Bob Ridpath
Pit Bull love
I sent this personally but share it here without identifier - name removed.
"You know, I've chosen to go into bad places at times, - icy or swift water, above a free-burning fire to do a primary search ... that kind of thing. It wasn't always comfortable or routine but, fortunate,y, it always worked out for me and a couple people are alive today because I was there when they needed someone.
Just a reflection of life - not "Hey, I'm something special."
The accident at LGA hit hard within that context. You do what's routine. You trust other people to have your back. And 99% of the time that's enough and it all works and everyone goes home.
And sometimes it just doesn't and people don't.
I was more spiritual in the old days and I never went into a river or fire before I thought a silent prayer. It wasn't for me, other than doing my best, but for the people trapped and to care or my family should I fail in the trying.
I watched the video from LGA and listened to the radio traffic, and I thought of you, and then I thought of me, and I thought of the circumstances which can trump every bit of training and caution we practice daily.
Never doubting your competency and training and experience, I want you to be as "lucky" as I have been. When I wish you safe journey it's not something casually done.
Go home safely every time you leave, my friend, to the people who love you. As you know, it's no small thing to fly like the angels and it brings a unique set of things that can always go wrong."
Shared here for everyone who flies.
"You know, I've chosen to go into bad places at times, - icy or swift water, above a free-burning fire to do a primary search ... that kind of thing. It wasn't always comfortable or routine but, fortunate,y, it always worked out for me and a couple people are alive today because I was there when they needed someone.
Just a reflection of life - not "Hey, I'm something special."
The accident at LGA hit hard within that context. You do what's routine. You trust other people to have your back. And 99% of the time that's enough and it all works and everyone goes home.
And sometimes it just doesn't and people don't.
I was more spiritual in the old days and I never went into a river or fire before I thought a silent prayer. It wasn't for me, other than doing my best, but for the people trapped and to care or my family should I fail in the trying.
I watched the video from LGA and listened to the radio traffic, and I thought of you, and then I thought of me, and I thought of the circumstances which can trump every bit of training and caution we practice daily.
Never doubting your competency and training and experience, I want you to be as "lucky" as I have been. When I wish you safe journey it's not something casually done.
Go home safely every time you leave, my friend, to the people who love you. As you know, it's no small thing to fly like the angels and it brings a unique set of things that can always go wrong."
Shared here for everyone who flies.