Happy Birthday Tim!
You were my best man almost 33 years ago, and you are still my best man today. I've been reflecting on some of the fun and crazy times we've shared over the years --
Like the time we were at Rudy's house and he told us how he flunked the 1st grade 3 times... I don't think we had ever laughed so hard in all our lives, and probably haven't laughed that hard since.
And then there's the time we took your motorcycle out for a quick ride down 496 to see how fast we could go and flew by a police officer parked in the median going over 100 mph - only to be shocked that he didn't seem to be coming after us. It all became clear when we looked up and saw the police helicopter chasing us instead. I screamed like a little girl to let me off, but you just drove faster! Up and down the side streets we sped, finding as much tree cover as we possibly could, until we actually made it back to your parents' house and managed to get the bike into the garage and out of sight. Talk about an adrenaline rush!
I'll never forget the cold winter day that you and Phil and I were out in the woods to get firewood for our woodburning furnace. The snow was deep and we were at the back of a 40 acre parcel. When things went bad and my leg ended up being pulled into the snowmobile engine, you stayed with me while Phil ran to get help. Not only did you manage to somehow get my leg out of that tangled mess, but then you took off your shirt and tied it around my calf to hold everything in and help control the bleeding. You and Phil managed to get me out to the road to the ambulance, and you stayed with me in the ER while they put me back together. Thanks for being there to help me in the first place, and for saving my life. You knew I didn't want to get back on that snowmobile, so you converted it to a 3-wheel dunebuggy, which led to other adventures too long to mention.
Then there was the time we decided to dig a swimming pool in your back yard - what a mess that was! Tracy is a saint. Good thing she likes pumpkins.
When I think of you, so many things come to mind: 7 miles of rope, Ronco ladders, Spitfire, quartet, fishing, boating, yellow disc paint, sailing in the rain, and the list goes on and on. But most of all, when I think of you, I think of my friend.
From your best man,
Mark
