liveSTRONG.

I wanted to take this time to say how thankful I am to celebrate the end of chemotherapy for one of the best friends anyone could have... ever.

I met Travis way back on the first day of the 1st grade at Kirkwood Elementary School. I was having a pretty rough go of it seeing how it was a new school for me (I was a victim of the dreaded "rezoning of the school boundaries"). Long story short, I was an emotional child and unfortunately threw up all over my desk that first morning. Travis came over to me a short time later (after I had gotten help cleaning myself up) and proceeded to show me how to draw a shark as a 7 year old's way of saying "hey, we all blow chunks sometimes... it's okay"; and a forever friendship was forged.

He's been there through it all with me, even the time when I had to throw him in front of the bus to save my own neck... as dumb kids, we had burned some of my parents candles while they were out, (and no, we didn't have permission), when they returned and asked if we knew anything about it, Travis said "no" to keep me from getting in trouble whereas I squealed and my dad banished him from the house for lying. (Hey, in my defense, I was the one who had to live with the man 24/7... and had no question that he would "take me out" if I ever lied to him). It was an important lesson to ALWAYS tell the truth, and all was forgiven.

And just so you don't think the relationship is one sided, I've been there for him as well... there was an unfortunate event concerning him and his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend, a rainy night and her Thunderbird running him over. Um, twice. (Don't worry, he was fine. Good thing the ground was soft and she drove slow.) Now I didn't take him to the hospital or anything like that, but I did console him that everything would be alright... but they still broke up anyways. Hmm, maybe he is the better friend...

We've literally grown up together... Been there for each other through all the crazy times, girlfriends and family emergencies... Late Sunday night drives to the 2nd run theater in Cedar Rapids, even though we both had to work the next morning. A trip to Chicago to see my brother, which resulted in the unfortunate demise of my beloved Chevy Chevette... many visits to a local mall only to be thrown out and "banned for life" because of tossing pennies off the escalator (we were young). We've been Best Man in each others weddings, and one of the first people there to celebrate the births of our children.

Through the strength of his incredible wife, his three wonderful sons and many of his friends and family members, I'm proud to report that the chemo is done and he is doing absolutely fantastic. You never would have made him out as a cancer patient... only his LIVESTRONG band was any clue to his connection with the disease.

Selfishly, I'd like to thank him for fighting so hard against cancer, so that we can make many more memories of "growing up" together... and by the way, sorry again for all that trouble I got you in with my dad.