This really makes you think about how big a part of life these forums become, and how the members themselves become a part of a hobby. Even if you never meet a forum regular, you get a sense of who they are and their personality, and just knowing that they're there to offer help when it's needed is a big part of what makes these forums such a great "place" to hang out. As nice and helpful as Ted seems online, he was exactly the same in person. He just seemed to appear on EF one day with a wealth of knowledge and a positive attitude, and luckily he stuck around. I didn't know Ted all that well, but when I used to live closer to him he was still one of the most helpful guys. He always had a passenger seat available for anyone who needed it, as long as you didn't mind Harley walking all over your lap. He was a huge help to me when I decided to regear my truck, and when I ran into issues with the mechanic Ted made sure I was taken care of and not left high and dry. When I took my dad along on off-road trips Ted would always make sure my dad felt included as well. He really seemed to gain a lot of joy in his life when he started shooting photos for off-road races, probably because he was so friendly and it offered him a whole new community to make friends in. I never would have thought that the passing of someone I barely knew would have such an impact on me, but I feel fortunate to have known him these past several years. If anyone knows of a way to offer help with anything, please let me know.
