August 25, 2012 Saturday
The familiar ring tone on our iPhone was ringing at 12:30 am this morning. We talked or texted everyday with our dear friends Hank and Carole Austin. It was unusual to be hearing from them at that time of night. When I first saw the time and the number I assumed that possibly a late call was regarding Carole who had been having episodes of atrial fibrillation. By the time I got to answer the phone, it had already gone to voicemail. The message was from their home phone number but the voice on the message was from Dan, Carole's son, that it was important and to call as soon as possible. Today we are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friends, Hank and Carole, in a powered parachute crash in the dunes over Silver Lake, Michigan.
It was Hank and Carole who flew over us while sailing Lake Michigan and took the photo of "Chasseur" that we now have on our cruising card. It was Hank and Carole that housed us homeless sailors for several weeks this Spring while we readied "Chasseur" for her adventure. It was Hank and Carole who had been providing us with weather reports and radar on this trip when our iphone could not get it's 3G.
We communicated everyday. Often it was just before dinner when Hank would text "WATF (wine at the fire), Life is Good." and so would begin the hour of texting between Terry and Hank. It is not often that you have friends that you share everything with, your deepest feelings, and moments of joy. When we were wintering in Florida this year, Hank and Carole flew their plane from their place in Lake Placid, Florida to visit us to bike ride, or just hang out, every weekend. It goes without saying...we were very close. Life will not be the same without them. This world has lost two very generous, great people, and we have lost two of our dearest friends.
"Memories last forever, never do they die, friends stick together and never really say Goodbye."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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| Hank and Carole flying over "Chasseur" to take photos below |
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| Flying in to Naples, Florida to spend Christmas with us |
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| Sailing on "Chasseur" |
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| Hiking the dunes of Lake Michigan |
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| WATF (Wine at the fire) |
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| From the wing of his Comanche, Good bye Dear Friends |
Hi Terry and Suzanne, Ginger and I are readying the campfires at Saddlebag Lake Resort in order to wine and dine you while you are in Florida this year. Our hearts are heavy and the loss is beyond words. We feel your pain. Thank you for your posting.
ReplyDeleteHank and Carol,
ReplyDeleteWe miss you a lot.. You were the best friends we had in US..
Remembering those PPC flights and lunch in traverse city...
Divya & Dileep