The last large purchase Dave made was in Feb. 2006. It was his snowboard; an Arbor Element 62. He admitted it was much too expensive, but said it would probably be the last snowboard he would ever buy so he wanted it to be a good one. (I still don’t know why he said it would be his last!) He was so excited to try it out. After his first and only trip using the board, he returned confident that his purchase was the right one. He said, “It was “really awesome, Ma, and definitely worth the dough.” After his death, Rob made it a point to take snowboarding lessons so he could put Dave’s board to good use. He knew that’s what Dave would want. Once he had a few lessons under his belt, we planned a family trip of skiing and snowboarding. Dave’s cousin, Mike, wrote this amazing letter after the trip.
“This past winter of 2010 was very special. I had the opportunity to spend time with my family on a vacation to Shawnee Ski Resort. It was a great trip. My 7 year old son Daniel had his first lesson in skiing and turned out to be quite good for his first time. I was very proud of him and seeing him flying down the mountain was a moment I will never forget. I am sure Dave would have said something to the effect of “Skiing! What do you think about just getting him right on a board and not wasting time with skiing.” The thought definitely crossed my mind as I walked into the rental shop. Well, I ended up getting him skis to start with since that was how I started when I was his age. I could picture Dave’s expression. He would have had that little smirk on his face that we all know and miss.
Being with everyone in our family always reminds me of Dave. But snowboarding especially reminds me of him. As everyone knows, Dave LOVED snowboarding! He was very good on a board. I think his style was similar to the way he lived his life. He was very smooth, controlled, humble and fearless. Dave made snowboarding look easy. He was a natural for sure! He was capable of pushing the envelope when he wanted to and aggressively taking off like a rocket down the mountain or just peacefully carving his way down. Never trying to be the best or prove anything, just enjoying it with no ego trip or competition with who he was with. He was hands down the best person to be on a trip with, or really to do anything with. He is my cousin and my best friend. I miss him so much.
I have been snowboarding for about 15 years or so. I started out skiing when I was young with my parents and brother. Snowboarding wasn’t really around or popular yet. In the early years of High School I was still on skis. That is until I went on a trip to Vermont with Dave and my brother Chris sometime around 1993 I think. It was a great time, full of the usual family jokes and screwing around like a bunch of idiots. I’ll leave the details out. Chris: I know your laughing right now. I can’t help but laugh even though the tears are rolling down my face as I type this. I miss him so much. It feels like yesterday that we were there. Chris and I were skiing and Dave was ripping it up on a board, never afraid to try something new. And he was ripping it for sure! Holy crap!!!!! He made it look so fun that I had to try it. He encouraged me to try boarding, which I soon did, and fell in love with it. Ever since then I’ve snowboarded. Dave was my inspiration for converting. I always think of him when I board. I even have dreams often that we are together on the mountain once again. He usually rides off into the distance looking back at me with that smile. I just can’t keep up. And I also cannot keep up with living my life as good as he did. I’m trying my hardest. It has been hard for me to deal with this. Everyday it is natural occurrence that I think of Dave. I miss him so much.
During the trip to Shawnee Mountain I was presented with an opportunity to spread Dave’s ashes. Aunt Pat and Rob were very kind to ask me to spread some of Dave’s ashes on the mountain. To be in another place that he loved. This was such an honor for me, and another experience from the trip that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Dave was with me. I could feel his spirit all around me the entire trip. I’m sure that everyone else felt him. That feeling was very strong as I held his ashes. One that I cannot deny being real. He was undoubtedly with me.
I sat up on the top of the trail and strapped into my bindings. Rob wanted to take some pictures so he was waiting for me at a predetermined spot further down the trail. We agreed that actually snowboarding while I spread his ashes would be the best way to honor him. Unfortunately I was going a bit too fast and it was getting dark so the picture isn’t very clear. But, nonetheless, it still was successful in my opinion. Before I pushed off down the trail I took some time while I was alone with Dave. This was by far the most eye opening experience of my entire life. That moment has proved to me that the soul goes on. I spoke to him and told him some things from my heart that I will keep between us. I thanked him for all he taught me through his life and his death. I KNOW that Dave heard every word of it. It was a moment alone with him just like the moment that we had the last time I saw him. It’s hard for me to explain but I heard his words in my heart. I also heard something that I had heard him say to me many times before. These words …….. COME HERE CUZ…BIG HUG. I visualized this being accompanied by our usual handshake hug with a double slap on the back for good measure. I miss that hug. I miss Dave. It was just the two of us on that mountain. It was a moment that I get chills from every time I think of it. I felt a change in me that evening. I felt something move in me, like a puzzle piece that I couldn’t figure out where it went, and it was put into place. I’ve never told anyone this.
Dave, thank you. I hope I can be half the man you are. I hope that I can make you proud of me. I LOVE YOU CUZ!!!!….BIG HUG !!!!! That was the last thing you ever said to me. Those words will be with me forever. I miss you so much.”
Thank you, Mike, for such a wonderful heartfelt letter; one that brings tears to my eyes each time I read it.
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