Many years ago we had a hash run in NW in the District of Columbia. My friend Michael (Bee) was our hare for the evening. It was our clubs 666th run. It was a mundane city run that took us up to National Cathedral. About two miles in, the sky opened up much like it does many evening in hot and humid summer evenings. We continued on our way despite the storm washing away all the markers. The trails are set using baking flour.
When we got to the cathedral, we experienced loud thunder and violent lightning strikes that filled the sky. It was a devilish fitting for our 666th run as the gods must have been crazed. We did find a cooler of beer and we all had a beer and sang tawdry songs.
That was Michael, as he was bigger than life.
A few years later, he came to visit me in DC. He knocked on my door, only to be greeted by the person who bought our house. Uncle Lou told Bee that we recently moved to Portland. He said, that figures as he was visiting from Portland after a brief stay in Santa Fe. Our lives seemed to always have been connected. He was born in Lancaster Pa. and me in Reading Pa. They are 30 miles apart.
We saw each other on occasion in Portland. One time he showed up at my house with 24 individually wrapped bottles of Yuengling beer . On two occasions, we cooked massive Vietnamese dinners for upwards to 50 people. He was an outstanding cook and I can hold my own.
But the one word I use to describe Michael (Bee) is kind. He was often called Bee. He had a tremendous love and respect for Bees. He knew them to be a building block for our planet.
The running club where we first met, is called The Hash House Harriers. These clubs are all over the world. They are often referred to as a drinking club with a running problem. Despite that, we do tremendous things for many civic organizations. The recent Red Dress Run in Portland collected 900 dollars for a local bee foundation.
Cancer shows no Mercy. Cancer took Michael two weeks ago.I have been thinking about this a lot lately. It is life well lived.
Oh very young,
What will you leave us this time?
There’ll never be a better chance to change your mind
And if you want this world to see better days
I would love to hear you opinion as well