WifeGeeding and I were married on June 21, 2003. One week before that date, my best man, Micah, died from drowning while saving his girlfriend during a kayak accident. The greatest honor of my life was when his mother asked that I speak at his funeral. I had to bury my best friend on a Wednesday, and marry my best friend on a Saturday. There was no replacing him, so on the alter I just saved a spot for him.
Driving to the funeral was a surreal experience, and was one heck of a long drive. During that drive, my soon to be wife broke the silence and stated that she thought our first born should be named Micah.
Last Friday instead of partaking of the legendary Halloween festivities at work, I woke up early to make the three hour drive to Abilene to ask Micah’s mother her permission to name our son or daughter after her son. It was something I felt that I just had to do in person. We knew we could name our child anything without anyone’s permission, but for some reason I just felt I owed that to her. Thankfully she said yes.
I find road-trips very therapeutic. It’s a great chance to clear one’s mind and embrace the beauty of solitude. I’m not going to get much solitude pretty soon, so I’m enjoying it while I can.
A lot of the trip was spent listening to the audio book version of Outliners (Wiki). Absolutely fascinating.
After I met with Micah’s mother I met an old friend for lunch at the world’s best BBQ joint (trust me, there’s not debate on this whatsoever). He was kind enough to congratulate me and buy my lunch. Going into lunch I expected for it to be brief and just a bunch of small talk, but it turned out to be one of the best times I ever spent with him. As we started to talk, I realized I wasn’t on any sort of schedule and tossed time aside to embrace the moment. We talked about a lot of substantive stuff, everything from fatherhood (he’s already a father of three girls), family, in-laws, how our past shaped our future, what kind of man we want to be. As iron sharpens iron . . .
After lunch I mustered up enough courage to finally visit Micah’s grave. Thank goodness for GPS on my Pre because the cemetery is out in the middle of nowhere. I have to admit I was a little spooked when I finally found the cemetery after driving through the country side. When I got out of my vehicle there wasn’t a hint of a person or building in sight, and it took me a few moments of walking around the cemetery to find my friend’s grave, but after six years when I helped lay him to rest I found the beautiful marker his mother picked out for him. I tell ya, it was one emotional and surreal moment.
When I got back into my vehicle and collected my emotions I found that I could no longer get a signal for my GPS, but luckily I found my way back to I20. As I approached the highway I saw a massive windfarm that was quite interesting to look at. Earlier that morning as I drove into Abilene I saw a lot of windfarm tower materials, and always heard of the massive windfarm, but this was the first time actually seeing them. You’ll be surprised at just how huge they are.
There was an abnormal amount of dead coyotes on the road that day.
My weekend ended by going to my old church to listen to one of my buddies give his testimony to his Sunday school class. I really appreciate his courage to do such a thing, and it turns out there was a lot I really didn’t know about him.
I think this Christian has a great perspective about Halloween.
On Halloween night I turned on the Mavs game and saw Gina Miller dressed as Wonder Woman. Here’s a pic.
Just in case all of the BON readers don't already know it, Keith is the kindest most thoughtful person I know. It is not easy to explain sometimes how you feel when you lose someone you are close to. He loved my son, and Micah returned that love and I am blessed to have Keith and Kelsey in my life. I am honored that Kelsy and Keith want to remember Micah by naming their child after him. Somewhere up there Micah is smiling, too. Thank you Keith, you know I would have said yes on the phone, but you came here to ask. See, I told you – – the most thoughtful person I know.
I agree w/ your observation of the character of Keith Geeding!! And, because my husband and I saw the kindness and thoughtfulness in this young man, we were happy to welcome him into our family as our son-in-law! This new grandbaby, named Micah, is already a delight to our hearts!
What a coinkydink! I just came back from the cemetery, seeing my parents' marker and grave site for the first time. I picked out the marker a couple of months back, so I wasn't surprised at how beautiful it was. I left flowers, and my son left a nickel he found that day (?). The experience was spiritually cleansing.
When you see an unusually large number of dead coyotes on the road it usually means it was very foggy the day before- drivers couldn't see to avoid the coyotes and vice versa.
Thank you for all you share with us, but mostly for sharing Micah. I was honored to read that story.
I think MIcah is a wonderful name and baby Micah will be a wonderful person. S(he) is already blesses to have you and wife Geeding as parents.
Grace!!!!!!!!1
ok, so now I'm crying (I blame my pregnancy hormones). What a sad story, Keith- I can't imagine such a loss a week before your wedding. But how amazing that you'll honor Micah's memory in such a meaningful way. In some Native American cultures, if you name your child after someone has passed, it not only honors the spirit of the loved one, but it also ensures that the one who has passed will watch over and protect the child during their lifetime. It's why we're naming our next child after my father, who passed away in June. Thanks for sharing that with us, Keith.
Just in case all of the BON readers don't already know it, Keith is the kindest most thoughtful person I know. It is not easy to explain sometimes how you feel when you lose someone you are close to. He loved my son, and Micah returned that love and I am blessed to have Keith and Kelsey in my life. I am honored that Kelsy and Keith want to remember Micah by naming their child after him. Somewhere up there Micah is smiling, too. Thank you Keith, you know I would have said yes on the phone, but you came here to ask. See, I told you – – the most thoughtful person I know.
I agree w/ your observation of the character of Keith Geeding!! And, because my husband and I saw the kindness and thoughtfulness in this young man, we were happy to welcome him into our family as our son-in-law! This new grandbaby, named Micah, is already a delight to our hearts!
Thanks for sharing the article with us.
It's good, I mean you're really very thoughtful.
I rode the Giant on the first day it was opened… and now I feel old for saying that.
What a coinkydink! I just came back from the cemetery, seeing my parents' marker and grave site for the first time. I picked out the marker a couple of months back, so I wasn't surprised at how beautiful it was. I left flowers, and my son left a nickel he found that day (?). The experience was spiritually cleansing.
When you see an unusually large number of dead coyotes on the road it usually means it was very foggy the day before- drivers couldn't see to avoid the coyotes and vice versa.
Beautiful.
I totally disagree with you. Harolds is THE BEST BBQ in Abilene and the world….
Thank you for all you share with us, but mostly for sharing Micah. I was honored to read that story.
I think MIcah is a wonderful name and baby Micah will be a wonderful person. S(he) is already blesses to have you and wife Geeding as parents.
Grace!!!!!!!!1
ok, so now I'm crying (I blame my pregnancy hormones). What a sad story, Keith- I can't imagine such a loss a week before your wedding. But how amazing that you'll honor Micah's memory in such a meaningful way. In some Native American cultures, if you name your child after someone has passed, it not only honors the spirit of the loved one, but it also ensures that the one who has passed will watch over and protect the child during their lifetime. It's why we're naming our next child after my father, who passed away in June. Thanks for sharing that with us, Keith.