A Brother's Words; A Sister's Thoughts by Cindy Campbell

You've likely heard this before, "it's the little things that matter most". When we were kids, this is one of the intangible gifts my mom gave us. She shared her observations and brought our attention to the almost imperceptible movements of life that occur in our natural world. Without realizing it, this was subtly incorporated into my own life by way of noticing the beauty around me. A chorus of birds greeting the day, the incessant activity of squirrels as they forage for their groceries, and discovering the first flower bud as the earth welcomes Spring are things that make my heart sing. Friendships have taken priority over chores, and somehow those always get done, too. One of the things I failed to make time for was visiting my brother. I thought we had plenty of time... in the future. Not too long after Chris died, I was given a pair of his boots. I remember hugging them so tight, just as I would have hugged him. I had no idea how much my brother's boots wo...

As I sat drinking my coffee out of a beautiful mug from Ireland this morning, I was listening to traditional Irish music and reminiscing. My mom had a little plaque with an Irish Blessing on it. Part of the blessing reads, "may the wind be always at your back". Over the years as my mom and I have revisited precious memories, she told me about the time she walked into the dining room and found Chris standing in front of a cabinet where this plaque was nestled among the other items. "What are you doing Chris?", she asked. He was reading the Irish Blessing and contemplating its message. He told my mom, "you always want the wind at your back". In true mom-style, she followed with, "if you like the plaque, Chris, take it".  I read somewhere recently the wind is the earth breathing. I loved this. Chris was right. It's so much easier when you have the support of Mother Nature. However, when I think of the times I have struggled to move forward in th...

 "Running has no finish line" - Joe Schlereth I saw this quote a few months ago, and it gave me pause. My first thought was, of course there is a finish line when you run, and it's determined by the number of miles you set out to complete. For those who participate in organized runs, a "gun" is fired at the start and signifies it's time to head towards the destination, usually indicated by a banner that reads, FINISH. I continued contemplating this cryptic message left for those of us who would find it. For me, the symbolism proved to be profound. __________ To me, it represents a commitment to good health that can be experienced by incorporating running into one's lifestyle. I have been sporadic in my running over the years, which is shameful for me to admit. In 2006, I was "pounding the pavement" consistently. That November, I had the following email exchange with Chris: I just wanted to tell you I was thinking about you. Hey, in spirit you r...

Milestones. You use them as markers to measure success and motivate you to move forward. Chris had many of them on his mission to become a United States Navy SEAL. In order to achieve each one, he had to have a plan which required self-discipline and dedication. I am grateful I had the privilege to witness a few of these moments. Joining the Navy was only the first step. Upon graduation from Basic Training, there was "A" School. This is different for each Sailor and contingent upon their career path in the Navy. As a civilian myself, I consider it similar to choosing a college major. To give you an idea, a few of the programs focus on specialties such as meteorology, communication, culinary, engineering and even music! The reason for my sharing this is to let you know it's a process of steps on the grand adventure to become a US Navy SEAL. It requires investing an incredible amount of time, effort and hard work. It's an intensive commitment that pushed Chris to explor...

I opened a box a few days ago that had been intentionally tucked away. Keeping it in a corner, behind closed doors, gave me a sense of control. Although its contents were out of sight, when I opened the closet door, my heart lurched. I could feel my jaw clench, and I instinctively held my breath. I knew exactly what was in the box, yet the emotions that surfaced always took me back to August 6, 2011. But, it was time - time to revisit some beautiful memories so that I could share them with you.  Everyone's calendar is filled with dates that are meaningful to them... birthdays, holidays and graduations, to name a few. Many of these special moments are shared with those we love. Shortly after Chris turned 22, he joined the United States Navy. The date was Monday, November 25, 1996. I was living in Virginia at the time and decided to drive down to North Carolina that weekend to join my parents and take Chris to the recruiter's office. It was a BIG day! When I left for college, my ...

Greetings Readers,                                                                                                     I hope you are doing well as you walk, march, hike, swim, RUN and even SKYDIVE your way into this new year! I want to start out by saying CONGRATULATIONS to Nels on his successful completion of the Skydive Ultra! What a remarkable challenge and accomplishment. With Denise by his side, I have no doubt the healing and recovery process will be on point.  I have struggled with a new post, certainly not because of ideas - there is a constant stream of those in my brain, which never seems to shut down and goes in many directions. The challenge for me is how much, and what, do I share? As anyone with siblings knows, ...

The World Series has produced a winner! The Atlanta Braves won four out of the six games they played against the Houston Astros. The Braves literally smashed it out of the park on the final game with a score of 7 to 0. I have been to a few live games, and I love the energy that is present and especially the song played at the seventh-inning stretch. Although it's the end of the season for fans, I would imagine for the players and especially those who work at the stadiums, the lights remain on throughout the year. The 2022 season is around the corner though, and Major League Baseball announced earlier this year that Spring Training will begin February 26, 2022. For those who love the game, I am sure they anxiously await this day with great anticipation.   My brother loved baseball! In an essay Chris wrote in 1994, his thesis statement reads, "Baseball is America's game, and I loved it with a passion, wanted to excel, and had a dream of one day playing professionally". ...