Basejumper.com - archive

Dead is . . .

I peddled my bike home one night across the open field from the Perris DZ to the Ghetto after a fun, but very long summer day doing AFF and tandem jumps, but I didn't go straight home.

I stopped to drink some jug wine and play a game of chess with Larry Yohn. On the way out of Larry's place I bumped into Greg Hunter who wanted to show me his latest camera helmet and we had a few beers. After that I ran into Mark Sechler and we smoked a joint and laughed about nothing and everything for probably a half an hour.

After stumbling out of Mark's place I ran into James Martin and we talked about something funny that happened on the DZ that day. After that I went back to the drop zone with Bad Spot Bill in his truck to hear Harley Powell play his guitar in the Bombshelter. Claude is sitting at the bar and as always he greeted me warmly.

They are all, everyone of them, dead.

They all meant something special to me and, indeed, to everyone else they touched. I will never forget them.

Sweet Dreams Roger . . .

All my love and support Rook and Misty.

Nick Di Giovanni
BASE 194
D-8904

Life is lethal

Well put indeed. My heart goes out to Rook and Missy. I have never been more saddened by the loss of one of our own - Roger put in a great deal to get me where I am in my skillset today. He was a great human being hands down - he always helped out the non-hotshots out there because he truly loved what he was doing in life which is more than most can say.

Blue skys to all.

It's really ironic how a sport that forges lifelong friendships and memories, can also be the source of life's most bitter pain.

When the dust settles, all we're left with is the smiles they gave us, the times we shared, and beers to their memories. I've lost three friends and I'll continue to jump, because I know they'd press on without me and keep the torch burning. If I need to feel close to them again, I just need to open the door and get out.

We keep the dream alive...

I think honestly thats perhaps one of the best aspects of skydiving and base. You are living to the fullest and should anything go wrong, would you want it any other way??? Forget dying in a shreaded hunk of metal on a freeway, I want my last moment to be part of "real life"!!!