I still hope you are checking in on the guys and their adventures in San Diego. Over the last four months you have gotten to know them but I wanted to share some additional thoughts with you as these guys are more than my best friends, they are a part of my family.
I wrote this before the guys started the run, and I am even now more of a believer in every single word I wrote.
Baby Kenny
A Classic Case of Social Greatness. There is not one bad bone in his body, not one hateful thought in his mind. His heart if filled with love and joy. I put him up there with Mother Theresa; but instead of spreading goodwill and charity, Ken spreads smiles, high fives and laughs where ever he goes- and both are so needed in this world.
Ken makes life grand wherever he goes. He can’t wait to laugh at new and be awestruck by the different. This run means everything to Ken and nothing at the same time. That’s the wonderful thing about him; he is always blissful and content doing whatever the wind blows his way. He loves to daydream, and escape reality only for an afternoon.
Ken loves to wear ‘casual clothing’ as he calls it. That mostly comprises of whatever he can dig out of his closet, but he mysteriously always looks stylish. A baseball hat and aviators; Ken is good to go. Some would call Ken a social butterfly, but I would disagree. A butterfly moves from flower to flower, only spending a short time with each. But when Ken enters your life his presence lasts forever. He listens and tucks away facts about you in the corners of his heart that you later surprisingly finds he remembered. You can have a deep conversation with Ken about anything; life, religion, or politics it doesn’t matter because Ken will just listen.
I am more than certain that there will times that will be filled with tension; nerves will be frayed, bodies tired and patience run to its limit. But with all certainty Ken will bring humor to any situation. He once began singing ‘Had a Bad Day’ by Daniel Powter as he shuffled back and forth on his feet as a fight began to erupt between us and another group of kids. There was no reason why he started singing that song, but to only lighten the mood, which it did and no one fought that night.
Ken once danced in front of an arcade in Niagara Falls to Elvis Music. He got low, his butt almost touching the ground and just danced. People stared, but Ken didn’t care. His enthusiasm in life is infectious-I had to join him. Classic Ken.
Ken once said:
"It's only life and you don't need to take it so seriously. Kick back and relax and make mistakes and impress the wrong people and bark at people and dance around the middle of a crowded bus stop and put your giggle pants on and ride around with the top down and dish out high fives like it was the only job you were ever born to perform and do everything with your friends and do nothing with your friends and remain positive through everything and do your best and always have fun...but never grow up completely."
DK
A Most Mighty Heart. DK has the heart of a lion. Some say athletes with big hearts and little talent are good for the team, but not good for winning. You see DK is much like me-athletically declined in many areas. (OK he is not as bad as I am-he can catch a ball tossed less than a foot away.) But give DK what may seem like an insurmountable task and somehow he will leap over those hurdles by margins unthought-of. His heart not only was good for the team, but it also won. Over four years in college he worked his way to one of the most valuable, high scoring athletes on the track team. His heart pushed him to work harder. His heart made him faster. He surpassed any dreams I had for him in his running career and this run will again surpass my impression of his capability level. It’s not that I ever doubt his ability; it’s his ability that always surpasses my imagination.
While running is a large part of his life, DK doesn’t let one thing define who he is. We once joked that we would learn something new about him every week. And that’s been pretty much true. He once was in a band; Cat Box (They broke up due to ‘creative differences’), he likes all sorts of music and he loves sweets. He sets up shows at various locations to help young, upstart bands get exposure. He doesn’t do it for money, or even any slice of notoriety from a band that may become famous. It’s just another bend in the maze of his life. DK once created a game at our dining hall called the Arc. There were 9 different kinds of cereal and much like Noah’s Arc you had to gather two of each kind. But instead of stowing them on a boat and carrying them across the sea, you ate them. It made everyone sick for the entire day, but those three hours spent at the dining hall were worth every sugary bite. With his uniqueness comes his desire to retreat from the same. He can’t wait to escape shopping malls, reality TV and the dangerousness ness of a monotonous life.
He is wildly and blissfully optimistic. When he daydreams a glint of a 10-year-old boy can be seen in his eyes. He knows no barriers. Nothing is impossible. There are no limits. Life throws disappointments and downfalls, but he can’t see any of them.
When I was a senior DK was a freshman and I never knew how I touched his life until one day on a run he told me. I was warmed and blown away by his candor and true gratitude. If you have done something that made his life better, or made him happy, he was sure to tell you. He has an unadulterated love for the people in his life. The kind of dedication he provides is not easily matched. It will be his heart that will carry others through this run in times when it will be most needed.
Andy
The Sun. Andy has a gravitational and contagious personality. There is a little of him in everyone he knows. He rallies the troops, leads without words and has a kind heart that is felt and influences in an unspoken way. Every decision he makes is thought out, every move planned.
Andy always tries to always say and do the right thing, even if it gets him into trouble. He is a child at heart but yet his wisdom of your grandfather. He can talk on and on about almost nothing, but prefers to talk about something. Andy loves to tell ‘stories’-that sometimes go on forever, but are always entertaining. He believes in one's own independence, being able to do things on his own, think for himself, and not rely on others for confidence. But he will never get to the point where independence is just another word for alone.
He never lets anyone dictate his path in life. Often times on team runs he would go left while we went right-not because he was trying to be different, or difficult, but just because his legs carried him that way. But in his quiet leadership we followed him. If you ever argued with him, or had a disagreement, in the end you would somehow see his point of view. I joke that he somehow ends ‘on top’ in every bad situation. His words are always simple, but they spoke volumes. He never forces his opinion on you; he is comfortable letting you think on your own and disagree with him.
Laughter is a huge part of his life. Humor forms a conduit in which he communicates with everyone. There isn’t a day that a smile comes across his face, or a funny antidote uttered from his mouth. I admire his extremely and extraordinarily kindness. He shows it in the smallest of ways; when you are sad he somehow makes you grin, or if upset he makes you peaceful. I once was distraught over a situation that buckled me to me knees sobbing; he stood in silence crying with me. He didn’t say a word, and didn’t have to.
It will be without a doubt that this run would not be possible without him. He has a natural and amazing ability to see miles into the future. He sees people for who they really are. His natural leadership, wisdom, humor and kindness will guide them harmoniously through this voyage.
Matt, Ken and Andy-I love you guys.
-Dan
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