(Making his famous nachos, chip by chip)Did you know Shaun 'spoke' Morse Code?
He had a childhood passion for ham radios and learned Morse Code in his youth. Even as an adult he had a registered call sign.
He would send sweet messages that I would only have the reward of understanding if I went through the chore of deciphering them.
He actually knows Morse Code (!)... just another adorably unique little piece of his character that Shaun pursued with voracity. He built his character and his personality with devotion. When Shaun decided to learn about something he would LEARN it. If he was going to do it, he was going to DO it.
Example: He was very interested in guns and ballistics. He studied them backwards and forwards - analyzing trajectory and creating extensive ballistics charts (which he later tried to teach me with slight amazement that I didn't immediately grasp the complexity of his calculations).
I was always curious if I would ever be able to find something that Shaun wasn't amazing at doing - whether through practice or inherent ability. After months and months I was only able to come up with 2 things: 1st - Shaun was a little afraid of whitewater kayaking ( he wasn't the strongest of swimmers), and 2nd - the man could not cook eggs. He was actually a better cook than me with most things, which isn't a huge compliment to either of us because he's not a great cook.
Eggs are one of my few culinary talents - but one morning Shaun asked to do a solo-run on the eggs. He cooked the egg whites on very low heat for about 20 minutes. He was very proud of himself so I ate my rubber-band-egg quickly and with enthusiasm. He took only one bite (after having to saw the egg to create a bite-size portion) - then silently brooded, scowling at his plate for a good 5 minutes before picking up the offending food and sailing it like a frisbee across the room. He didn't attempt eggs again - one of the few things he ever stunk at... ever.
Shaun's passion for living and his devotion to mastering any undertaking is another of his gifts I carry into the New Year. As I determine a couple goals/hopes for the coming year, I think of Shaun... and I'm going big.
88 to Alpha Alpha Seven Bravo Tango
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