Len

Logging into this site, I realized that it's been six weeks since I last posted something here. For me, blogging usually is a very fickle thing. There are times that I have much to write about (especially when I travel), and other times when life is ordinary and I have nothing to share (nor the motivation). In this case however, the reason for my absence has been because life has taken a sad turn over the past few months, only concluded early last week.

On Monday, we had a memorial service for Leonard "Len" Olsen, my girlfriend's father. After being diagnosed with brain cancer in October, he battled it until his death a month ago today (Feb. 8th). During this time, through the surgeries, chemo, and radiation, I never once heard him complain. Obviously, there were times of sadness, but we all grieved together. And for us, the friends and family, we still had time to say our goodbyes to our good friend/husband/father/grandfather before he passed.

It was about four years ago when I met this man who was quiet in nature and big of heart. From the first time that we met, he welcomed me with a firm handshake and and twinkle in his eye. Although soft-spoken, Len had a gift of befriending people, as was evident by his high number of friends at church, the mall, or Lions Club. He loved to joke with people, often with a tease and a smile. Even until the end, when he was bed-ridden and weak, we were able to laugh with him, seeing the corners of his mouth pull into a faint grin and the familiar twinkle would reappear.

One of the things I had been most impressed with over the past few months has been how blessed Len and Pat (his wife) are with relationships in their lives. Never before have I seen so many caring friends and family stop by to say hello, drop off a meal, or to chat. While staying at the hospital, I swear there were days that I believe Len to be more exhausted from playing "host" than from the illness. If there is one thing that this entire experience has taught me, it is that you can never have too many friends.

Another example of his ability to make friends is a story that I recently heard. Len was a proud mall walker, having daily walked at Everett Mall with his good friends Dick and John for almost 13 years. In that time, the group grew from the three men to nearly 20 people of various ages. So when Len started staying at the hospital, we'd hear from Dick that not only were the other fellow mall walkers asking about him, but so were the security guards, infomation desk gals, and the delivery guys.

I guess the last thing I have to say is that I've been proud to stand with the Olsen family during this entire ordeal. It was an honor for me to be able to laugh, grieve, help, and pray with this family. For that, I certainly am thankful.