Drake, My Best Friend
What can I say..?? My best friend is gone and I don't know why... There will never be an answer to that question...
Well, it is hard to do a photo tribute to Drake (Clarke Arthur Chamberlain) encompassing our years together as running buddies when all my pictures are stored in a unit in New Hampshire and I am living in Manila... However, I have been keeping a digital record since 2003 so I do have a few images to share with everyone...
For over 40 years Drake and I had fun together... We built quite a friendship... We had so many adventures... We lived life... Hard to believe that all I have are the memories...
In our teens, experimenting, exploring, living life on the edge... Working hard as Ironwokers, playing hard on the river... Ever the survivors...
Into our twenties where we became more than friends, we became family when I married his sister... My sons middle name is Clarke... He was a friend, an uncle to honor...
In our thirties, I traveled throughout the States to visit with him... Even tho' we were no longer family, he was still my "brother-in-law"...
Our forties, he was in the South... Taking care of animals... We saw each other occasionally...
Our fifties, we adventured anew... Yearly visits together to hang... He became a part of my grandchildren's lives... Always the friend, always the family... We would be able to just have fun... We could always do that together... I will miss him...
So here are a few shots of Drake that I have pulled from the archives... Hope you enjoy remembering the good times that you spent with him as I do when I look these....
They are in chronological order starting from 2003...
The slopes of Mt. Washington....
The woods of the White Mountains
The Flume
Hanging out on the Kangamangus
Uncle Clarke, Liz and Marley at Serenity
The Boys: Adam, Steve, Joon and Drake
Teaching Marley the art of the "Cream Cram"
A great candid pose
Adam and his Uncle Clarke
Drake and Docs
Drake introducing Docs to Adam and Marley
Uncle Clarke and Marley going for a ride
Great shot of Drake and Marley
Anemones that almost look like cotton balls..!!
Seeding staghorn coral.. This is all seeded, new-growth coral....
The reef...
Plenty of fishies...
Always smiling...
Lots of cotton balls....
A close-up of the anemones...
My diving buddy - Neil...
Neil using the pony tank because he sucked up his other tank... Having too much fun..!!
Relaxing after the dives with the proverbial cigar and San Miguel....
James, Neil, me and Joel....
Looking out from the Anilau Beach Club...
Another view of the grounds...
Coastal Clean-Up - A Good Thing.....
