It was in 1992 in Herraeng were I met Frankie for the first time. Beside the music he was for sure the main reason that I fell in love with the Lindy Hop. I had never before met a guy who still was sooo young at the age of 78. One of the happiest people I ever met. It seemed he enjoyed and loved every minute of his life. From there I had the pleasure to meet him and learn from him several times over the next years.
We all knew that this day would come someday but it's still so unbelievable that he won't be around anymore. I will miss his happy smile when he danced and his laughter when he told us stories from his early years. I think I must have heard some of those for at least ten times ... but I enjoyed them every time again.
I was in Herraeng the year before he got his artifical hip. He hardly could walk ... but he still could dance almost like before. And then he came back the next year. One year older but looking at least 2 years younger ... dancing, dancing, dancing!
It was that time when it felt like he would never leave us. He got 85, 90 and he still danced. It was in 2006 when I met him for the last time. It was so great to have him back at the Boogie-Baeren Whitsun Camp after many years. So great to see that already the next generation (many who never met him before) felt the same fascination that I felt since I met him for the first time. When we said goodbye in that year I didn't know that it was the last time that I would ever meet him.
I believe that leaving this place isn't the end of it. And I am sure that his special spirit will leave a mark at his next destination too.
We all knew that this day would come someday but it's still so unbelievable that he won't be around anymore. I will miss his happy smile when he danced and his laughter when he told us stories from his early years. I think I must have heard some of those for at least ten times ... but I enjoyed them every time again.
I was in Herraeng the year before he got his artifical hip. He hardly could walk ... but he still could dance almost like before. And then he came back the next year. One year older but looking at least 2 years younger ... dancing, dancing, dancing!
It was that time when it felt like he would never leave us. He got 85, 90 and he still danced. It was in 2006 when I met him for the last time. It was so great to have him back at the Boogie-Baeren Whitsun Camp after many years. So great to see that already the next generation (many who never met him before) felt the same fascination that I felt since I met him for the first time. When we said goodbye in that year I didn't know that it was the last time that I would ever meet him.
I believe that leaving this place isn't the end of it. And I am sure that his special spirit will leave a mark at his next destination too.
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