I have so many memories of Gary and the impact he made on my life. I met him at Skydive Aggieland and he was one of the few people I could fly with in the beginning since I floated so much. He named me and my two friends (also small girls) the Sky Pixies and always joked about how he stayed thin to be able to fly with the Pixies. He was on my first and only helicopter jump and he made fun of me for screaming when we left the door. Ha ha! As the years went by I began having ear problems similar to his and after the first surgery my skydiving became limited like his. So, I donned ear plugs and a wet suit and attempted to surf. Gary took me under his wing and loaned me one of his surf boards. We walked out into the surf and when we got to the waves I pretty much became a flailing mess. He showed me how to get past them and together we got out there and staged for the waves. He showed me how to sit on the board (quite a challenge ha ha!) and how to pick a good wave. I still remember him holding the board like a father holds the bike for a child their first time without training wheels. He shot me into a wave which surged me forward. He cheered me on telling me to get up and when I tried, it was a hilarious ass over tea kettle acrobatics display. When it was all over I wanted to try again but was thoroughly exhausted. I tried and tried to get back out there but just couldn't. He then swam ahead of me, told me to grab his foot, and towed me out there so I could have one more try. Again, ass over tea kettle but this time I caught the wave by myself. We tried to go out again a few weeks later but the weather got too bad for a beginner and shortly after that I moved out of state. We stayed in contact though, talking about surfing, skydiving, me getting married to the love of my life, flying, me having ear surgery two more times, and him having cancer and not much time left… I forever will miss him and how he treated me and everyone, despite our setbacks, like the most important people he had ever been around. He was a true friend, a guy who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, a tow out to sea and the push you needed to get out into that wave. While he will not be there to tow me out the next time I challenge the ocean, he will be the strength within me that pushes me to get out there, catch that wave, get off my knees, and stand up. Thank you Gary, for living your life to the fullest and inspiring me to do the same. -Beach Bums Forever
