Cultivating Colin

As oxymoronic as this may sound— part of life is death. This past Saturday the world bid farewell to one of the nicest men I’ve ever had the opportunity to know, Colin Feeney. Colin is my Uncle Scott’s father. Being that Scott is married into the Chase family, I have no actual blood relation to Colin; although one would never know it judging by interaction.

Throughout my college softball career, we took many spring break training trips spanning anywhere in the United States from California to Florida. Despite the long distance from home, Colin always showed up for spring training with a smile on his face and his brother Gerry in tow. I didn’t know it this past February, but that was the last spring break any of us would share. His support did not only extend to sunshiny states, though. Once my team would retreat back to the snowy North for spring, Colin was known to pop in at a game and even treat me to dinner afterwards.

Colin, I know you are smiling down on us and you probably think you are the lucky one, being in Heaven and all. But in reality, I was the lucky one for having had a chance to cross paths with a noble father, veteran, and person. The pleasure was all mine. May you rest in peace, Mr. Feeney.

Today in an effort to pay my respects to this stand-up guy, I visited his calling hours. It was here where I began to think that had mom not gone to the doctor when she did, this funeral could have been paired with hers. I quickly shook the thought because it is a bit ridiculous to think about what would or could have happened. It seems most important to concentrate on what did happen and focus on all of the positive feedback she receives from the doctors each week.

This summer I learned a very basic lesson—people are not invincible. I realize this seems like rather pathetic message to just be learning at age twenty two but really, most people don’t realize that at some point their time will run out. I learned not to take time for granted. I loved seeing Colin. And I love my mom. And there are a million and ten things I want to do, accomplish, see, feel and know before I pass.

Leaving the funeral home today I almost felt invigorated—like, I needed to go and do something that is on my Bucket List (which is a great movie, by the way).

Prior to the calling hours mom and I had been arguing and when I came home, I gave up the “I am right” stance and decided to relish in the fact that my mother is happy, radiant and alive. So what if I accidentally ran our cell phone bill up with ring-back tone charges, money is not everything!? (Although if you must know, I do not think she has forgotten about the bill… thankfully we are no longer feuding.)

The moral of the story is, you get one life to live so it may as well be spent happy! It is with great appreciation that I say, Thank You, Colin, for teaching me yet another lesson—even when you aren’t physically here, you are still touching my life. That is pretty impressive.