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.
Oh my god! I was there. I'm still in shock. The last I heard was the pool had a call from the hospital and he was still unconscious but stabilized. I haven't received any updates yet. But he really died? I watched his 1000 race and he looked fine and then seeing him over on the deck while CPR was being performed. I was totally numb. Now I'm unbelievably sad. This is horrible. Good bye Brenden. Karen my heart goes out to you and your teammates. I will miss him, he was my 200 fly hero.
Karen....He was doing what he loved...what WE love...and he was in there banging away keeping in shape, being the best he could be....in a sport he loved....
Originally posted by Karen Duggan
... 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. Dear Karen,
My humblest sympathies go out to you and to Pacific Masters, as well. I think it's so hard to express thoughts to anyone who has experience such a loss ... but if we are true believers, we must remember that in death, there is life. And in death, there is eternal life. I daresay that your beloved friend, Brendon, would not want to hear you saying what you said in the quote. His earthly battle is over, the victory is won. I am sure that he expects you (and Pacific Masters) to carry on for him.
Brendon was indeed blessed. He had lots of friends (who will not forget him) and when God called him Home ... he was at a happy moment.
Lots of hugs here as well.
Kindest regards,
Mark
Originally posted by Karen Duggan
... and I know you know me, his passing is a reminder to me that I should't get too caught up in any one thing. Life is way too short. Karen,
There was a Bing Crosby movie 100's of years ago, The Bells of Saint Mary's, in which Bing Crosby (as Father O'Malley) said something like this, "I shall pass this life but only once." I guess it does mean in a way that life is too short to get caught up in any one thing. You are blessed with your children and those you teach. Certainly your interaction with them will help you through this tragedy.
Whenever someone I know passes on (or hear of other losses), I always think of people who are watching over us "up there." I always call them, "our angels."
Mark
"However, and I know you know me, his passing is a reminder to me that I should't get too caught up in any one thing. Life is way too short."
Life is way to short....for many people...and often it is very painful...Yet, I believe if we get caught up in things that are decent and worthy...as Brendon was...you are...then we are blessed... and... so are those that know/knew us.....
In times like this, my Father had a saying that comes to mind....He used to tell me..."Life in not fair son...it's just life..."
Two quotes I try to live my life by:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
And...
“Life’s journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, ‘Holy Sh@t what a ride!’” Sounds like Brendon skidded in sideways!
Karen - here are two poems that I find especially comforting....
Henry Scott Holland 1847-1918
Canon of St Paul's Cathedral
(Death is nothing at all)
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
I am I and you are you,
Whatever we were to each other, that we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference in your tone,
wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow,
laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effort,
without the trace of a shadow in it.
Life means all that it ever meant,
it is the same as it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity,
why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you
somewhere very near
just around the corner.
All is well
****************
Henry Van *** 1852 - 1933
Parable of Immortality
I am standing by the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze
and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength,
and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud, just where the sun and sky come down to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says:
- 'There she goes!
Gone where?
Gone from my sight - that is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar
as she was when she left my side,
and just as able to bear her load of living freight
to the places of destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says:
- 'There she goes! ',
there are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout :
- 'Here she comes!'
Karen, I meant it more in terms of he was enjoying life. Not sitting at home watching tv, but rather out there doing something. Sorry if it offended you or Brandon's memory. I meant no such disrespect.
