08/17/2021
Rarely a day goes by that I don’t think about Ronnie. We were only 6 months apart in age and grew up together, like brother and sister. For a year and a half we lived together, went to school together had classes together, rode the bus together, had the same circle of friends... he was the older brother I never had.
On this day, 18 years ago, our family (and many of you) got news that would take a chunk out of our hearts. Ronnie, and my younger brother, Chad, were racing in the Pine Cone family enduro race - a race they had both run yearly for many years... it’s a slow, methodical race through the woods near the Kalkaska area of Michigan. Ronnie had been riding dirt bikes since he was strong enough to twist the throttle. He went to school so he could work on small engines, and wore top of the line helmets, safety gear and pads. He had reached an open area in the race and something caught his eye... campers were there off in an area where no one was supposed to be. The front tire of his bike caught a tree stump and he went over the handlebars.
There are a thousand ways he could have landed that would have made the outcome different... but he landed in precisely the right way that, despite his helmet, shoulder pads, chest protector and other gear, he didn’t survive. My brother was able to get to Ronnie just minutes after the accident, which both makes me smile and breaks my heart. I smile, because Ronnie was able to spend his last moments with one of his best friends being comforted and encouraged. I cry because, while holding his hand, my brother lost his mentor and one of his best friends that day.
Take time to tell your friends and family that you love them. You never know when it may be the last time you can say it to them.
Forever Remembered. 🤟🏻❤️🩹 2️⃣1️⃣
