Although we share a last name, we don't share our DNA but I consider him a brother. I remember that first invitation, "how about Cindy and you join Coleen and I in Jamaica this October". Hell, from what i knew, it was just an island in the Caribbean but I had heard all of the stories dating back to the 70's from this master storyteller and wordsmith and we wanted a piece of the action. What a trip it was! We met Rob and Lisa, Dennis at Whoopies (God rest his soul), and the wonderful things they call patties made by this Rasta guy named Niah. The Mariposa was their normal hangout, not overly popular but a quiet and welcoming. Chet & Coleen took us on our first trip up into the hills to the Askenish Basic School which he had found a few years before while cutting his way to the top with one of his Jamaican friends after hurricane Ivan left everything twisted and broken. He tore a chainsaw into about 15 pieces and smuggled it into the country in a golf bag because he knew there wouldn't be any on the island when he got there. He was a teacher to us in the ways of Jamaica but as Chet says, "Jamaica, she can be a fickle bit-ch". Yes she can be, but I love her just the same. Then there was the Shaggy concert up at Escape where we had VIP treatment as Chet was nursing a bum leg. And running out of gas out in the middle of nowhere in the van and coasting to the bottom of the mountain as far as we could and pulling into a gas station on fumes all because someone (Chet) left a bag of sweeties on the dash in front of the gas gauge. Since that first year, Cindy and I were hooked and now working on our 14th visit to The Rock this year thanks to Chet & Coleen. So many stories and not much time. We lost Chet last night after a gallant fight to get well again. He was a friend to Cindy and I, a loving husband to Coleen and a loving father and grandfather and also a friend to many Jamaicans and Ja-mericans living there. As I close this out with tears in my eyes, and with a very heavy heart, hug you kids, hug you wife and family because life is indeed short and you never know what can happen next. Try to take nothing for granted and cherish the memories that we have. If you never met Chet, trust me, I wish you would have. He had a heart of gold and friends that will attest to that. I truly believe that Dennis has already made and shared a Appleton's and fresh squeezed orange juice for Chet in heaven. Please pray for Coleen and family as they will need all the help they can get to get through this. I miss you already brother!
