Greetings foolish mortals.  Here we are at the last day of September.  While tomorrow is the beginning of October and we're in the fanfare of my favorite time of the year, this is always a special day and it's not for a good reason.

30 years ago on this day, I lost one of my best friends and two other friends in a helicopter crash.  I was on my way to the Persian Gulf for Desert Shield later Desert Storm.  Off the coast of Oregon on this night, my roommate Bill "Nick" Nolte was killed in a dual engine failure in his SH-60B Seahawk helicopter.  When I was told the next morning about the crash, I didn't know how to respond.  I was in shock and didn't realize it at the moment.  I've seen the response I had in movies or tv and they nailed the emotions.  I was in disbelief, denial, anger almost all at the same time.  It was hard to understand how it happened because it was never fully explained until I learned more later.  Even this time later, 30 years, I'm still greatly affected by this.  I will never forget my bud, my mate and my friend.  We had some great times.

Take care Nick, I miss you bud.



Until next time...

BBP out!!!