Author: Randy Friesen

Ok, maybe a slight stretch…but aside from life-guarding, swim instructing and helping his old man around the house this weekend, Max did the PA announcing at this afternoon’s Intermediate A Langley Thunder game.  You can see him in the red circle.  In the green circle you can see the team celebrating the overtime victory on a goal by a certain William VH.  Nice job to all!  In the blue circle, Max chows down on 6 post game tacos (first helping).

Great to see the families from Nanaimo at the game as well as so many of the Island folks are helping to support Chris’ fund and sporting the wrist bands!  The fund, for those keeping score at home, is closing in on $14,000! As soon as the fund hits $20,000 it will be locked in for life.  In other words, the award given out each year will be generated by interest earned and the fund continues to make money for the next year.  The first award will be given out in January 2011.  (As indicated in previous posts, Ingrid and I will make an additional gift to SFU to allow the first award to be presented then as the fund will not have generated a full year of interest at that time.)

The release of the Chris Friesen lacrosse stick from Harrow gives me shivers whenever I look at the design.  Check yesterday’s post to see it for yourself.  I know many non-lacrosse players (like me!) are going to be picking one up just because it’s the coolest thing ever ….ok, I may be biased…!  A link to the pdf order form will be up tomorrow at ChristianFriesen.com If you are worried about a cheque getting to Joyce before the deadline or any other issue regarding payment, but you still want to order…just contact her by email.  More than anything, we simply have to provide Harrow with a number of these special edition sticks.

I am excited about this stick for two reasons.  One, what an awesome way to remember Chris.  Nuff said.  Two, through the amazing generosity of Harrow and Burnaby Mountain Selects ALL of the net proceeds will go to the Christian Friesen Memorial Award fund.  I love that because players (AND PARENTS!!!) are buying equipment all the time.  If you need a stick for this year or next, what a cool way to spend the regular amount, but know that you are helping to change the world by challenging one SFU student and lacrosse player to Be The Best.

For all my teenage readers out there, look out for each other this week, and as I would say to Chris before every single lacrosse game, Play Hard, Be Safe, Have Fun.

Are you kidding me?  When Ingrid and I met Joyce, Brent and Jeff from SFU (and Burnaby Mountain Selects) for coffee a few weeks ago we knew we would be talking about some ideas to support the Christian Friesen Memorial Award.  We had no idea however, how big these guys were thinking.  What you are looking at is the Christian Friesen Commemorative Lacrosse Stick.  It has Be The Best on it, along with Chris’ signature and the Canadian flag BMS logo.  The sticks will be sold at normal retail, but with incredible support from Harrow and our BMS gang, all net proceeds will be added to the Chris Friesen Memorial Award fund.  More on this tomorrow, but thought you just had to see this now!

It was exactly one year ago tonight.  Max, Chris and myself screamed and yelled at the TV as we watched our beloved and sometimes ‘behated’ Canucks eliminated in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Chicago Blackhawks.

I told the boys that sick feeling they had in their guts was their graduation in becoming a true long-term Canucks fan.

I was in Grade 12 for the ’82 ride to the cup finals vs the ___________ (if you said New York Islanders you are correct)… and I went to Game 6 live with my good friend Mark Funk in ’94 that forced the famous Game 7 back in New York against the Rangers to battle for the NHL’s top honour.

Fast forward to 2009 and 2010.  Nothing changed for the Canucks in these playoffs.  Luongo had issues.  The defence was hurt and a better Chicago team dominated when needed.  For us of course, everything has changed.  There was no Chris in the room tonight.

This is just one of countless things that we continue to go through and it’s just part of the process…oh how I hate that word.  Earlier in the playoffs I actually thought about how I would feel if the Canucks made a long run this year and Chris wouldn’t be here to share in the victory after decades of loss.  Perhaps thankfully, we don’t have to cross that bridge this year?  I have very mixed feelings about that.

There were other changes as well.  Max grew a playoff beard.  The pictoral evidence is included here.  He also shaved it off tonight.  Another first…but as a Canuck fan son, it probably won’t be the last time you shave your beard off in April or May as opposed to June.

That being said, I’m mighty proud of the beard you grew Max.  That is a change that I’m very proud to see.  Nice work…and don’t forget the shaving balm after you’re done.

My nephew Steve contacted us several weeks back suggesting he may have a week of work coming up in San Diego.  Once confirmed, it took us about 25 minutes to have our flights and hotel booked.  Meggan even flew in from South Carolina and we had a great weekend together.

Now here’s a few behind the scenes moments.  In these pictures we look happy….and we were…and are.  However, Max actually had a bad case of the flu that came up very suddenly traveling down and through the weekend and even though he still did stuff, he didn’t eat much and felt pretty weak.  You probably couldn’t figure that out just by looking at these pictures.

What you also can’t see is those painful moments that keep coming in like clouds loaded with rain.  They do pass and sometimes there is even a rainbow, but we usually just don’t take pictures of those times.  I get concerned sometimes that people might think we’re too happy.  We’re not.  We’re not acting either.  When I looked at the pictures you see here, the first thing I thought of was ‘the new normal’…here we are the three of us, all with our wrist bands and Chris with us in spirit.  The new normal.

By the way, the film maker who brought you ‘Walking in Langley’, may even have a ‘Walking in San Diego’ movie coming up.

THANKS to Steve and Meggan for arranging their worlds to spend some time with us this weekend.  We love ya lots.

Last weekend was spent up in Kamloops as previously documented.  For those joining us outside of BC, Kamloops is a 3 hour drive through a few mountains on the way to the interior of British Columbia.  I put this little video of lacrosse action together from Sunday’s semi final between Kamloops and Langley.  Kamloops played well led by a certain number 14, Blaine Boomer and friends as you can see in the vid.  On the last play of the video I’ve slowed it down so you can see how fast this game really is.  Someone will know who that Langley player is…yes, let me know…you’ll see the footwork and hustle to get the rebound after  a great save by the Kamloop’s goalie.

Blaine’s folks, Jim and Carolynn were our hosts for the weekend.  Carolynn in the middle of planning gourmet dinners and breakfasts was also preparing for a track and field challenge on Sunday where she only SET THE CANADIAN MASTER’S SHOT PUT DISTANCE RECORD!!  I’d say nice work! Congrats Carolynn and everyone who is out there BEING THE BEST!

Go play lacrosse.  Go do the Shot Put.  Do some push-ups or go take your Mom out for lunch.  Be The Best…in everything.  CF#2 forever.

Bonus: If you want to experience a little Boomer Kamloops hospitality yourself, they own a big condo at Sun Peaks that they rent out.  Check it out here.