Martin Cole,
You are such a great friend, and made my life richer.
You taught me to skateboard, and oh how I loved that! You introduced me to strange Brit Rock, which I still love today. I remember when we were both passengers in the same car, we would entertain ourselves by making sound effects, sometimes for hours on end. I remember the times you came camping with us, We scared the wits out of your mother one night, by touching her leg with a stick under the picnic table. (My Mom and Your's had just seen a family of raccoons scurry across the campsite, and that had put them on edge. Perfect timing!) I remember when you moved from Blackburn Place to Blackburn Road, 2 blocks away, how sad I was that you wouldn't be across the street anymore! But then I realized your driveway had a hill, and that would be perfect for the quarter pipe skate ramp you had gotten. I remember listening to Adam Ant in your basement.
When you moved back to Scotland, I missed you. When you came back to the states in 1991 or 1992 to take a road trip across America, I was so excited. I loved that van you got, and I still have the stowaway breakfast table from that van. It was so fun to have you back in town for a while, and then great stories about your road trip.
I wish I had known you longer, and as you grew older. I always recognized you right away in any picture that your mom passed to my mom. I would hear little tidbits about where you were living, that you were making records, and I was happy for you. I was very happy to hear that you have a son, Casper. Who I assume will be even cooler than you, if that is possible. I never met your wife, but I am sure I would love her.
Now that you are no longer walking the earth, I know that you can feel my love and admiration easily. Across whatever distance separates us. I hope Casper will know that he will always have a friend in America. A friend that his Father knew.
A friend named Jeff Boyce.
