kepdawg
10-10-2008, 12:40 AM
It takes a lot to get me to miss a high school football game in the fall. Whether winning or losing once the lights go on you know where to find me every Friday night. This Friday; however, the lights would be of a different variety. Half a dozen friends and I were heading out for a weekend of camping. No big plans; just some guy time together away from all the troubles of the world. That afternoon prior to meeting the guys I got an indescribable feeling in my gut. No, it was not heart burn from a certainly not so healthy lunch of a college student. It was a feeling that something was terribly wrong. I was disturbed by such a feeling but carried on. Later that evening I was at our designated meeting place. Several of us guys had already arrived and we were waiting for everyone else to show before we headed out. Finally, the last person showed up. We were already to go, or so we thought. Before we had a chance to get everything loaded up the friend who had arrived last looked at another friend and asked, "So, who's going to tell him?" The two had been on the phone until the latter friend arrived. Everyone was gathered into the living room and told to sit down. I had no idea what this was all about. With this particular group of guys anything could be going on. Once we were all seated in the living room one of my friends finally broke the news that earlier that afternoon there had been a car accident; one of my friends had been involved. It was not good. It was bad, very bad. She was gone. A car had crossed the median and it was over instantly. My friend, just eighteen years old and only six weeks into her freshman year of college, was gone. The time that followed was a blur; sleepless nights followed by wasted (not drunk) days. The following Tuesday I served as a pallbearer for a friend I had never imagined would be gone. These events occurred from October 6, 2000 to October 10, 2000. Has it really been eight years? It is amazing how quickly tomorrow becomes yesterday.
Prepare for the unexpected. Do not take for granted that your family and friends know your feelings for them. Share your feelings with them; show your feelings to them. On that Friday night eight years ago I knew that time with my friends was more important than time at a football game. I had no idea though just how much I would truly need those friends that night.
Football has afforded us many opportunities to develop new friendships and to mature previously developed friendships. I hope that as you gather in stadiums across the state tonight that you do not take for granted the people you encounter. Whether on this board or in the stands, it is not the game that matters, but it is the people we experience it with that do.
Prepare for the unexpected. Do not take for granted that your family and friends know your feelings for them. Share your feelings with them; show your feelings to them. On that Friday night eight years ago I knew that time with my friends was more important than time at a football game. I had no idea though just how much I would truly need those friends that night.
Football has afforded us many opportunities to develop new friendships and to mature previously developed friendships. I hope that as you gather in stadiums across the state tonight that you do not take for granted the people you encounter. Whether on this board or in the stands, it is not the game that matters, but it is the people we experience it with that do.