On a More Serious Note, "My New Years Day".

February 2, 2008

Hello,

On a More Serious Note, "My New Years Day".

I have been thinking and thinking about this blog and why l wanted to write it. I feel by writing it, l can some how relieve some of the stress and mind games; "that the mind can control, you’re patterns of thinking". It has been exactly 33 days since what l am going to share with you, has happened.

I live approximately an hour North of Toronto, Ontario in a small town located on Lake Semico. I have lived here now for almost 20 years, loved the area, the lake, sun sets and all that the area has to offer. It’s a close and tight community, people waved as you go by, talk to you if you’re walking you’re dog or just on a walk by yourself. The kids have a lot of space to do what they want to do most lots are on acre or bigger. In the winter ski doo’s race up and down the street, people stop by the house, talk about how the ice fishing is going or try to get you to go for a ride on you’re ski doo. Summer we all love to take advantage of the lake with our boats, water ski, fish or just have a good time on the lake with friends and our families.

I teach my kids to always have "Respect For The Lake", no human is more powerful then the lake, understanding the powers of lake and always respecting it. When you are on the lake on you’re ski doo in the winter, you have watch the clouds, understand how the wind is blowing and most important know when to leave the lake. No different in the summer, you have to understand the signs and never forget the power the lake has. Knowing all of this, people who have taught us these rules disobey them and found them selves in a losing battle with the Lake, we all know who will win. The Lake has scared me many times, since l have lived up here, this Lake can change it’s attitude in seconds not minutes.

December 31, 2007, l drove to the coffee shop to grab myself a cup of coffee, ran into my next door neighbour who’s son had just started working at the coffee shop. We joked around about how it was about time, that his son started to work, he is only 17. We all had a good laugh with it, and started talking about his new Ski Do he had treated himself too this Christmas. I said, "wow", that is a good looking machine, l looked at him and reminded him about the open waters on the lake as the "Ferry" was still making runs from the main land to the island. He said oh ya, l know, l have no desire to go that direction at all. We shook hands and wished each other a "Happy New Year", we both went our separate ways. Not knowing it would be the last time l would ever talk to my neighbour and good friend.

January 1, 2008, l woke up around 10:00 am with a slight headache from all of the fun the night before. Heard the loud sounds of ski do’s racing up and down the street, just another beautiful day in paradise. Walked around the house not sure what to do, decided to go outside for a walk, it was really cold and looked like, snow would start any minute. We get a lot of snow because of the lake, it has a named called "Lake Effect". Later that evening we heard the two local men where lost somewhere on the lake. Having no idea that l knew both of them. The snow started to fall very heavy at times making visibility almost impossible to see even a cross the street. Not a pretty day at all, especially if you where on the lake.

That evening sitting in front of the TV with my wife, watching the local news we found out for the first time who the two men where, that where lost on the lake. I remember like it was yesterday when the news flashed the pictures of the two men, we just looked at each other, We couldn’t believe it, but it was confirmed that two men had gone through the ice and missing. We could hear from our home the sound of helicopters flying over the lake. Then they also confirmed that one of the men had been found and one was still missing.

The following day (January 2, 2008) at around 9:00 PM they had found the second body in the lake both man had been pronounced dead. The whole community and surrounding area was at lost for words and in total shock from what had happened. Questions started to pop up, was drinking involved, how could two seasoned ski doers who knew and understood the Lake better then most people. How could this of happened? Why did this have to happen? These question are still being debated and asked over and over again.

The hardest thing for me is every time l go and get myself a cup of coffee l think about that afternoon talking to him and his son. Every time l am in my back yard and look across and look at their home, l think about him or when l look at my ski do’s in the garage l think about what had happened. The lake should never be taken lightly, one should never ever forget how it can turn on you in seconds. Summer or winter we hear about some one dying on that lake and yet it is such a peaceful lake, with so much beauty in disguised form.

So this is how 2008 started off for me and our community we lost two wonderful man, fathers to their kids and husbands to their wife’s. I can only imagine the pain they have and the suffering that will more then likely never go away for as long as they are also alive. So brings me to an interesting point, that my dad told me when l was very young. In the word "LIFE", there is a word in the middle and never forget that word or become one of them. The word being "IF’, when you think about it makes very logically sense. "If", l had of stayed home, "If", l didn’t go out for ski do ride and so on.. We can always be an "IF", in life without even knowing this even exists.

I want to dedicate this blog to my two lost friends, that l will always be reminded by certain things and will always remember the sweet memories that we shared with one another, the laughs we had, and the energy they both dedicated to our community when they where on stage. They both played in a band and a few times a year they would have a small concert for our Beach to raise money for our "Beach Association". May you both be at peace and you will always be remembered in our hearts for as long as we are also alive..........

May God Bless All of you’re loved ones and Family members who will have to live with the pain from the sudden and unexpected lost. The community will never be the same as we also share the same pain. Words will never be able to describe the effect it has had on all of us who knew you and the ones who didn’t know you’re true value.

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