Holiday’s always bring back memories. Some good, some bad but nonetheless they are memories and we need memories to remind us what is most important to us like our real friends and our family. I wrote about my friend Rhiannon Meier in 2010. Rhiannon was a great friend and an amazingly spirited person and on December 9th, 2007 she was killed by a drunk driver. I sit here more than 6 years later remembering what an incredible friend Rhiannon was.
When it came to running, I was still a novice if you ask me but around the time I met Rhiannon, things started to click. I was accepted to run the NY marathon in November of that year and Rhiannon was probably more excited about me running the race than I was. She had been toying with the idea of running the LA marathon so I agreed to go running with her which was a huge commitment because I hated getting up early in the morning and Rhiannon wanted to go running at 6am. I had to drive and meet her down in Santa Monica at her place right around Ocean Blvd which just happened to be my favorite spot to run. She was a beginner runner in senses of the word but I didn’t mind. We got a chance to run and talk about her job and we got to know each other better. No one supported me more than Rhiannon. I recall her coming to a 5k of mines and I was so embarrassed. She screamed, shouted and cheered for me as I crossed the finished line and I remember thinking she really is a good friend to get up early and come sit and cheer for someone running a 5k especially since my own family barely came and supported me at anything. When it came time got to NY for the Marathon, Rhiannon insisted on taking me to the airport because she said it was a special occasion and she wanted to see me off. When I look back at all the love and support she gave me and that is something that I truly miss but what I miss more is my friend.
In 2007, Rhiannon started training with the LA leggers so that she could get in a group that ran a comfortable pace for the 2008 LA Marathon. She bugged me over and over to come join her one Saturday with the leggers. I agreed and I remember it being the longest Saturday ever because she was in the 11 minute run group. They ran and walked and that day we were doing 9 miles but sometimes friends sacrifice for friends. Rhiannon always supported me so I did the same. I had never seen her so happy and ready to run the marathon in March. Well, she never got that chance. What that drunk driver took was my friend and a person who lived life each and every day with a smile on her face and she would do anything for you if you asked her to and sometimes when you didn’t ask. My friend isn’t coming back but I always said that I would keep her memory alive by talking about her and remembering her each time I lace up my shoes for the Marathon. I know she is still there cheering me on every mile and at the finish line.
I was never a big cliché person but I do believe people never get the flowers while they can still smell them. If you get the chance to tell someone you love them or care about them, don’t wait because you never know what tomorrow may bring and those who do not understand that, don’t deserve to be in your circle.
Great people only come around once in a lifetime….
