It wasn't your time. God wanted you to be with your new born and not yet with him. It's blunt, but just the inital thing that came to my mind.

Duke

 

Great Pics !! I haven't made it out there yet, but have wanted to go for many years. It's awesome!!

 

Yeah... It wasn't my time. I'm a firm believer that we're not in control of that... none the less, it was almost an eye opener for me. Very weird that I'm dwelling on the plane crash as much as I am. It bothers me on so many levels -- personal (from the standpoint of 'that could've been me'), secondary (from the standpoint of 'why the 5 that died?'), and even more along the spiritual side that I should straighten up some things in my life (and I'm trying my darndest to couple in loosing weight with this one some how - ).

Serioiusly though, it's really eating at me for some reason... I'm fixated on it.

 

i was flying on a 4 seater one time and was so nervous i couldn't even hold my cup of cofee. i dont have a prob. with flying, but it was new and very very very different. after the flight though i felt better about that than commercial flight.

 

So how am I supposed to pay you for detailing my truck with beer and pie if you're on a diet?

 

Pretty freaky about the plane RP. Being a Bush Pilot in Alaska is one of the most dangerous jobs up there. My prayers are with the families and loved ones of those lost.

 

Hey RP, don't dwell on it too much man. Just kiss your kid and wife and go out into the world each day. If you dwell on it too much you won't feel the same.

Try get over it.

PS those are some awesome pictures! Just remember the beautiful things about the trip rather than the worser things.

 

Seeing all of your pictures keeps reminding me why I can never leave Alaska. I love this place. Our family has already been down to Chitna to dipnet all of our red and king salmon. Combined, all of our families caught around 185 salmon. Mmmmm. We also went down to Valdez and caught our yearly halibut, even threw some rockfish and link cod in the mix as well. We have a little bit of caribou in the freezer now, and moose hunting is starting up here, so that oughta top off the chest freezer. My bro just shot a grizzly (it was munchin' on berries and ground squirrels) with an arrow, had a chunk of the grizz, man was it good .

I can empathize with your situation. My wife, two daughters and I flew on a puddle jumper out of Evansville, IN to Cinncinati, on Delta Commair. A few weeks later, that same plane nosedived into a field somewhere near Ohio and killed everyone on board . They said the number of the aircraft and it was the same one that we were on. To this day, it still makes me cringe to think that we were on that same plane a few weeks earlier. I wish I could tell you that the feeling goes away, but it still lingers. After reading your post, I got that same feeling, even though it happened a few years ago.

If your travels ever end up in Fairbanks, let me know, I can show you around, let ya taste some fresh salmon, halibut, caribou, moose (your choice), and grab an Alaskan Amber .

 

Ahh... Alaskan Amber. One of my favorites (I bought a t-shirt). I've been sampling that fine liquid for several years now during my ventures to and fro Seattle (as it's on tap everywhere there). Definitely in my top 10.

Evansville, Indiana, eh? My old romping grounds. Being that I was once obcessed with aircraft, I've sat and watched planes land and take off there many nights (typically with the high school girlfriend -- I swear we were just watching the planes! ). They had a C130 crash there in the early 90's or late 80's... crashed into a hotel. I remember that quite well as I was living in a small Western Kentucky town named Madisonville (about an hour south of Evansville) and it was pumped through every piece of media available -- it was big news for the area -- and for the nation, for that case.

I appreciate your words concerning the situation. I kind of expect that it'll never go away but, hopefully it'll start to lessen in severity. I sat up in bed last night - no TV on - and thought about it last night until I went to bed. I really... and I mean that... really don't understand why this is gouging me so bad (probably because of the copious amount of mental problems that I already possess - ). I'll make it... I'm alive... it's still troubling.

Thanks to all. I appreciate you taking the time to read and check out the pictures. As you could see, it was a very neat trip and the scenery was second to none thusfar in my life (although, Montana is a top contender -- that's a beautiful area too!).


You guys and gals that live in these areas do not realize how good you've got it -- although, that's easy to say when there isn't 10's of feet of snow on the ground.
-RP-

 

Most of us don't spend much time pondering our demise. When something like this happens, it brings it to the forefront of our minds and we start evaluating what's important in our lives.

Don't look for reasons that you were spared and five others died. There is no reason. It was just a random ****ty thing that happened to those folks. Be grateful that it wasn't you and enjoy your life and loved ones even more than ever - but stop looking for reasons.

A friend gave me a book a few months ago called "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" by Harold Kushner. It helped me sort out a bunch of things about life that had previously seemed a bit unfair and inconsistent to me. It helped me through a tough time after I was in a very bad motor vehicle accident. I highly recommend it.

 

Wow.

Great Read RP ... and it looks like you're loosing weight.

The plane crash was sad....That would have spooked the snot out of me as well.

 

Yeah... I'll get over it and stop whining. I'm going to go eat something bad for me now.

 

Huh, I showed my wife this, and she remembers the crash. She said it crashed into the Madison Hotel near one of the ends of the runway. Happened in 1989, the year she was going to the local Evansville high school. You weren't, per chance, dating someone named 'Elizabeth' in high school, were ya?

Take care, RP, I hope you're sitting in bed with the TV on tonight.

 

 

Just wanted to let ya know that your wrong about a .40 pissing off a bear!

The Bear might think you were throwin' pebbles at him!

A .40, is a necked down 10mm. The .40 has about the same balistic gel penetration as a 357. The smallest pistol that I would carry for bear, is a 44mag. The best pistol for bear that you could carry, is a 50. Smith makes them, Ruger, and a few others. I live in Texas, where my dad bought my sister a .32 Lady Smith relvolver for High School graduation, and I shot my first deer at 7 with a 30.06 single shot Ruger. Although I have only seen bears in the zoo, and have never wanted to shoot one. I am not exactly an expert on the matter. What I am, is somewhat well read in gun magazines. I read an article months ago say that only an insane man would buy a 50 for target shooting. (because of the recoil) But, under the durress of a bear attack, you'll never notice it.

Based on your writings, you seem intelligent and well educated. It is not my intention to come off as smug, or condescending. (wish these forums had spell check) I am only concerned for your well being. Never take just a knife to a gun fight!

By the way, I LOVED what you wrote. Fixin' to view the pics you posted.