My Travel Out East

Sorry that I haven't put out a post recently. But I went out East to visit Eric and followed up to watch Elisha participate in the Philadelphia Triathlon.

I got to Connecticut on Wednesday morning to see Eric right before he went under the knife. He was scheduled to have work done on his feet that morning. He had work done on his hand earlier in the week (Monday). As we drove to the hospital, Eric's wife, Sue, was filling me in on how things were going. The good news was that he was breathing well on his own and the kidneys were functioning very well. Things were going so well that they now could address the "collateral damage."

I had a hard time hearing that my dearest and closest friend was about to lose his feet afet already losing his hand on Monday...And here was Sue so matter-of-fact about the whole thing. I was panicked to see him...I rally didn't know what I'd say or do. But Sue reminded me how awesome Eric really is and that this surgery was a good thing. "Heck," she said,"I was told he was dead five weeks ago. So losing a hand and his feet? That's nothing."

I was still a little nervous walking in to the room. But as soon as I walked in, I saw my best friend. That's who I saw.

He looks great. And more importantly, he is great. He was in absolutely fantastic spirits, even cracking some jokes about trying out as a left-handed relief pitcher. (Eric's a huge Major League Baseball fan).

I visited him again on Thursday, before heading out to join Elisha in Philadelphia. I couldn't help but marvel at his strength and resolve. I know that I would have been a ball of mush...heck, I am a ball of mush (mentally, that is...we'll save the physical jokes for later).

As I left on Friday, I started crying. Not out of sadness nor sympathy. But out of admiration and love. Eric really is a remarkable man, and he is surrounded by a remarkable family that loves him very much. And a friend, too.