There are so many memories that we shared together over the years some not for here yet many others.  I decided to go back to one of my earliest memories.   It was the year that you, me and Landon and Pete was the coach.  You and I played on the same line.  The week before the state titles you stayed over at my house.  We set up a face off play while playing knee hockey downstairs at my house.  I would pull the face off back to you on the circle and then I would skate towards the net to screen the goalie and you would shot between my legs.  The next week we pulled it off perfectly.  I remember jumping up and down trying to hug you we were both ecstatic and thought we were the best hockey masterminds around well at least for 9 and 10 year olds.  It was a great start to a great friendship.  Love you brother :)  

(apologies everyone, my period does not work on my old computer, so a : will be in place of that)  Hahaha!!

Darin,

What can I say, there are so many stories for us I wouldn't even know where to begin:  From a lot of very fun and rowdy trips at Walt Disney World, you saving children from me "shadow boxing" backwards for instance, the rest of the stories we will keep to us :) :  To working on many projects at my home with me, to include a lot of fishing, well me fishing and you catching:  To us working with each other on a daily basis:  Then to you helping me begin on the journey I am on now with cancer:

Some of my best memories with you were when you would come to help me work on my house:  We would talk about growing up and the things we both had in common:  That is when we got to know each other and we realized we were definitely supposed to know each other:  You were the brother I always wanted and needed:  We talked about how lucky we were to have these very loving and caring people in our lives:  Me being early as usual and you being a little slower to find Nicole, no doubt lost your keys on the way to find us hahaha :) : 

Three words to describe you is Selfless, Humble, and Loyal!  You would give a person the shirt off of your back if they needed it:  You were always there for me, all I had to do was pick up the phone and the next I knew you were knocking on my door:  You were ALWAYS there!! Even while struggling yourself:  For that I thank you Darin!!  You and I had promised a trip together one day:  That day will come and you will be there by my side brother:  Fish On!!!

Love,

Phil "Big Poppy" Hellyer

Every once in a while there is a place that you visit that becomes your go-to destination. For Nicole it always seemed like Solvang and Vegas for Darin (or hell, probably Hawaii, Alaska, or anywhere with a golf course or fishing pole). 

A place where you can camp, fish (theoretically), and soak in the hot springs checked off all of our boxes. We have to give props where props are due and send a HUGE thank you to Claudia and Nicole for finding this lovely site! 

Darin, Nicole, Claudia, and myself went on a little trip down south to visit this local gem. The plan was to go to the place, pick out the best camp sites, pitch our two tents, head to a concert, come back, soak in the hot springs, and head back home the next day. 

When we arrived at Destination Hot Springs, we hit a small, microscopic snag. For starters, the damn camp sites were labeled, so we really didn't have the slightest clue where we could pitch our tents. The hot springs themselves were bustling with life; it seems like it is the place of dreams! 4.5 stars out of 105 reviews!  

We found the young man running the show, or at least for the few hours of his shift, and inquired where we might set up our tents. He escorted us to one of their premier spots which was a mattresses through away from the pond. The pond, mind you, also had an island...there was a boat as well, if I'm not mistaken; although, I suspect we would not have been able to use it. 

Unfortunately it just did not work out. 

Now, I don't know if it was the fact that the fishing did not look that good (probably not the right season there), or if the mattress itself looked too uncomfortable, or if there was concern of partying at the hot springs all night (ie: no sleep for us) which was near the campsite, or perhaps because we thought we were in a horror movie from the 70's. Either way, I think we all are curious what that little boy and his kittens are up to.

Maybe another trip? 

I am pretty sure we could sell this story to AMC or NetFlix and all become rich, buy the hot springs, and turn it into Forthland Camping. What do you say Nicole? 

This is my long winded way of saying we had some pretty off-the-wall adventures with Darin over the years from playing with hot spring kittens, to swerving around cows on Highway 1 at night, to arguing over poker rules at ungodly hours, to betting Claudia $50 she won't jump in the Ocean to jumping in the Ocean right afterwards because you don't want to have to pay her the $50 while Nicole and I (Thomas) just sit back and laugh, to playing many many rounds of golf, pool and darts, and so many other fun times. 

While not Darin's choice of music, I always find this one comforting in a time of loss. Darin, we miss you and will always remember the amazing times we had together. 

-Claudia & Thomas