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waltappel

GirlFallDown...BSBD

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I hope it's not offensive to post this snippet from an IM chat i had with shannon about my sister's death a few months ago. I felt the need to share it though, and i bolded a few things:

girlfalldown: Hey sweetie, I just read about your sister. I'm so sorry it's aweful.
girlfalldown: are you doing ok?
cheecheepie: i have good days and bad days
girlfalldown: well I just wanted to say I'm so sorry and I wish I could give youa big hug right now.
cheecheepie: hardly anyone even noticed i hadn't been on dzcom for a few weeks. But i was busy dealing with my sister's death and stuff
cheecheepie: it's weird to be in someone's house and go through their stuff
girlfalldown: I always notice you're gone.
girlfalldown: no one plays with me like you used to. lol
cheecheepie: i'm slowly coming back
girlfalldown: I bet. I'm always afraid of who goes through my stuff when I go. I need to throw out some...uh...things
cheecheepie: with robin's stuff it's sooo weird. I mean, whatever me and Suzie don't take, we're donating to goodwill.
cheecheepie: but somteims i feel wrong for wearing Robin's clothes or shoes, and i have her hair dryer...just stuff like that.
cheecheepie: it's just something you can't ever comprehend unless it happens. It always happens to "someone else"
girlfalldown: look at it this way, if you were gone would you rather have your loved ones use your things or complete strangers?
girlfalldown: I bet she'd prefer for you to have her stuff and to put it to use. Keep her memory alive in a way.

cheecheepie: i know, but it still seems odd
girlfalldown: yeah I do understand.



Wow. I was just in our spare bedroom looking for some pictures and I sat there contemplating that very question. How am I going to be able to go through all this stuff? I sat down at our computer, clicked on this thread, and this was the first message that came up. wtf?

Thank you for posting that. I'm finding that so many people DID know Shannon's soft side, through thier individual relationships.

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Wow. I was just in our spare bedroom looking for some pictures and I sat there contemplating that very question. How am I going to be able to go through all this stuff? I sat down at our computer, clicked on this thread, and this was the first message that came up. wtf?

Thank you for posting that. I'm finding that so many people DID know Shannon's soft side, through thier individual relationships.



Say the word and i'm on a plane to help you.... I know how hard it is to go through a loved one's stuff. You'll find things that will make you laugh, then find things that make you cry. It's a rollercoaster of emotions and i wish like hell i could take your pain away. Just remember how many of us are here for you if you need us.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

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Ok,I have been puttin off posting on Shannon for a bit because of all the friend I lost in the past. Never had a chance to jump with her,but we posted and PM'd some. Shannon, BLUE SKIES my dear and I will feel you as the wind on my face on my next jump, and it will be our firsts jump together Bry GOD BLESS:|
--------------------------------------------------
Growing old is mandatory.Growing up is optional!!

D.S.#13(Dudeist Skdiver)

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I'm still in vacation out of the country... checked my mails... and get this terrible news...
I didn't GFD too much... but she was part of the byron family... and I talked to her many times... I feel terribly sad...
I don't know what to say...
All my thoughts for bob and her family...

Blue sky
Samuel - Adept of Byron's Love

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The worst possible news, absolutley heartbreaking.

My Tribute to Shanon
I dont know the ettiquete to this so Im just going to let it flow and what will be will be.

I first met Shannon in 2000 whilst hunting for a place to live in San Francisco having recently arrived from the UK.
Its wrong to covet those you live with i know..but who could help themselves? She was beautiful, smart, hilarious, warm, wild and kind. Also she had a silver Mustang and thousands of bottles of Argentinian wine in the garage!!!
To my delight she took a shine to me and we lived together as a couple for over a year; one of the most fantastic years of my life.
Several lodgers came and went from our happy/crazed apartment in Glen Park and one invited us to do a 'tandem' skydive at a place called Bay Area Skydiving...
I was dubious but Shannon was adamant we both go. We went and were hooked. We were back a week later pouring money over the counter to do the AFF course. We started on the same day, but thats where the similarity ended.
Shannon was the model AFF student. Passed all levels first time, exuded confidence, grinned endlessly and socialised with her new friends to be. My AFF was spent in quiet personal terror in the horrid toilets outside, I failed levels and terrified at least one instructor.
Despite this we were both consumed completely by skydiving. We drove our friends insane with jump stories and 'skydived' round the apartment wearing our freshly bought altimeters..so childish, so much fun.

We split up eventually of course but thankfully after the emotions settled we remained friends chatting (mostly total shit), regularly online.

From the UK I watched in awe as her jumps numbers rose exponentially to mine up and up and up. She was always a wild child but it was as though skydiving had just been there waiting for her. Not just in the jumping but in the community and the love to.

Her love is repeated in the messages here over and over. Maybe its a lesser known thing that she was also a very clever girl to. She did a pretty good job of hiding this, preferring mostly to discuss favourite topics like ass sex or intoxication.

The last time I spoke to her was about her imminent selling up and RV trip. At first I ribbed her about it, laughing that she was quitting her job to become a red kneck hobo in a trailer. Later I felt bad about what I had said (I dont know why she ribbed me mercilessly at every possible opportunity!). I said I thought it would be a wicked adventure and we pondered the places she might live in the future.....

To Shannon. Thanks for a million fantastic memories. Thanks for teaching me that its the little things that count more than anything. You are woven forever into the fabric of my life. I never stopped loving you and can never forget you.

To Bob. I didnt know you but Im sure of this. You were the peice of the puzzle that had been missing in Shannons life. She was uncompromising in her relationships...you were either in or you were out. I cant even imagine how you feel right now but i hope its some solice that you helped make her short but amazing life whole.

To the community. I see a lot of posts on here that send there love to her family. Take it from me you were her family and I think you have done her proud, its amazing.


To anyone who feels im talking out of place here; please remember that time doesnt change how you have felt about someone.


My love to everyone who feels the loss of Shannon.

Ollie.

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I guess her friends and family should respond to your post more than I...but

I hope someday my X's have as good a tribute to me as you do to Shannon. :)
That was incredible to read...thank you.
To borrow a line from Squeak...MY LIFE ROCKS!! HOW'S YOURS??!!!

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To Bob and Shannon's family:

I did not know her but reading through the posts, I've come across so many lovely sentiments about her. One poster who knew Shannon but never got to jump with her said: "I will feel you as the wind on my face on my next jump, and it will be our first jump together"

and:

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The pictures everyone is posting here made me smile as I realized she was loved so much and she was enjoying her life completely with friends who cared! She must have known she was loved in life and that is priceless



I'll use an adjective someone else used "enchanting"; what a truly enchanting person she was to have inspired such an outpouring of emotions from so many, and she will forever be in the hearts and minds of the people who cared for her.

Bob, the interview you did on the newscast was so lovely and honoring to her.

My most profound condolences to Bob, her family, and friends. My prayers are with you as you deal with this tremendous loss.
"...I've learned that while the "needs" in life are important (food, water, shelter), it's the "wants" in life (ice cream, chocolate, sex) that make it worth the effort." Kbordson

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I've stayed out of this thread to let her truest friends have a say. I can say that tears have ran down my cheeks reading some of these comments. It does huge justice to the life of Shannon that so many people have been affected.

All i can say is i wish the best for all involved, god bless
1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

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All these wonderful pics. I hope they get moved over to the Photos pages, there is a "Remember" thread there. So far just Holly is there. Shannon for sure rates a photo thread next door to Holly.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

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JP, everybody?

Do you have video of Shannon I could compile?

I understand there are lots of folks who are disappointed with how long it's taking me and Iwan to get the Holiday Boogie video out, but both of us have been blessed/cursed with "interesting times". More about that later.

If you have video of Shannon, and me and Iwan have tons, please send me a PM for my home address. I'm putting something together for her memorial.

JP (NorCal)

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Lately, I have not been on DZ.com that much and tonight I decided that I should read the incidents forum since there were 25 unread incident posts. I could not believe the first post I read about the tandem passenger getting away from the TM. Then I went on to the TF Base Incidents.

When I read the article about Shannon, I had to read it over and over again. It simply did not sink in. How could something like this happen to someone like Shannon? I am still in shock and although Shannon and I never knew each other personally (even though from the same area), I always enjoyed reading her posts online and appreciated her quirky and witty sense of humor. Sometimes when I read her posts it would make me sad that I left NorCal.

I know everyone is in shock and I hope all you NorCal folk support each other during this very sad time :(. I do not know LisaMarieWillBe but by reading her posts I can see that she is in deep pain and can really use some support. It is obvious that the skydiving community has suffered a great loss as well as Shannon's other family and friends.

I for one am still in shock. Blue skies Shannon. The NorCal bunch are in my thoughts, especially Iwan, Chop Chop, and Geno.
Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."

Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

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I'm generally a dz.com lurker; I'm not usually motivated enough to actually post anything. I've certainly spent enough time on this website, though, to know who GirlFallDown was. Even with the little I knew of her - impressions from her quick, funny and compassionate posts - the news of her death threw me for a loop.

Skydiving is a small community, and we are all always moved by the loss of one of our own. But the reaction to Shannon's death is something else entirely. If the number of people affected by a person's death is any indication of that person's effect on the world, clearly Shannon was someone who made a difference. Reading post after post, the number of people who loved and cherished this woman is truly awesome. She may have left too early, but she still left one hell of a mark. Those who love her should be proud of her legacy.

I send out love and wishes of peace to my fellow jumpers who are suffering her loss.

Blue skies, Shannon.

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JP, everybody?

Do you have video of Shannon I could compile?

I understand there are lots of folks who are disappointed with how long it's taking me and Iwan to get the Holiday Boogie video out, but both of us have been blessed/cursed with "interesting times". More about that later.

If you have video of Shannon, and me and Iwan have tons, please send me a PM for my home address. I'm putting something together for her memorial.

JP (NorCal)



(Sorry for the sidebar) JP, thanks for letting us know that a 2005 Holiday Boogie video will actually exist sometime though.

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