Happy birthday
Celebtrated Nik's birthday by finally getting off the Big B with my friend Raistlin. A beautiful day filled with good conversation, rocks, trees, and bue skies filled out the picture. Getting arrested the night before set the proper tone - Nik would have approved, for sure. What is up with American BASE jumpers ignoring their "friends" this summer, and generally being assholes to one another? Seems that we used to consider one another friends and folks stayed in touch and were cordial to one another. However, during the last few months all the cool kids seem to be into ignoring people and otherwise behaving like spoiled frat boys.
The number of American BASE folks I consider to be true friends has been dropping steadily as this sort of behavior seems to spread further. I think so much of the "old guard" of American BASE is being superseded by self-appointed "experts" in the sport who have little to add other than strings of injuries or lots of routine jumps from routine objects. Note to new jumpers: the heart and soul of American BASE isn't spending its time making itself into paper heroes online; we're out in the woods and in the cities, jumping stuff with good friends and carrying on the traditions handed down from the folks who mentored us into the sport.
Nik's passing left a void of moral leadership, I think. Into this void have stepped several folks not fit to follow in his footsteps, let alone carry on his traditions. It is sad to see BASE go the way of self-important, humorless wannabees with no life outside BASE and too much ego in the sport to see clearly. Yes, you all know who you are.
For me, I honor his memory by jumping with good friends and having a fucking good time while doing so. I make a point of laughing at myself and most everything else, and I'm always happy to meet new folks, be they "important" or newbie, it matters not. Finally, above all else, I've not forgotten what it means to be a true friend - not just someone who is a "friend" when it is convenient and useful.
Thanks, my friend Raistlin, for the good jump last week. Thanks to Shane for a good jump a while back, and here's to many more jumps with other good friends over the months and years ahead. All the rest of you humorless, fair-weather "friends" infesting this sport: go find another sport to spoil with your bad attitudes, this sport is too special for your bullshit.
First pint and ground crew always on US!
Peace,
Dd0g
