Remember

I'm watching Remember Me this afternoon. The dialogue isn't that great, but the story is. It's about the impact that every person leaves behind on those around them. It's almost October, and I find myself missing someone that had a great impact on my life. I used to think about him every single day, but this week I realized that I hadn't thought about him in a while and I felt guilty about it. Today it occured to me that even when you don't conciously think about someone they are always with you through they way you changed by interacting with them and it brings me comfort (and makes me feel a little philosophical). Today's post is not about Australia. It is dedicated to DZ.

I met Dale when I was 14 and a freshman in high school, and spent almost every afternoon of my high school career with him except during golf season. Sometimes we would just sit on the porch, drink a Pepsi and take a little snooze. He taught me to drive a tractor, and tried to introduce me to hot carrots and cheese. He taught me that when you hug someone, instead of turning your head you should be cheek to cheek. His steak and french fries were delicious. He was 73.

He was an old horse trainer. I excersized the horses at his ranch and he taught me what he knew. I would ride and he would yell. I would yell back. He had a reputation for making people cry, but he never got to me until the day he died. I was always proud to be able to say I was riding one of DZ's horses when we went to team penning practice. He was at my sixteenth birthday party, and I always looked forward to the day he could come to my wedding. He gave me confidence in myself and the ranch was my happy place.

It took me about 3 years to erase his number from my phone after he died my sophomore year of college. Realizing that he really is always with me (as cliche as it sounds) makes me happy again.

Dale - some days you aren't on my mind, but you are always with me.