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Chris
Douglass
Current mood:  indescribable
Category:
Life
As many of you know from my bulletin, my friend Chris died
on Saturday in a head-on collision. As I sit and write
something that I want to have read at his memorial service I
came to a realization. After talking to his sister last
night who told me of the accident, I sat in shock. Shock
turned to crying...I mean hysterically crying. Then I
realized that Chris gave me a gift that was amazing. The
gift of loving life.
I met Chris off of the Run Junkies board last year. He had
an amazing writing style and I would love to read his blogs.
This led to a friendship off of my space. I still don't
know how that happened, but he was one of those people last
summer who talked me through the beginning of my divorce.
(Some of you know him by CC when I talked about him) Night
after night we talked on the phone. He lived a free spirit
life that none of us could even imagine. At 28 years young,
he pretty much had every job you can imagine: landscaper,
organic farmer, guitar rep....the list went on. He dreamed
bigger then most and motivated me to do the same. Three
cancelled camping trips later, he saved enough money to buy
a motorcycle to head to Arizona. From there he headed up to
Denver. I was lucky enough to finally meet him in DC the
weekend of Marine Corps Marathon. As we both were
recovering from injuries we sat on the side and cheered. Oh
yeah, then took off and did some sightseeing...lol! We had
a blast.
As some of you know from my dating dramas (hah!), December
was tough. Chris and N8 were the ones I called as I knew
they wouldn't judge me for choices I made (ahem) and he was
the one who helped me get into the male brain. (See former
blog! HA) Our outlooks on life were so similar and he was
living a life I couldn't. Three phone calls last week from
him....I didn't get back to him once. Life catches up to
you. You think that person will always be there. With
Kevin's birthday in a few weeks, the flight to Denver was
booked. He was on my list of people to see. I spoke to
Yuliya this morning. We both were planning on running
Baltimore Marathon in October with the hopes of FINALLY
breaking 4 hours. Now we are running it for Chris.
Chris- Thank you for listening to me laugh, cry,
sing...thank you for recommending music. It will go on
always as a reminder of your life. Just a month ago I
called him when one of the songs we used to sing came on at
work.
Having Gene talk to me last night about this really helped
me think things through. Chris was a teacher. Appreciate
those around you, hug, kiss and tell them how you feel.
LIVE your life as you want to. All of us should aspire to
be as carefree and laidback as Chris was.
I will miss you!
Chris and I cheering on our friends at Marine Corps
Marathon. We did a great job, hey?
He LOVED that I wanted to pick up a Redskin cheerleader.
I made him take one too!
Chris's Big Cat encounter at Marine Corps Marathon
Link to Chris's adventures.
Link to article about the accident.
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