Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Words cannot express the feeling of loss upon hearing of the passing of my good friend and "brother" Blair. Of all the people I have encountered in my life, Blair was one of the best - a non-pretentious man who believed that life was what you made of it, and no matter how much crap was flung his way he always managed to shake it off and look forward to happier, sunny days. Like most of us, he was a down-to-earth type of person who was looking for his path through life with the least amount of obstructions. I shared in many of his ups and downs, and am glad to say there were many happy times at work and play over the 38 years of knowing him - from our times with Francis in Burnaby to our days under the midnight sun in the Arctic.
Blair loved his family out East, was always talking about them, and wished Alberta was closer to home. He always wanted to bring me back and I was always eager. Now that I'm retired, Bev and I were planning to head that way; I was hoping to see and hang out again and I am sure I will when my time comes. Rest assured, Blair's name will be brought up many times in years to come when all the people who cared and loved him reminisce about his laugh and devil-may-care demeanour. As I write this, I think I hear him playing his guitar and singing Dylan's "Forever Young".
Rest in peace good friend. You'll be always with us. We'll be listening for your tunes that'll be Blowin' in the Wind.
Charlie Baird
