This weekend was our Pacific Masters Championships. It was a close battle between WCM and USF and I don't know who won at this very moment. I don't care.
You see, I left right before the 1000 today (the last event) right after the last relays. I watched some great swims today. Amazing swims. My friend Brendon swam a 2:03 200 fly and really hit his taper (as he's not going to Nationals)- we were teasing about how he does really well the week after a tapered meet. He seemed to finally figure it out this time.
My friend Stephen called me tonight and told me that Brendon also had a great 1000, was warming down, had a heart attack and died. He was 35. I was stunned. I've been crying since then trying to make sense of it all. It doesn't make sense.
I called some other friends and no one else can believe it either. Suddenly, the meet doesn't matter, swimming doesn't matter, what matters is that we lost a really great guy today. He was always so happy, funny, and loved to tell jokes. He was really good natured and fun to be around. I will miss him terribly.
I'd love to go home. We get 10 sick days/year. Between sick kids and Pacific Champs (Fri) and Nationals (3 days off) I can't go home.
I have to tell you though what my son did last night. Stephen called me with the news and I couldn't believe it. After a few minutes I started crying. Patrick (PJ), 5, asked what was wrong and I told him (the other 2 were asleep, thankfully). Patrick diappeared for awhile into his room.
About 15 minutes later, I was still crying, and PJ came up to me with a picture he had drawn (to cheer me up), a felt box (for jewelry) filled with rosary beads so I could thank God for my friend, another picture, a ring with a dove on it, and a copy of the poem "Rainbow Bridge". I can post it for you if you're interested. Our vet gave it to us when our 2 dogs died last year with 4 months of each other. That poem gave (still gives) PJ great comfort when thinking about our dogs. He thought it would help me to remember that I will see Brendon again one day.
I am not only thankful that I got to have Brendon as a friend, but that I have an amazing son, who is very intuitive, thoughtful, and kind.
I'd love to go home. We get 10 sick days/year. Between sick kids and Pacific Champs (Fri) and Nationals (3 days off) I can't go home.
I have to tell you though what my son did last night. Stephen called me with the news and I couldn't believe it. After a few minutes I started crying. Patrick (PJ), 5, asked what was wrong and I told him (the other 2 were asleep, thankfully). Patrick diappeared for awhile into his room.
About 15 minutes later, I was still crying, and PJ came up to me with a picture he had drawn (to cheer me up), a felt box (for jewelry) filled with rosary beads so I could thank God for my friend, another picture, a ring with a dove on it, and a copy of the poem "Rainbow Bridge". I can post it for you if you're interested. Our vet gave it to us when our 2 dogs died last year with 4 months of each other. That poem gave (still gives) PJ great comfort when thinking about our dogs. He thought it would help me to remember that I will see Brendon again one day.
I am not only thankful that I got to have Brendon as a friend, but that I have an amazing son, who is very intuitive, thoughtful, and kind.
