What to do with an idle summer—simple, get vaccinated find old friends, good people, the best people. It seems like I have written this before, a homage, a tribute to my friend Colleen… but maybe not. Maybe I dreamed it. At the end of July, I am going to Dallas with friends I have known so long, that it does not seem real. High school friends are the best friends, because they were there when you were all idiots. They know the stories you would never tell mom.
Thank God, in the fall of 1991 that Mary Kay and Holly had the good sense to find Colleen. They found their own group of idiots, and boy, do they have their stories. Today the Nerinx crew are still good friends. And they are there for each other through good times and bad, Tragically, this group has had to rally for each other with kind words and many hugs. So Colleen joined our team, a basketball team that literally changed my life. Many on that team are now some of my most wonderful friends. My sister Katie and I had coached a group of St. Dominic Savio girls from the 4th grade and now they were in high school so Michele, Julie, and Colleen were added to our team. Katie and I joke she got Maureen as a friend, I was second pick so I got Mary Kay and Holly. Because of this I got also Colleen and Julie and Dajer and Karen and Katie and Sarah and then of course Phil.
Any way, I remember after the one game we went to a Pizza place on 21 after a game and Colleen starting sharing details about the game that I had just coached, apparently I had missed a lot as Colleen told stories of the battles she had just fought, she had as all laughing out loud. Colleen was laughing so hard, she was crying. That was almost 20 years ago, and ever since when the whole gang gets together, I try to sit next to Colleen as her words and her stories entertain me. More important they strengthen a friendship that gets better every time I see her. Each time I see Colleen I am happy and cannot wait to catch up. She never disappoints. I have to be careful when I say this, because I know so many great people, but Colleen would be def… top 20 on people I want to sit and enjoy a meal with. Her kindness and her friendship mean so much, during the breakfast she congratulated me (better yet she was earnest in her encouragement of me. She was happy that I was well. Her words of kindness and love hit me hard and I stumbled as tears came to my eyes) on my appearance and my health. I told her I was good and she smiled. How do we have this connection? I really think it is Grace, maybe God has allowed me to have a special insight into Colleen …so I will be more willing to look for it in my students. In other words I get Colleen, I feel I have a special insight into her greatness. And I think she gets me too. God’s Grace encourages me to look for goodness in others—my students.
When I first met Colleen, she was the same age as my students are now. Did I see the greatness in her soul that I see today when I first met her. I hope I did, or maybe this reflection allows me to take a moment and look harder at the 16 year olds that I now teach.
I kind of never know where my words will land, but tonight as I was listening to Karaoke in Soulard, I knew I would have to write. I sat at a table in Carson’s listening to mostly bad karaoke reflecting on the good friends at my table and the 2 breakfasts I had had this week. (Foreshadowing: breakfast 2 will be written tonight). I am blessed, I have a mom, who for so many, many years has been my biggest fan and biggest supporter. My mom gets my weirdness and actively encourages it, my dad just shakes his head. My mom was next to me on her dining room table when I built my duct tape coat for Holly’s reception.
Colleen has three boys in high school and most of her life is at baseball games and tournaments. I have met the boys and they are great kids, I hope in 2026 I am still buying breakfasts, then maybe I will take her twins out to eat and hear their stories and their thoughts on their wonderful mom. I know they will tell me stories of when Colleen was at their side building something with them, encouraging them the whole time.
A couple got up at Southwest Diner, and beckoned us to take their shaded table. It was a kindness that was appreciated, but I think not necessary. Colleen and I were going to get our Conversation ON. That is never a doubt after we see each other 11 months or 17 months down the road. I should not really smoke cigars any more, but maybe Colleen and I can find a couple of rocking chairs on a front porch somewhere. So think about it, hopefully you have been there, a good rocking chair, a summer breeze blowing, maybe a glass of ice tea or lemonade—and great, great conversation. What the Irish call Craic. So thanks Colleen, my rocking chair friend, your friendship and encouragement always make me feel comfortable and loved. I just closed my eyes and felt myself rocking back and forth, the breeze hit my back and I felt I could stay there forever, just like your friendship. Rock……rock…..rock
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