I wish I could have been there with you guys Steve. Did you ever meet Bernie Danisch?
I seem to remember that every time we meet you remind me that only real men drive runabouts.
I have to admit that even though all my wins at the begining of my career were in runabouts, I was never able to master them. Cockpits were too wide and I was too skinny. I shimmied around in the boat more than drove it.
Your mention of high flight on the canal with the D reminds me of the story you told Joe and myself at the end of the first DePue Reunion. You told us how Dieter called you "Boy" and he said before you got in the hydro to test...""Boy....you must watch my arms....If I do this (you explained dropping your arms down)... you must stop!" Everyone else had left the banquete and only you, Joe, Tim Butts, Fred Hauenstien and I were left standing out in front if you remember. Tim and Fred were talking when you told Joe and I about when Dieter spent six hours with the Politzie in Berlin trying to explaind why "Hans was not a criminal" when his proprider hydro blew over in the canal and stuffed itself through a Mercedes traveling over a bridge on the canal.
Tears came to my eyes when you told us that story Steve. And the way you told it with Dieter's accent was perfect. Joe and I could picture it in our minds exactly. We have often talked about how funny that story was and how you so accurately laid out the scene with your German accent.
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