Following the death of my friend Frank Bond, on Christmas Day, Robert Bagley sent an old photo he had taken on the occasion following Frank being elected president of IAF and my retirement from being Executive Secretary of IAF. As well as our being close friends Frank and I had worked closely together for many years helping others reform and expand the Association. At that time it had seemed to be completion of what we had set out to do, an appropriate time for change. It was for Jenny and I an emotional meeting in France when the President and assembled delegates presented me with a wonderful bronze sculpture as memento for my years of service marking my retirement.
This photo was sent after these intervening years as one of many recalling Franks presidency, following which I wrote:-Tears on that occasion and now more tears today,
I will miss my friend Frank.
We have spoken with each other most days
By Face Time during this past few weeks
As we approached this inevitable moment,
Recalling our many adventures together
From when life brought us together twenty five years ago.
Each day during these last weeks we have shared my flights,
Often recalling memorable events from years past,
What else do falconers talk about?
And for those minutes life was normal, we were both happy.
However the time had come,
Last weekend he gave his remaining female Gyr to a friend.
The moment shared by the wonder of real time pictures on Face Time
We both knew its significance.
Frank died on Christmas day.
I am grateful for our friendship over many years,
For so much that now lives on in my life,
Even though we can no longer chat about it today.
And then somebody else sent this by Henry Scott Holland.
With passing season now it's Spring, our garden full of flowers, my falcons laying eggs with the promise of new life. Our new foal has arrived three days ago, Frank will not see him even though we talked about the dream of what he might be, his own horses moved on in their lives. The seasons move on relentlessly, new life all around us bringing joy in place of grief. All is well.
