I’ve been in a funk all day. One of the bloggers, Neptunus Lex, I read regularly passed away this week. I’ve been busy so I didn't hear about it till today. I came to his blog because he was a pilot. It’s no secret that given my druthers I too would have a pilot’s license. There are several different styles of blog that I read. Some are all original like mine, some are links and some combine the two with commentary along side the link. Lex chose to mix links with commentary as well as original content. After reading his opinion and the linked piece you began to understand him as a person. There are a few blogs I read that do this. Often I agree with what the blogger has to say sometimes not. Lex was a retired aircraft carrier fighter pilot so he often highlighted stories I would never of read or gave insight not found elsewhere on the web. These insights will be sorely missed since I have no other comparable source for them.
Not only was his commentary on the events of the day almost always worth at least a quick glance his own original flying stories were a good read. He was a much better writer than I will ever be. He was one who showed what was possible to do with a blog. I do not have the desire or insights do a link blog with commentary but if I did I’d strive to be like his.
Which does not explain why I’m so saddened by his passing. Sure a pilot died doing what he loved but given all his options I think he would rather be alive today. It is true he knew there were risks and was willing to take them. Just like he was willing to put himself in harms way in the middle east. Sleeping safe and sound in my bed at home I’m truly grateful. That he continued to give back to his country in retirement as part of training future pilots only makes him more my hero.
There are so many aspects of his passing that I will mourn but I guess what I will remember most about him is this piece he wrote when Sarah Palin burst onto the national scene.
May God keep and comfort your family.
