Remember Mike 

I’ve been good friends with Mike for about 15 years, and the memories that I cherish the most are the times we spent hiking in the Adirondacks, the Catskills, or some nearby trails.  Three years ago, Mike and I hiked overnight on a trail near Old Forge.  Our destination was a small pond with a lean-to where we planned to set up camp and do a little swimming and hiking.  Mike knew at the time that since I had become a lazy, out-of-shape golfer, we would need to hike a relatively flat trail.

The day was very hot and humid, much like today, and the hike went relatively problem free until we were about 20 ft. from the lean-to.  That’s when I, Mr. athletic golfer, decided to plant my foot in a hole and my ankle gave way.  Pain went through my ankle and after three minutes of crawling on my hands and knees, I finally made it to the lean-to.  Mike, the Eagle Scout, told me to take my shoe and sock off so he could examine my ankle.  He took one look at it and simply said “nice job”. 

At this point, I became pretty pessimistic and felt we should turn around and head back.  But Mike talked me into staying and we spent the rest of the afternoon talking and enjoying the wilderness.   Since I was useless with a bum ankle, Mike did everything from cooking to collecting firewood.   The next day, Mike got up and his mind went to work again planning on how he was going to get a 150lb lug with a bum ankle back to the car.  Well, Mike took a couple of ace bandages that he brought and wrapped my ankle up as tight as he could and then found a couple of sticks and told me to use them as crutches. A textbook outdoorsman. Obviously with a lot of coaching from Mike we made it back to the car with no permanent damage to my ankle.  When he was later asked how the trip went, Mike genially said he had a good time.

I bring this story up because it is quintessential Mike.  It shows the Mike that we all knew and loved.

-         Mike did not worry about the small little things in life.  He wasn’t upset about the fact that we couldn’t hike as much as he wanted.  He was just glade to be outdoors and with his friend.

-         Yes…Mike was concerned about my ankle, but he kept his cool and used his skills to help me get off that mountain when I felt I would never get off. 

-        Mike was full of knowledge, and he generously helped people out with that knowledge. 

-        He was the definition of generous in every aspect of the word.  He would give you the shirt off his back without hesitation. 

-        Although Mike was younger then some of us, he taught us all lessons of life.  Lessons such as: 

o       Courage

o       Generosity

o       Compassion

o       Family & Friendship

o       Respect

o       Loyalty

o       And love

o       The list goes on and on

All of us deeply, deeply miss Mike and we may feel that it is impossible to get through life without him.  When this happens, think of the lessons that he taught us, and use them…use them a lot.  And teach them to others, especially your children.  Not only will this make us better people, but it will make Mike live in our hearts forever.

                                                                    Aaron Hull