Which came first…running, or friends? In this particular case, friends. It just happen to be that running reinforced that friendship even more. Steve and Carletta Hauck have been our neighbors since we have lived in Watertown. Carletta was our daytime nanny for our kids, and now is our Executive Director for the South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians. Steve, or course, is one of my training partners. Where do you start to thank someone for everything they have done for you? Words cannot express how much we have appreciated them over the years. We and the majority of our families have gone to Disney twice to do the Marathon weekend, and the entire trip was more fun than I could have ever imagined. This last time, all but Jeff and Molly were able to attend. This is not like 2 different families, but more like one “big family”. We care and worry about each other just as much as our own direct family. We look after each other, but we know how to have fun together too!
We can be “goofy” together, but we have our serious moments too.
And of course, those unbreakable running bonds for those of us competing!
The running event is just what got us all to the same place at the same time. It was an excuse to go on vacation together…and it worked well!
Those bonds go back for years. Here is Tom Beaudry with his family at one of our Grandma’s marathon days. Having our families there cheering us on is more valuable than words can describe. No money value can be placed on it. It truly is priceless!
There is no stronger bond in life than your family. They are there through all of the good times, and the bad times. In fact, they make the bad times tolerable. If you can’t trust your family for support, who can you trust? With running, and the bonds that have been extended with this, now have effectively just increased the size of what we would refer to as family. It has been a pleasure getting to know these people over time. Time, and distance, may change some of the direct impact, but there will always be that “bond” that was created from those events in the past that cannot be changed. Looking back on them, they can only be appreciated even that much more. Thanks for all of the memories guys! It has been an honor and a privilege!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2949
