Remembering Scott

As much as I like to sneak away from work and get a jump in, it's fairly rare that I actually do that during my work week. I put it in my mind that I would walk out this past Friday no matter what at 3:30 or so and head to the DZ to make a jump and I held to that promise. Coming around the turn towards the DZ there was a line of traffic which I did not want to see so close to being able to get on the next load. Turns out three people from the DZ were at the road block which I thought nothing of thinking somebody landed off and they were near some sort of construction. No biggie. I perked up a bit more noticing a helicopter on the property as I was parking. This could have been my lucky day to find a private owner of the helicopter and a chance to jump it. I was really regretting not bringing my camera.....

Walking into the hanger, Rob's wife runs up and greats me with a big smile and an hug - it's been far too long since I have seen them. I asked about the helicopter as any skydiver probably would and she let's me know it is a news crew. There was an accident. The people on the road that I passed were with the officials.......getting Scott.

This story simply breaks my heart on so many levels. I understand the malfunction and I am glad that information has been shared with the "family" out there. Bag locks are very rare and this was certainly an odd one made even more dangerous because it is a high speed malfunction. Yes, the mal might have been handled better. Sure, Scott should have been accounted for after the jump. Nobody would have ever wanted to leave a coworker and friend if they were in need. But the one thing that hurts my heart about this is that Scott was alone. If he made it out of his harness and container and made it any distance at all, this means he might have had a chance. Even if he had not, I wish that somebody would have been there to comfort him, pray with him, and let him know that he was loved. He deserved to hear that and know somebody was with him no matter the outcome.

Pretty much ever Saturday morning as I get my gear from my car and walk to the hanger, Scott is the first person that I would see as he is cleaning up, pushing an airplane out, or filling the water coolers. We always spoke in the mornings and there were a lot of times I would kinda laugh as he would have a fresh shave but always with a cut on his face.....and dabs of leftover shaving cream. He did it all at the DZ. Scott was the guy that cleaned bathrooms, cleaned up around the drop zone, pre-flighted airplanes, and loaded people. He did everything with a smile which says a lot - most employees at drop zones come and go but Scott who did the least of the jobs - the very least - always was on time and worked his ass off. Before every load he had his list of who was on the load and would be walking around checking off names. He knew everybody and spoke to everyone there with a smile. He was always the last person I would see as I would get on the plane and he would always offer offer a slap and a fist pound.

Scott, it was not the same without you today, and it will never be the same. Your family mourns losing you.

Blue skies
Better days