Lacrosse and Chris

Randy, you probably don’t remember me. I was just Chris’ (and Max’s) humble Grade 6 teacher, but I want you to know that I miss Chris too. I think about him everyday and I still wear my red Chris Friesen band everyday. I still feel a deep sense of loss for what should have been and he wasn’t even my own boy.

I get how you miss watching him play his game. My middle boy plays soccer at a metro level and I understand the joy and pride you feel to watch your flesh and blood succeed at something they love so much. Our youngest boy is a lacrosse player (box and field.) He is no Chris Friesen, but he tries his best. He even got an MVP at the recent Jack Crosby tournament. Our oldest boy is the same age as Chris, and as he is about to finish school and enter the ‘real world’ he is striving to be his best too.

I never saw Chris play lacrosse, but I did get to do the high jump eliminations for Track and Field at Murrayville. I remember the sheer determination on his face and it was exhilarating for me to see the heights he could jump. The bell would ring and I would raise the bar and have him jump anyway, until the height got to be too much. He always put out the same effort into his academic work too. I viewed him as a well rounded kid–a boy I would like my own kids to be like.

I feel your loss. I feel for your family. Thank you for sharing your words in your blog–they keep me feeling hopeful. I appreciate that.