Friendship

I was brainstorming with a friend today about what I should blog about. Some days are so easy and other days things just don't pour out.  It's not that I have a loss of things to say, more that I'm unsure about delving into certain topics or that I don't feel I can articulate my thoughts properly.  So, some things I stay away from verbally.

I'm writing early because I have a dinner date with Bailey :-) and I know I'll be too tired when I get home.  It's actually not even dark out yet.  

I'm fortunate to have a lot of pictures of Chris and his friends.  He had a lot of buddies both male and female.  I'm proud he was a popular kid.  He wasn't arrogant, I doubt anyone would ever use that adjective to describe him - he was just a likable guy.  Chris was everyone's friend and that's pretty cool.  He was happy-go-lucky.

I got cards and e-mails and texts from the parents and grandparents of some of Christopher's friends after he passed.  I will treasure them, thank you.  They sent me pictures of Chris that I have never seen before.  I know that these wonderful people went digging through their photo albums just for me.  To share some pictures that were taken that I was unaware of.  How kind!  I'm sure you probably have oodles of photos too, ones that were never shared with the others that are in them.  It's not on purpose of course, it just happens. How could any of us remember to always pass them on?  For me to receive the photos now are priceless.  Such new and fabulous treasures!

Of course in most all the pictures Chris is smiling, what else is new?  He thoroughly enjoyed himself so long as he was with people.  Chris used to go visit friends and if they weren't home he thought nothing of hanging out with the parents or his friends siblings.  It happened quite often.  

I've had parents thank me for the help Chris provided with hanging up Christmas decorations, securing Halloween cornstalks to the front lamp post, changing flat tires, digging post holes, dragging out summer patio furniture from the basement, emergency babysitting, etc.  It never fazed Chris if something was asked of him.  He'd shrug and jump in.  He did the same for me.  I will say he wasn't the brightest bulb and many times he wouldn't just outwardly notice something needed doing but he was never put off if it was requested of him.

Chris had such a wide variety of friends. Besides his football brothers whom I've mentioned before there are friends such as, Patrick; he never played any sports yet he and Chris went everywhere together.  When Chris had practice off he'd go and then he and Pat would catch up when he was done.  

Tyler and Connor; they played baseball and Chris would hitch a ride with their parents and go spend all day at the field with them.  He also went on plenty of family outings with various families and never seemed to lack an invitation somewhere.  He was rarely home for long.

I thought it might be nice to share some random photos and let everyone know how very much I appreciate their embracing of Chris.  It means so much to know how well loved he was.  It's no wonder he enjoyed school and being out and about, he was never at a loss for someone to talk to or something to do. 

I've been told he was a very good listener.  Encouraging when someone was down or struggling and usually had some sort of words to life the spirits,  Rachel; she sent me a really great text telling me how Chris used to cheer her up at school when she was having a bad day.  That's a beautiful thing for me to hear now that Chris has passed.  I love hearing more and more about his personality and the sides of him I didn't get to see when he was away from home.

Thanks SHEN students, parents and extended families for all you've shared with me.  Don't be shy in continuing to do so, it's what we have in common and I'm all for listening in regard to my son.   You help me keep him alive with your kind and funny words and stories and I know others enjoy hearing about his personality, his kindness, wit and silly antics :-)

Thank you for reading.