A TRIBUTE TO FRANK ..... an epic guy and an epic friend

[Hennessey]

Wow, He's gone. When I heard the word of Frank's passing it took my breath away but it didn't hurt, as I have a greater hope and I know we shall soon be united once again.

I have not ever known another like Frank and if I could describe my friend with one word it would be "EPIC!" with caps and an exclamation mark. If you spent much time with this dreamer you would inevitably find yourself caught up in one of his exploits to make a dream become reality ...... and that was a really good thing or possibly a really bad thing, but more than likely a mixture of both. Oh, how I enjoyed the best of times with my friend and wanted to hug his neck when it was over. Then again I have also suffered through some of the worst of times and I wanted to wring that very same neck (lol).

The one thing that just drove me nuts about dear ol' Frank was his tendency to embellish what ever he said or did. The perplexity came because you knew he was capable of carrying out any story told and every endeavor embarked upon, but after a while you knew there was always the BS factor to be considered ......... or was it really BS? Could it be that Frank saw things a little differently than the rest of us? I truly believe so, and that was why there seemed no bounds too great or too distant to keep this man from trying what others would run from and oft with terror in their eyes and faint in their hearts.

Oh my, the multitude of stories I could tell of my times with Frank but I will suffice with but one today, taken from the accounts of three decades ago.

Frank and I weren't doing much together when this memorable event took place as my wife, Cathy and I were in our religious mode and Frank had left this same mode for more of the rigors and excitement of the world. Who had the better part at this time? Well today, I look back and know our paths were each Divinely appointed, but that is another story all together. Any way I had run into Frank and he told me someone had just given him a plane and he asked me if I would like to take a ride in it. We made arrangements for a flight the next morning and when I met Frank at the airport he explained that we needed to do a few minor repairs on the plane before we took it up. This was not sounding good already but after a few protesting words I agreed and then Frank handed me two rolls of Duct Tape. Whoa! is not Duct Tape the very worst thing you would want your pilot to hand you pre-flight, much less two rolls of it. Oh Frank!

Well we walked out to the where the gifted plane was tied down and I was really scratching my head upon my first view of this antique monstrosity. This beast of a plane was the very exact color as the rolls of grey Duct Tape I held in my hands, giving possible cause for further consternation.

So Frank showed me the torn fabric on the wings he wanted me to tape up and he set about pumping up one of the flat tires on the plane. After we finished these repairs, my grinning pilot told me that he discovered a puddle under the plane so he deduced that the fuel cylinder must have a leak. "No problem" Frank announced and then He asked if I had some money for some more gas before we went up. If that wasn't the final nail in the coffin for my refusal to go any further with this misguided adventure, he then told me there was a short in the starter. When he proceeded to demonstrate how he wanted me to hand prop the propeller I nearly fainted and said, "see ya, Frank!"

I bid him fare well and asked him, should he get the plane up, please fly by the house and tip a wing. I told him , "Cathy and I were having our pastor and his wife over for a barbecue in a few hours and would be lunching out side."

At the time Cathy and I lived out in the country and that afternoon we were having a wonderful time cooking and sharing fellowship in the shade of the three large pecan trees that sheltered the yard. I had just put the steaks on when I heard the sound of a distant plane approaching. "Cool" I thought. Maybe Frank had gotten the plane up and that was him coming to tip a wing in salute to the us. YEAH RIGHT!!!

The next hour was filled with all out pandemonium and complete horror. You see Frank as usual had to lend a little embellishment to his fly by. Oh no, of course the polite tipping of a wing would never suffice as a salute. As we all stood gazing up at this grey plane coming ever larger into view we could never have imagined the depth of this greeting we would be receiving from Frank. This gleeful pilot kept coming at us full bore until we decided to run for our lives into the house. The noise was deafening and I could hear the pecans falling from the trees onto the roof as Frank brushed the top most branches of the trees with his landing gear.

Finally the pastor, his wife, Cathy and myself gathered ourselves thinking we had weathered the storm with nothing but a few years cut off our lives because of the fear we had just experienced. A bit dazed, we finally wandered back outside to the picnic table and grill to continue our visit and finish preparing our meal. As soon as we had just begun to relax again we were startled anew by the roaring engine of Frank's plane fast approaching. Seconds later we were again climbing all over each other as we sought escape from this terrifying grey flying beast with it's laughing pilot at the stick. This went on and on for almost an hour as Frank came again and again from a different direction each time with his worn out obnoxious greetings. The steaks finally burned and the prepared food dishes on the table were filled with branches and pecans when we finally decided it would be better to just give up and go into town and find a quiet restaurant in which to have a meal.

That is my Frank story and I know all of you that spent time with him over the years have an equally epic story to tell of this most EPIC guy. Did I embellish this old tale and might you also with the telling of your Frank stories today as you gather together in remembrance? I certainly hope so, because with the added embellishments you will tell it as he would have seen it and told it himself.

Frank, when I soon see you again, I know we'll have some more great stories to swap. And they will all be perfectly embellished because they will be about Him. Dear friend, our God is so wondrous and magnificent that only He could create one like you to express Himself in such epic ways never known before or here after.

Jack


Dr. Paul Frank Mckane PhD Cookson Literacy Clearinghouse director. Died Nov. 1 in Los Angeles, California at age 65

[Kept]

I loved that Jack and wish Id known Frank too.

:thumbsup:

kept

[Redlettervoice]

Frank! Frank! He must be up there making us laugh!

Talk about living "on"!!!

Enjoyed that; made me chuckle! 

[pickr]

Great story, Jack. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend.

Yet another reason to look forward to when we can all be together again.

Peace and blessings,

Andy

[Hennessey]

Thanks for your comments Kept, Red and Andy.

Frank would certainly wear you out when you shared a caper with him. You would often be so beat up and sometimes so angry. Then after a bit he would talk you into sharing another adventure. Brilliant guy with the gift of gab. He could sell you on anything.

I have had Joian often in tears from laughing so hard, while telling her some of my Frank stories. 

[Michele]

Jack, I'm so sorry to hear about your friends passing, thanks for sharing about Frank.......he sounds like an amazning person.  :HeartThrob:

[Dean]

Jack,

Thank you for sharing about your friend Frank. I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

I loved the story...heard the roar of the engine and saw you all running for safety...I felt the house shake and was thrilled that he came back and buzzed you guys again and again. What a guy...

Dean

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Jack, that was wonderful........if I don't make it out of this alive :mshock:, I nominate you to write MY obituary  :thumbsup:

[joian]

Yes,

And you've had me laughing where you can't catch your breath and it hurts to tell one more story............God it's good to laugh like that.

You've so captured a part of Frank's life in this tribute, it makes us all feel we knew him...........you are a master story teller Mr. Hennessey....... I'll bet your wives cringed every time you got together............lol

[Pierac]

I miss Frank already!

Paul

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Amen to that Joian.....that he is.........

[Kratos]

Jack,

For your sake, I am sorry that you will miss your friend. For Frank, I send him congradulations on his promotion.

John

[Hennessey]

Kratos, Paul, SG, Dean, Joian and Card I am touched by your responses. I don't think I have ever had as much fun writing as I did with this tribute to my old friend. I am so happy it put a smile on every body's face. Frank would have liked that and heck he would have really liked each one of you too.

Jack

[willieH]

willieH: Hi brother J... :hithere:

ah... to laugh  :laughhand: ...and cry  :crywipe: in the same reading!

Brother "Frank" lives in all our lives, as Father YHVH (though our individual "franks") peeks in and out of those lives, giving us a chuckle and therefore, a reason to keep on keepin on!

God rest the soul of another EPIC FRANK!  :HeartThrob:

pEace...

In  JESUS...willieH  :Sparkletooth:

[jchpiper]

That was beautiful Jack!  I thought of the movie, Second Hand Lions....yup.  To live without fear is a great legacy.  Your tribute brought me laughter and tears...and it is my first time hearing about this legacy, your friend, Frank.   :thumbsup:

My husband received a card at his father's passing and the sender had written: 
"Cry hard.  Laugh hard.  And remember the good times."  I thought that good advice.

My condolences to you and yours and to Frank's family.  I look forward to meeting him on that future day.

[Hennessey]

Thank you for your response Piper. I sure have been enjoying your spirit and participation here. You are precious and funny ...... a wonderful combination in my book.  :HeartThrob:

I placed these comments on my blog under the original tribute.

The last time I talked to Frank he was trying to convince me into a coming back for a visit and repeating a white water canoe trip we did when we were in our early forties. Recounting that long ago trip, David Steelman, Frank and myself had traveled to Arkansas to canoe the Mullberry River which was out of it's banks and more than a little dangerous. The first night a tornado came through our campsite and tore up everything. During the next three days we managed to wrap two canoes around tress and completely lose a third.

The three outfitters that rented us the canoes got together and decided they would continue to rent their canoes to the public as long as the renters weren't from Oklahoma.

Yes, this was a typical Frank adventure where you had the best of times and the very worst, while barely escaping with your neck and all your limbs in place. lol

In my account I didn't even mention that Frank wouldn't paddle hard enough no matter my consternation, warnings and harsh rebukes. The reason we lost the last canoe is because we didn't make it to the takeout before it got dark and we had to ditch and hide the canoe in the brush.  Never did find it. LOL

After we ditched the canoe we had to hike out to the road only knowing the road was west and not how far. It was a moonless night and all we had was the north star to guide us. For four or five hours we walked in pitch black through the jungle and the nastiest snake country you have ever seen. I was so mad I didn't talk to him the whole way except to say over and over, "you just had to lolly gag around didn't you Frank !!!!!!!!"

This was my last Frank story:

So when ever we got together for almost any occasion there were always musicians and minstrels galore. Now if you came upon this group you would notice one thing for sure. Frank had a terrible singing voice but darned if he wasn't the loudest.

Tonight, I can hear Frank's voice rising above the angelic choir of praise and it thrills me.

Bless you bro I'm happy for you,

Jack

[CHB]

Hi Jack,

These kinds of friends are rare and priceless. Wish I had someone like this in my life. I bet there never was a dull moment? My brother Jack was a little bit like this, kind of like a dare devil but nothing like your friend Frank.

I really enjoyed the stories. Have you thought about writing a book about all the experiences you had with Frank? Maybe you should consider it?

CHB

[Hennessey]

CBH I am glad you enjoyed that. Actually in the last few weeks I have actually been wondering if the Lord would have me write a novel calling upon my many experiences. The secret is I was even more a wild man than Frank.

My favorite novel of all time was written by Herman Hesse and is entitled "Narcissus and Goldmund."  It is the tale of the raging battle between flesh and spirit from an existentialist point of view. I guess the reason I so loved this writing is I identified with both characters, the "priest" and "playboy."

Has any one ever read any Herman Hesse?

[jchpiper]

 :laughing7: :laughing7:

I sat here laughing the whole way down that river...omg!!!  LOL


I think I'll put Narcissus and Goldmund  on my reading list.  Just the title is intriguing.

:thumbsup:


PS:  Thank you Jack...this place is kinda growing on me. I've been wondering what this new growth on me is?  Actually I think it is in me.... :winkgrin:

[Hennessey]

I sat here laughing the whole way down that river...omg!!!  LOL

Piper I have just highlighted a few points of that trip. This was actually a long epic saga that is actually much funnier with the telling of the whole tale.

After Frank and I wrecked the first canoe within five minutes of putting in I told Frank, "I never wanted to get into a canoe with him ever again." So Frank and our third member David decide they are going to try it themselves the next day. You talk about the blind leading the blind.

So the next day unfolds and I bid Frank and David, "bon voyage." I knew they would never make it very far but I feigned confidence in them, wanting to see this charade play out.

Within fifteen minutes of their departure, a white van pulls up to our campsite where I am sitting while having a drink. Out of the back seat of the van come two of the most forlorn characters you have ever seen. Frank and David with paddles in hand and wet life jackets on looked like they were about ready to cry. When I saw them I was rolling on the ground gasping for air because I was laughing so hard, all the while pointing at them. These two yahoos hadn't even made it as far as we did the day before. They had wrapped our second canoe around a tree a hundred yards from the campsite

The next day we would rent our third canoe  :laughing7:

[Kept]

 :LH:

I have another book added to the list too. This one you mentioned is the second time in a few days it has been recommended so must mean something lol

That is a very funny story. I had a friend like Frank when I was in my junior high years, unfortunately after we decided how cool it would be to sneak into the vacant two story house next door to hers and across the street from mine, walk upstairs, tie a rope around the stove and climb down the rope on the back side of the house from the second story just to do it for an adventure......I got grounded from her once the cops showed up and made us wash our dirty footprints off the back of the house.

bummer  :laughing7:

kept

[Hennessey]

I have another book added to the list too. This one you mentioned is the second time in a few days it has been recommended so must mean something lol

Herman Hess was big in the sixties and seventies when everyone was searching for purpose. His writings are filled with existentialism.

I read everything he wrote thirty or more years ago but it seems as I was going to reread Narcissus and Goldmund not to long ago it was forbidden. Maybe later.