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.)
