1,460 Days

On August 27, 2010, one thousand-four hundred and sixty days will have passed since we lost Fenton.
Why do I say it that way?
Four years seems such a small amount of time. Such an insignificant little number. . . “4.”

When I think about how long ago it has been since the crash happened; that little number “4” works for me.
It seems like yesterday; 4 seconds ago even. I remember it vividly.
Where I was sitting, what I was looking at, the smell of my room, the pattern I paced on the floor during the call, and the warmth of the first tear I wiped away. All of us could tell you our story of that day, as if it were yesterday.

But to think about how long it has been since we’ve lost our friend?
One thousand-four hundred and sixty days.
Yes, that seems to be a far more appropriate depiction.
All the little things each day his children do and accomplish. The way his wife gets more beautiful with every passing day. Family cookouts and parties with friends; I wonder if he has any idea how many extra beers we have to drink without him there. . .
Conversations at work, and the laughter he brought to so many people.
Everyday things. Every day.

In a few days we will host our 4th volleyball tournament.

I think I speak for The Planning Crew, when I say; you guys breathe life into us every year. I can’t tell you how many times I stand back and just take all of you in. How many times one of us looks across the court at each other and with no words at all says, “Can you believe all of this?”

We are taken aback at how many of you come out to celebrate Fenton with us.
Some of you never met him but I urge you to look around. Look at how many people are hugging, talking and laughing. THAT is Fenton!

Watching you takes us back to a beautiful, hot summer day, on a grass court, with jazz music in the background.
You take us back to a day when we had our friend.
You are why we do this – even after all this time. . .

Thank you.