SFC Matt Blaskowski

Well here we are again kid, that time of year when we should be about busting clay and scouting birds. I don't know if I'll get here on your day. Catching a boat...how funny. Sailing for real this time. It's fall almost here, leaves are turning. Lots of geese and ducks. I don't want to shoot 'em now. I want to let them grow old and all that. Sentimental days when evenings are short, Need to find you something. Here are hopes of fair winds and following seas.

 

hey Kid. Duluth. You wouldn't believe the geese I've seen. Superior is big..and lonely....a lot of time with seeing nothing but water...water and flocks and flocks of canadians going south. Jesus. We are loading up, be dumping down Detroit way. It's ok here...good guys, a few veterans. 1000' of freedom....the money is good, the hours suck, and the scenery is unbeatable. I'm going to fly a 173 flag soon. It's almost 6 years. It's hard to fathom. Should be opening up on grouse tomorrow. I hope they are thick and flush clean. We shoot clays off the stern some nights....I win all the money. They don't even know about this. I love you, kid.

 

Yes Luke you are a grand friend and comrade to keep SFC Blaskowski's memory alive. He is a man greatly missed by peers, subordinates and strangers alike. Thanks for sharing his story here. :S!

 

Yep, I second this sentiment.

 

Leaving south of home tonight buddy. Raining, cold, foggy. Perfect. I feel peaceful out here, waves rocking at the pace of my soul. The money doesn't hurt. I think through fall and winter, as long as they will keep me, and next spring and summer...then we head back out west. Saw big waves this week, 12 feet plus. Nothing like a 15 foot aluminum boat to the light house. Close kid, close. 6 years is a blink, and a life time. I sit on the back of the boat at times and look into the wake and think of our lives, together at the start apart in the end. So far away...so goddamn far away.

 

Ohio. Anchors away. 6 years today. I can't stumble through awkward words today. It's too fresh and yet feels like it's always been. I trust in whatever awaits us, that you are resting peacefully.

 

Week off. Went out for duck opener today, but didn't even pull the trigger. It rained, it was cold and windy. Perfect. Torn waders, rotten coat. Old decoys with more than one shot hole in them. Down. Ashes fall. You should see the trees from the lake when we are close to shore. It's indescribable.

 

Well. This seems appropriate. Fall is full on here....back to the job tomorrow. Catching on close to home. Sat in a duck blind and/or goose field for 5 days. Shooting wasn't important. Not like it used to be. May have a house again...I've been a roaming drifter for the last year. We'll see. I love it here in the fall....we'll see what winter brings. Maybe we stay maybe not. Money is in the bank, opening up options. It is getting good again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd0SBFDc2no

 

I can't describe how good this has been for me. As north as I can go and keep water under the keel. Long days, long nights. Dark as I need it to be. I want to get on a classic though, houses fore and aft. Though a floating home has never been as comfy as this. It's been strange. Hunting should be in full force, but I don't really miss it. I think next year is back to Wyoming...those were good days. Wind and waves now. Good fellows. Almost right. Almost right.

 

Happy Veteran's Day, kid. Hell of a roll yesterday. Waves were a little puckering. It's good here.

 

I thought I knew cold...I was wrong...it's freaking cold out here....Close to Canadian shoreline Lake Superior at 3am with a 50 mph wind blowing on you as you are walking the spar....I think I had -28 wind chill but seemed colder. Looking off the stern it's all black, can't see a damn thing. Magic. Almost Thanksgiving.

 

Lay up. Sailing in the ice is no joke, kid. It's been cold...I saw 40 below more than once. Going somewhere warm, if that exits, for a while. Back in the spring. Changes of lifestyle lately...it's all good. Be home to see you soon I hope, if I Can get there....damn amounts of snow I hear.

 

Back to work, kid. Winter was ok. Spent it down south with some friends...back to it now. Sort of. 15 hours of tugs trying to break us away from the dock...ice 9ft thick. We'll get out soon probably. On an old boat this year, for now. It's ok. Head is on straighter than I think it has been in a while. I can't wait to get back out on the open lake and look for you to talk to me. Ashes fall.

 

Sun rise, sun set. Ice, thick and clean. Slow travels, coast guard is under rated. You wouldn't believe the noise these old boats make in the ice, it's enough to give you the fidgets. Down. Missing the kiddos. Missing the way it was. Will be up for an AB license soon. Indeed.

 

Its real slow out here. For some reason the CG cuts a path just narrow enough for us to wedge ourselves in good and stuck.

 

Memorial Day again. Sunny day, blue skies. Stinking steel mill, but soon will change. I miss you...but that's nothing new. Things are good...great. No drinks in 5 week....that was getting worrisome. Will be out of range on Monday kid...hope all is as it should be.

 

Hey buddy. Home this week. Had a craft/hippie art show in the park. I dropped knowledge on people about you. Back out Monday, probably til October. Things. They are good. All of the memories, none of the drinks. Spent some time with you. I didn't have anything to offer this time. Maybe soon. We plow forward

 

7 years today kid. 7 years. What a lifetime. I am sorry I can't visit this year. Losing track of the days, never bad. Sunset was quite a show in the big lake tonight. Two weeks ago was bad. Worst weather I've seen. Hope it's not a glimpse of things. I miss you. Ashes fall.