Random Association Remembrance

This morning I was in line at Kaiser to see the workman’s comp doctor over my shoulder.  The line was long so I was looking around and noticed a room off to the right called the Pioneer Room.  The Pioneer Room in California is where my Godmother used to volunteer, a lot.  She was on the board for the Pioneer Room which was a part of the Escondido Historical Society.  When I was in graduate school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, I happened to see historical society calendar with sweet old photos of Las Vegas.  I called Ruth and told her she ought to do that for the Pioneer Room.  She told me I ought to do it and show her what I meant!  So, there started an annual tradition for Ruth and I of laying out, creating, publishing and selling for fundraising the historical calendar.  As the years went on, I did less and less as they partnered with local vendors, and I always loved getting one.  I don’t get one anymore.  Ruth has been gone 4 years now, and Glen joined her this year.  The lobby of the Wheatridge Kaiser will forever more make me smile, no matter how long the line is, because I will think of Ruth and Glen, two of the most amazing people to ever grace my life.

After leaving Kaiser I went to work and my first appointment was with a student who transferred from Georgia.  I was helping her set up some career systems accounts and she asked whether she should put her home address or dorm address.  I asked where she was originally from and she said Peach Tree City, GA.  I looked up and said, “This may sound random, but do you happen to play tennis?”  She said no, but her mom does.  I continued by saying that a friend of mine from high school who I played tennis with and then played against in college was a well loved tennis pro in Peach Tree City who happened to be killed in a car accident several years ago. I said Beth and before I could finish she said they lived on the same street and her mom had taken lessons from Beth for years.

So, today I am reminded randomly of some truly amazing individuals who don’t walk this earth anymore physically, but who live on in our hearts and in our stories.

I am reminded that taking the time to look around randomly, and ask random questions often leads to very insightful and meaningful outcomes.

I am reminded that love lives on, long after someone leaves, as long as we let it.