Friends

Friends / Running — 4 Comments
25
Feb 12

Feeling terribly sad at the Happiest Place on Earth. Rick Spence.

I read the text in the dark at 1:35 this morning.

A message from a very dear friend that her husband had passed away in his sleep finally relinquishing his four and a half year fight with cancer.

Later I was dressed and standing the dark parking lot with my family getting ready to start the Disney Royal Family 5K  – with a heaviness in my soul. Yet in a way, there was no place I could feel closer to Rick.

There were so many morning meeting Rick and his family in the dark, in this very Epcot parking lot, to do what Rick loved.

He was our Ironman — literally.

A physical fortress of a man who came alive to swim, bike and run.

 

 

 

I can’t believe he is gone.

The heart and soul of the Cotton Patch Tri Club.

It won’t seem real for a very long time.

 

Dear Rick, you’ll be with me in the dark at the start line of the half marathon tomorrow.

Love you and Karen so and can’t understand why you left us after only 44 years.

Words are empty, cheap things.

No written thought capable of expressing how much you will be missed.

Keep track of my progress tomorrow out on the course you know so well.

I’ll look forward to your presence out there with me.

(And don’t be disappointed with my time. Remember I’m ancient and have a bum knee.)

 

Friends — 17 Comments
12
Jan 12

Musing on Introverts. They make the best friends.

Well, they make the best friends of your children to have around.

My high school senior has a good friend who is very introverted. He’s bright, cute but doesn’t say much.

I LOVE having him around.

Why?

Because I’m sort of an introvert too. (A closet one.)

Or a person who’s about 55 percent “in” and 45 percent “out.”

And choosing to join Mama Kat’s prompt’s today, I was intrigued by the question, “Share a lesson you have learned about friendship from an introvert.”

 

*    *    *

 

 

* The value of silence.  Humans by nature are self-centered. Introverts are no different. They just let their extroverted friends take the stage. I’m learning that I don’t have to comment on EVERYTHING. When we shut up and listen, we learn more. If we learn more about things and people — on subjects we agree or disagree – we become deeper and truer to ourself.  (Expressed like a true introvert.)

* You think they’re are spacing out then WHAMMO. I love surprises. (Scary ones.) And there is nothing scarier than thinking a person is all fluff and light and then…BAM the truth comes out. Introverts are never ending. Their greatest weakness (thinking too much) is also their greatest strength.

* They remember birthdays, your children’s birthdays…heck they remember your parent’s birthdays (and their first names). They say “I’m praying for you.” And they really are in an emotionally and spiritually connected way.

* They don’t have to be right. They might think they are…but it’s not worth causing discord to make sure everyone knows how smart they are.

* They are self-sacrificing. And ultimately here is the lesson for us all. Granted they put themselves last (and sometimes resent it) because this is how their DNA was woven. Still the credit goes to them for clamping their tongue, encouraging the discouraged and not saying…

“I told you so.”

And on the rare occasion Introverts tell you “they told you so” —  you really don’t realize they are — because they are only doing it for your good.

What about you?

What have you learned from a special introspective friend?

 

 

 

Mama’s Losin’ It