my friend... his work, however,lives
on.
I have questioned for reason and know that there
isn't an answer that will ever satisfy. It just IS.
Knowing this and accepting this I will honor my
friend by moving forward, being strong enough to
contiune on with the tasks, and reaching for that
distant star that we discussed.
My friend Mike.......I'll see you when I get there...and to the rest .....I salute the divine within all of us!
With Warmest Regards...
B^2

[freeflir29 0]

Nicely done.....it's always tough but I hope that my friends will carry on with a smile after I'm gone and maybe think about me on the ride to altitude now and again. I like to think that Jay goes with me on all my dives. I know he would want me to keep enjoying a sport that brought him so much joy. Hopefully, they are sharing a beer right about now.

[airgord 1]

I talked to Mike just before they loaded the skyvan up to leave on monday, he mentioned that he had taken the week off from work but never mentioned what he was doing, I assumed he was going to go flick off a cliff somewhere. This is a shocker.

Raise a Sam Adams for Mike Brown!!!!

[Michele 1]

Blue Skies, Mike, and eternal canopy rides. Swoop the angels - it'll make them laugh...and so when I hear an angel laugh, I'll know it's you....

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[BikerBabe 0]

This one is hard to take. Not that they all aren't hard to take...


Blue Skies, Mike...we'll miss you.

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[Zenister 0]

i met mike while on student status. he was amazingly cool and talked and jumped with me twice that day.

i remeber the day B2 and he had reserve rides..even though he hadnt jumped in a while and that was the only jump he was going to get that day he was still bouncing around the DZ with a killer grin..

i knew going into this sport i could lose people i knew and loved, i just wish it hadnt happend so soon...

Blue skies mike.. i will remembe you every time i see the desert skies..

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[mouth 0]

Blue skies forever Mike.

My thoughts are with all that knew him.

.

--
Hot Mama
At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit.

[lummy 4]

Eternal Blue skies Mike


(((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))) for my friend Bets....

I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1

[skygal3 0]

betsy, that was a beautiful post. I am sure you made him smile.

[Sebazz1 2]

Blue ones...

[highfly 0]

In this life we are given gifts and lessons. If we are fortunate, we are given gifts that shine so bright as to fill a room.
I have questioned for reason and know that there
isn't an answer that will ever satisfy. It just IS.
Knowing this and accepting this I will honor my
friend by moving forward, being strong enough to
contiune on with the tasks, and reaching for that
distant star that we discussed.
***

I lost my brother in May this year in a car crash.
These have been exactly my sentiments since he has been gone. Before it happend it didn't occur to me what being able to move forward really meant.

My empathy bbarnhouse.

It takes time and you can't possibly know how long.

One day at a time.

Matt

[Luminous 0]

Well put BB.

My condolences to Mike's family & friends.

Blue ones Mike.

Larry.

[AndyAnderson 0]

Hamba Gashle m'phetu, I zo bona wena moune skate. u phamba pansi Lisa.
'Magegwe' (Andy)

[hobbes4star 0]

mike was a great skydiver one of the best instructors i have ever had the pleaser to not only jump with but to learn from. he taught me to how to keep my head when the shit hits the fan, he also taught me to pack and was their for any other jumper that just happen to be at the dz with a question. he loved to skydive and he will be greatly missed.
the one memory that stands out about mike, that describes mike the best: one day after the beer light was on myself and 5 of the instructors at parachute phoenix were standing around just b.s.ing and the subject turned to mike, and one of the other instructors stated that mike should get an award for best instructor. that thought has always crossed my mind everytime i have seen mike or had the privlage to jump with him. We lost a great teacher, fellow skydiver and a good friend this week.
blue skies brother.

if fun were easy it wouldn't be worth having, right?