B-log

In 8th grade, Stacy moved to Craig from Rifle. We became friends the day she walked in to Mr. Ghiardelli’s English class, once I quickly realized that my smittenness for her would be unrequited. Stacy worked in a bank as a receptionist after high school. Today she is president of that bank. She’s kind of a rock star in that way.

Izzy was our high school basketball team’s best shooter and leading scorer. He also was our football team’s kicker/punter. He taught me every cuss word in Spanish (most of which I have forgotten). We used to give him a hard time for wearing Polo cologne, when Drakar Noir was clearly the better choice for the distinguished Northwestern Colorado young man.

My Pledge Son from Boston, Jeff joined Sigma Chi and introduced me to the perceived superiority of all things originating from New England. A true Bronco “hateh,” Jeff disputed Elway’s greatness. He and I clicked on pretty much everything else. Today, Jeff works with the US Border Patrol, protecting us from the infiltration of illegal aliens…coming from our neighbors to the North.

A fellow NAMBian, we were often confused for the other because we both worked in Mission Education, although our jobs had nothing in common. Thus, “Myron McCarsonally” was born. Matt can rank every Chicken Tender product in the Atlanta region.

Melvin is a Georgia peach and a fellow NAMB veteran. She was my counterpart in the children’s division and edited their resources. She is incredibly gifted, faithful, diligent, and hardworking. I am blessed to call this prayer warrior my friend.

Aunt Nancy has always been kind, loving, forgiving, and fun. She joined every hunting trip, camping excursion and grand outdoor adventure and challenged us to keep pace. I’m pleased to be her errand boy for as long as she wants.

My brother’s high school girlfriend treated me like a little brother…or how I imagined a big sister should treat me. She became great friends with my parents. Today, she’s a fitness guru.

Corey was the “all-around athlete” from Kelli’s class. He was the football team’s quarterback, a wrestler, and a pitcher on the baseball team. I remember there always seemed to be a lot of drama about Corey “making weight” during wrestling season. He’d appear gaunt, almost reaper-ish when wearing his hooded wrestling warm-up. But I seem to remember him winning a lot. Today, Corey’s a school administrator, husband and dad, and committed Christian.

Dalian was Kelli’s best guy friend. He was a great, gentle giant. He encouraged underclassmen on the football field and was an overachieving wrestler. Dalian died his senior year in a car accident. Kelli carried his flower at graduation.

I met Jim Mooney the summer before seventh grade. He was staying with his cousins the Baxters. Jim immediately clicked in our little circle of friends. He introduced me to Prince & the Revolution (I still know all the Purple One’s grunts from When Doves Cry, I’m a little sheepish to admit) and chewing tobacco (a filthy habit that my dad broke me of in dramatic fashion….I’ll tell that story some day). Jim once drank a Big Gulp cup of Tobacco spit to convince a friend’s mom it was a Coke. I am gagging at the memory. Jim also had a zippered leather jacket, a la Michael Jackson, and that made him immeasurably cool in my estimation.

I last saw Jim at my wedding in 1995, but thanks to Mark Zuckerberg, I’ve learned that he’s a physician’s assistant in Hot Springs, Arkansas. God bless technology.