Well, I'm making my way through the hat o' names of people who deserve our praise (still quite a few to go), and yesterday I happened to pull out someone who is an honorary member of the Webster, etc. clan, who has helped me a lot with fitness the past few months, and who has actively taken to this blog. I pulled his name out of the hat yesterday morning before my run and, when I got back later, Dave had posted about his new fried-chicken renunciation for lent. Some coincidence!
Dave, you are my best friend (Jaime excluded, but you knew that). And I still can't understand how that happened. We have always been a little bit of polar opposites. You're an athlete; I'm a nerd. You're quiet; I like to have good conversations. You're 'angry Dave;' I'm pretty much a push-over. We came from such different families, had such different backgrounds, ran with different circles. Luckily we shared basketball, and that somehow brought us together. I have a hard time thinking what high school would have looked like for me if we had never become good friends - no naps in the basement of 3222 between summer basketball games, no ganging up on Tyson for being weird, maybe no football (so there would have been at least one good thing).
Honestly, my friendship with you defined high school. And you became more than a friend. You were a brother, basically adopted by the family. You teased Hannah like a brother. You ordered Ben to bring you food like a brother. You borrowed the car like a son. You went on family vacations. I remember my Dad telling me why he liked you so much, because you reminded him of his best friend in high school. So, I feel a connection with him by having you as a friend. And I know you felt his loss so deep like the rest of us. It helped me having a friend who could understand my pain by feeling it too.
Now we're old men and we haven't lived in the same city since 2000 (except a few months during the summers). But I still feel just as connected. We both have beautiful women in our lives, which is a miracle by itself.
Dave, you're in great physical condition. You love an active, healthy lifestyle. So, in a way, you are an expert advisor for this blog. I'm so grateful for the hard work you've put in to get me in better shape. I hate a lot of the exercises you have me doing, but I know they are making me a better, stronger athlete.
And while I think you are doing great in terms of health and fitness, I hope you can continue to find ways to push yourself towards total health. Giving up fried chicken is one possibility. Maybe you can train for a long distance race to try that out as well. But health is also reading or journaling. It's doing something nice for Brynn, or working on the house. So, keep at it. You've got a disposition I envy, where you put your mind to something and make it happen. I know that will continue to serve you well as you improve your all around health.
3 comments:
dave is awesome. i love that he's our other brother. i love his quiet nature and his sense of humor. i love how much dad loved him. i loved living with him for a year. i loved seeing him fall so in love with brynn and their wedding had the best vows of any wedding i think i've ever been to.
dave, we all love you very much. thanks for being so great.
Ah...you guys are going to make me cry! Well, I don't really cry much, but if I did, I would. That was very touching and I appreciate everything that you said. I love being considered part of your family. I may not keep in touch with all of you as much as you do with each other, but I still feel like we have a close connection.
I'll never forget when Caleb told me why Mike liked me so much. I know I tried to play it cool at the time(maybe that's what his friend would have done too), but it was one of the greatest things I had ever heard. It made me feel special for some reason. Maybe because I respected him so much. Mike was a special guy to me and I regret that I was never able to tell him that.
Mike is also a big reason I care about health and fitness so much. I want you all to be around for a lot longer. That's why I'm trying to make an extra effort in your workouts and mine. I feel like this blog has been a big help. (Another great idea by Caleb!)
I love you all! Thank you for your consideration and kind words.
Dave, I'm pretty sure Mike knew how important he was to you. He figured out a way to help you control your temper during basketball because he understood what you needed. I wish I understood you that well. I will always treasure your love and respect for our family. Thanks for being a good friend to all of us. I know you grieved Mike's death as much as the rest of us, and somehow that helps a little.
I am proud of you for getting through college and being a true Grizzly fan. I think you are an outstanding person, and I'm so happy that you found true love with Brynn.
Thanks for encouraging each one of us to become more physically healthy.
I love you,
Kathy
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