A Very Sad Anniversary

Today marks a sad anniversary for our family. One year ago this evening, Mike Guillickson (Halle's dad) was killed in a tragic snowmobile accident in Blue Mounds, WI. He was doing nothing wrong, was not drunk, was wearing a helmet, and in fact was stopped or nearly stopped while waiting on some friends to catch up to him. Another snowmobile jumped over a small hill, and struck Mike in the head and chest, killing him almost instantly.

Mike and I were fairly new friends, having known each other for just over a year before he was killed. I liked him a lot, we had a lot in common, and I have no doubt we would have become good friends over the years. I had known his sister Kelsi for many more years, and have gotten to know his other sister Heidi much better since the accident, as well as most of the Gullickson family. I am fortunate for this, but like everyone else, I also miss Mike and his almost always smiling and friendly face, his frequent and funny telephone calls. Mike and I had a really good conversation, about 15 minutes or so, on the phone just 3 hours before his death.

He had called looking for Halle, who had sort of played hooky from school and was shopping with Missy. Mike had played hooky from work to go snowmobile riding, and was making his daily rounds of cell phone calls to his friends and family. We joked about how you should never waste a sick day when you are actually sick. Hell, if you're sick go to work! Take sick days when you feel great and want to do something fun. We chatted for a while about high school, and then he said he was going to call Halle on Missy's cell phone. We said goodbye for the final time.

He did get a hold of Halle and they spoke for a while. One of his favorite sayings was "Never say goodbye without saying I love you". So I have no doubt those are the final words Halle ever heard him speak. This past year has been one of ups and downs for Halle, and the rest of the family too. Breaking the news to her about her fathers death was the hardest thing Missy and I had ever done in our lives. Halle has had a tough year, but she has also shown signs of amazing resilience. She remembers her father in nothing but a glowing light, exactly as she should. He was a very good dad to her for several years, following a rocky beginning. He was a good man, a great dad, and a friend to MANY. It would have been very hard to not like "Gulli".

So today my thoughts and best wishes go out to Halle, Heidi, Kelsi, Chick, Julie and the rest of the Gullickson family. Thanks and wishes also go out to Mark Pattinson for being a best friend to Mike (and us) and organizing The First Annual GulliFest, Dave Best at Throttle Masters (Proved that big tough biker dudes can cry and still be bad ass), the class of Dodgeville High School, Jodie Klare at Park Elementary School, The Crusaders, Loners, and CC Riders motorcycle clubs, and The Ridgeway Riders snowmobile club. Collectively everyone has helped in their own small (or big) way to make this year just a little better for Halle and everyone else that loved Mike.

So tonight, before you go to bed, say a little prayer for Halle and for Mike. I hope that he is looking down upon her and is happy with the awesome young lady that is emerging from the little girl he helped raise. I hope he approves of my step-daddying skills, and knows I am trying my best to raise her well and give her the quality of life she deserves.

We miss you Mike...