Monday, 17 September 2012

Bird is the Word Challenge - Spirit

Our eldest son, the first to call me Mum; he was one of those children that just cruised through childhood and his teenage years. No major health issues and no problems with school except the occasional day dream or distraction. He was a wonderful, if sometimes impatient, big brother to his three siblings but always looked out for them.
He was a bit of a daredevil when it came to heights. I found him on the roof of the house at 18 months and had to call the fire brigade to come and get him down as I was 9 months pregnant with our second child at the time. He had climbed to the top of a Norfolk Island Pine by the time he was 10, abseiled and climbed through his teenage Scouting years and abseiled Perth's tallest building for charity in his early 20's.
He was a very sociable person whose very generous character and smile drew people to him like a magnet. He was also a bit of a chameleon, comfortable and appropriately dressed for his mates in the motorcycling club, attending an eclectic range of music concerts, his role in horticultural management to the dapper young man who attended the races with his wife on his arm.  
Here he is dressed as his role as Best Man for his mates wedding and it was at this wedding that I realised he was a very accomplished public speaker and was later asked to speak at a Managers Breakfast Conference about managing the Gen Y's. His mentor knew he had chosen the right person when he arrived at his interview in a business suit and tie with his skateboard under his arm.
One of his passions was his motorbike and he was well known for his innovative design changes; I didn't like him riding but he was the most carefully prepared and careful rider. The posts on his motorcycle club and facebook pages after his accident only served to confirm that he was much loved, not only by his family but by people around the world who were touched by him in some way.
I miss him everyday.
Thank you for looking and any comments you may leave, best wishes.


9 comments:

  1. My heartfelt thoughts are with you and luckily you now have that beautiful grandson, son of your son.

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  2. He sounds like an amazing young man - the world has missed out on a great gift...don't know why, but it often seems that way. You have got a GORGEOUS grandson, as Sandra says....wonder how much like his Dad he will turn out ..be interesting to watch him grow!!!! Love the mix of pp you've used here:):):)....must go, but you write such INTERESTING posts!!!!!!

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  3. Oh Susan, another beautiful layout to pay tribute to your dear Son..It sounds like he crammed a lot into his life... I love the masculine colors you have used.. and thanks for being a part of the BITW challenge..

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  4. Most of my favourite pages of yours have "j" in them an I think it's because you can just see the time and love that you especially put into those pages. I love how clean and masculine this page is.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Bel, Thank you, you may be right! I have only removed the second one as it was an accidental repeat of the first. Love you!

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  6. Susan I am so sorry for your loss!
    your story and tribute to your sons life through layouts is very moving.
    Thanks for sharing with us at Bird Is The Word
    hugz
    irini

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  7. this is beautiful love the lo and the pic!! thanks for joining us at BITW. I'm now a follower

    I'm having a giveaway on my blog
    http://kerentamir.blogspot.ca/

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  8. Love your work!

    Thx for joining us at BITW :)

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