dshealey
Sep 30th, 2007, 9:26 pm
Coni was one of the brightest lights in our little corner of the world, and as seen on other forums and websites, others felt the same way. That is a remarkable legacy for such an unassuming and gracious person to leave behind.
I first met her at CCR Santa Fe several years ago after we had exchanged emails and phone calls a few times talking about our prized "limited edition" BLACK LTs since we were among the first to get them.
When I parked in Santa Fe, she saw my "Bat Byke" license plate and ran over and gave me one of her trademark hugs, like I was a long lost brother. Soon I realized that she treated everyone like that, we were all her long lost brothers and sisters.
Not many people have the talents she did, and stay unassuming and practically egoless. She was always ready to talk about OUR accomplishments and problems, and always had that engaging smile at the ready. I will never forget that smile, nor the twinkle in her eyes, even when things are not going quite as planned.
Coni, Jeff and I attempted the MTF CCC100 together once, and unfortunately that was the year that one of the most massive thunderstorms hit the area east of Houston, stopping us in our tracks near Beaumont. She was on the phone with Graham, and passed on the news that the traffic sites showed I-10 RED all the way east well into Florida, so we knew that even if we made the CC50 on time, there would be no rest time for the turnaround. We had already lost a lot of time due to two other very bad traffic problems. Coni took it better than Jeff and I, and soon had both of us in the mode of "This is just a different adventure to relish", as we abandoned our plans and took a rather liesurely ride back west through the Texas Hill Country. She made a "failed" ride still one to remenber fondly, because we were sharing it with her. I will never forget that ride, and I certainly will never forget Coni! She was truly "One of a Kind"!
Here is my favorite picture of her that I took in San Diego after I had installed an air compressor in her black LT, ALI. It is the way I choose to always remember her, on ALI and happy! I get teary eyed every time I think of her passing, but then I remember her smile and it brings one to my face too.
Watching her ride that big heavy touring bike with grace and almost effortless aplomb would bring a smile to almost anyone's face! Sometimes we use the adage "One with the bike", and in her case it was unfailingly true.
http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14518&stc=1
I first met her at CCR Santa Fe several years ago after we had exchanged emails and phone calls a few times talking about our prized "limited edition" BLACK LTs since we were among the first to get them.
When I parked in Santa Fe, she saw my "Bat Byke" license plate and ran over and gave me one of her trademark hugs, like I was a long lost brother. Soon I realized that she treated everyone like that, we were all her long lost brothers and sisters.
Not many people have the talents she did, and stay unassuming and practically egoless. She was always ready to talk about OUR accomplishments and problems, and always had that engaging smile at the ready. I will never forget that smile, nor the twinkle in her eyes, even when things are not going quite as planned.
Coni, Jeff and I attempted the MTF CCC100 together once, and unfortunately that was the year that one of the most massive thunderstorms hit the area east of Houston, stopping us in our tracks near Beaumont. She was on the phone with Graham, and passed on the news that the traffic sites showed I-10 RED all the way east well into Florida, so we knew that even if we made the CC50 on time, there would be no rest time for the turnaround. We had already lost a lot of time due to two other very bad traffic problems. Coni took it better than Jeff and I, and soon had both of us in the mode of "This is just a different adventure to relish", as we abandoned our plans and took a rather liesurely ride back west through the Texas Hill Country. She made a "failed" ride still one to remenber fondly, because we were sharing it with her. I will never forget that ride, and I certainly will never forget Coni! She was truly "One of a Kind"!
Here is my favorite picture of her that I took in San Diego after I had installed an air compressor in her black LT, ALI. It is the way I choose to always remember her, on ALI and happy! I get teary eyed every time I think of her passing, but then I remember her smile and it brings one to my face too.
Watching her ride that big heavy touring bike with grace and almost effortless aplomb would bring a smile to almost anyone's face! Sometimes we use the adage "One with the bike", and in her case it was unfailingly true.
http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14518&stc=1