My most vivid, exciting, and strange memory with Christian is when we went biking out in Calgary. I can't remember how old we were but I'd peg us around 10 - 11, young. He was showing me some trails I would guess a twenty minute bike ride from home. While out in this calm forested area, we walked and talked, bikes by our sides, as a gentle hum of a helicopter in the distance filled the silence in the air. Christian spoke about how much he enjoyed being out biking and being in nature, something we both shared an appreciation for. The air was calm, the sky a soft blue and the weather perfect with sunlight gently spreading across the sides of the trees. After some time, we realized the propeller blades of the helicopter were getting louder, being young and finding helicopters exciting (actually, I think most of us still do find them exciting), we tracked it with our eyes as it got closer until we figured it was flying toward us. Ecstatic, the two of us started shouting, waving and jumping to get it's attention until we heard a voice through a megaphone call out to us. They were looking for someone out in the forest and asked if we were them. Christian and I shouted back "NO" in tandem, unsure if they could hear us at all, but soon after it flew off, leaving us there shocked at what just happened and excited to tell everyone.
That's definitely something that has stuck with me for my whole life; it was a genuine, unpredictable experience that we were able to share together as kids wasting time and enjoying eachother's company.
Sending all the love I have,
Youssef
