Folks - I shed tears tonight. I was working in the factory and had to put down the tools when I looked up at a picture on the wall and keep hearing a familiar voice in the back of a my mind that was muttering, assemble and "remove".
I was reading how to post a picture and for a first try, I thought I would pay tribute to one of the finest gentleman I have ever known. JB Horne passed away recently to cancer and until now, I it's been hard to talk about him.
I moved to Jackson a little over 2 years ago. This "old guy" came up from the house behind us to introduce himself. He heard the noise of a rivet gun, and knocked on the shop door. Being a bit of a handyman, he was fascinated by wing spars in a stand. Needless to say, I had an instant bucking buddy and he helped me put in every rivet in the wings and fuselage. We fussed and cussed over the canopy. According to his daughters (4 of them), my RV gave him inspiration to live and he was around for a lot longer than they had expected.
My last vist with him was in the hospital when he was getting ready for hospice and I brought him a copy of the firewall forward plans. He told the family to get out of the room and we talked about what was next. We also talked about life and it was one of the few times you get to say goodbye to somebody you love.
In the last 2 years, I've spent over a 1,000 hours with the guy and I feel like I've lost my best friend. My only regret is that he won't get to fly in the RV but I guarantee you he will be there in spirit.
So, here's to you JB. I miss you........
Perhaps others will take a moment out to share a tribute to those that held the bucking bar for them.
If the picture didn't show, here is the site
http://picasaweb.google.com/Wickfourth/200802Feb/photo#5213053386804018322
I was reading how to post a picture and for a first try, I thought I would pay tribute to one of the finest gentleman I have ever known. JB Horne passed away recently to cancer and until now, I it's been hard to talk about him.
I moved to Jackson a little over 2 years ago. This "old guy" came up from the house behind us to introduce himself. He heard the noise of a rivet gun, and knocked on the shop door. Being a bit of a handyman, he was fascinated by wing spars in a stand. Needless to say, I had an instant bucking buddy and he helped me put in every rivet in the wings and fuselage. We fussed and cussed over the canopy. According to his daughters (4 of them), my RV gave him inspiration to live and he was around for a lot longer than they had expected.
My last vist with him was in the hospital when he was getting ready for hospice and I brought him a copy of the firewall forward plans. He told the family to get out of the room and we talked about what was next. We also talked about life and it was one of the few times you get to say goodbye to somebody you love.
In the last 2 years, I've spent over a 1,000 hours with the guy and I feel like I've lost my best friend. My only regret is that he won't get to fly in the RV but I guarantee you he will be there in spirit.
So, here's to you JB. I miss you........
Perhaps others will take a moment out to share a tribute to those that held the bucking bar for them.
If the picture didn't show, here is the site
http://picasaweb.google.com/Wickfourth/200802Feb/photo#5213053386804018322
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