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 will let you know later this weekend.
We are all working together to make his memorial very special. There's a lot to do for tomorrow. It sounds like at least 400 people will be present (family, swimmers and lawyers).
Me personally, I had a good 30 minute cry after practice Wed. night in the rain, in my suit. My friend Gene Hart was talking with me the whole time. I think that helped me a lot as far as starting to move on. Last night I was able to concentrate more on actually swimming and people are talking more and more about things. That's helpful.
We're looking towards tomorrow as a time to remember Brendon for the special man he was, and to help start our healing, so we can all move on.
I will let you know later this weekend.
We are all working together to make his memorial very special. There's a lot to do for tomorrow. It sounds like at least 400 people will be present (family, swimmers and lawyers).
Me personally, I had a good 30 minute cry after practice Wed. night in the rain, in my suit. My friend Gene Hart was talking with me the whole time. I think that helped me a lot as far as starting to move on. Last night I was able to concentrate more on actually swimming and people are talking more and more about things. That's helpful.
We're looking towards tomorrow as a time to remember Brendon for the special man he was, and to help start our healing, so we can all move on.
