Awesome and Legendary

Like many of my blogs I got an idea and had no idea how to title it, then just a flashing moment I see something that reminds me or something and then of someone and then the title lands on the page. That's a lot of words to say absolutely nothing at all. I could have just said what I'm going to write about and then write, but it's just more fun this way.

Roads are windy and no matter where you are going, how far you have gone, or what route you take, there are always signs; miles to destination, railroad crossing, mile posts, etc. For winding roads called life, you really can only call your friends those posts. They come along at the right time to tell you where you are and where to go and in all other ways, keep you on the right path. I'm going to tell you about a couple of them. They aren't separately awesome and legendary, one of them once referred jokingly to himself as that, but they are both these things in their own way.

City League softball is one of my favorite things in the UNIVERSE. The world is just not big enough to encompass how much I enjoy playing that game. In the 4 or 5 years that I've played, I've moved from a right fielder to being short stop. Yes, this means that I have figured out how to field. I'm pretty fast, so even when I don't hit the ball well, often times I still can get on base. I love the game, I love to just compete and I love to make people go, "How the heck did he do that"? I played on a church team that gave me the chance to play next to one eccentric guy named Jeff Woodford. Jeff's dad was my high school math teacher that we affectionately called Woody. This tag mades it's way to Jeff as I got to know him a little bit.

Now Jeff played 3rd base. Once in a while we would both end up chasing a foul ball and I would have to call him off or someone would tell me to get the hell out of the way so he could make a play, but we spent a fair amount of time, on plays, in the same vicinity on the field. Joking and laughing, even a few times trying to make the other miss a routine ball. I don't know why I thought of this guy today, other than he made my life just a little bit better. He's truly a great friend and even though I currently live in the middle of no where, he doesn't live too far away. Sisters is a measly hour and a half away.

Friends are never cut from the same mold and one that I don't think was even cut from the same mountain is Daniel Lanning. Now Dan is the guy who is "Awesome and Legendary". Why? Because I said so, that's why!!! And don't you forget it. A few years ago Dan and I got reconnected after not seeing each other for about 8 years. He and I went to high school together, played football together, even had some classes, though he was the year ahead in school. We weren't great friends, but Dan being Dan, we were friends. He's very outgoing, was always headed in the ministry, so he was a walking talking relationship from the moment I met him.

Now, about a year ago, Dan was giving a message, and like all good Christians, I can't remember what it was about, but I do remember after he was introduced he said something to the effect that he hoped some day he would be introduced as "Awesome and Legendary". That sounds like a very arrogant statement to make, but Dan... well, Dan had a way with the expression that made it sound like a very humble offering. He hopes some day that he is mentioned in this fashion, but he wants it to be for the right reasons. It was a truly selfish statement said in a humble fashion that made it totally appropriate. For now and all time, to me, Dan is Awesome and Legendary.

I placed the tag line on this blog because like all my friends, these two are both, awesome and legendary. They are for very different reasons, but they have enriched my life and made it more abundant. They have shown me in their own ways how to be a great friend and forever will I appreciate their contribution to my life.