I know from your mail that I have somehow managed to give the impression that I am with Paul in Erie. I live in Atlanta and have not been in Paul's physical presence since a wonderful weekend in late May when we came together in Mercersburg for my father's retirement tributes after Dad's serving 20 years as the school's Athletic Director. Suerk and I did what we do best that short weekend. We met new friends and reconnected with old ones. We reminisced, told jokes, shared wonderful meals and we laughed throughtout those oh-so-very-few days.
Lately, when Paul's mood sours, he barks out a new phrase which I think is 'perfectly Suerk.' He says when prevoked, "It's not about you." I can hear it. A visitor making small talk will say, "Jane told me to pick up pork chops from the Wegmans tonight, but I don't like pork chops." Paul's response, "It's not about you!" The pulmonologist enters the room when it's time for an evaluation and says, "Mr. Suerken, I need to check your vitals and listen to your lungs." Paul says, "I am visiting with my friend. Come back later." The doc, "I am your doctor and I have other patients to see, Mr. Suerken." Suerk's reply, "It's not about you." Imagine how many times he can utilize that phrase in just one day!
Recently, I needed to update the blog and awoke before the crack of dawn, wondered why I couldn't sleep, sipped coffee and answered my own question. The answer, "I am beside myself because of Paul's condition. . ." I wrote about my thoughts and posted them on the blog. The posting sat on the blog for a few days before I removed most of it. Since then, I have been chastised by some of you for removing it. I have my reasons for removing it. Now I have my reasons for putting it back, thanks to you. Just know this: I don't want this blog to be about me or my attempt at writing anything more than what I can simply express. My goal is to provide a conduit for all of us who want to share what we will with Paul. Thank you for helping me with that. It's not about me.
Matt
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Matt, we haven't talked on the phone in a few weeks now mainly because you created this great site for updating all of us. I look forward to every post. I think it's funny that we live probably 8 miles from each other and never see each other since that memorable night about 5 years ago when Suerk was in town and took a bunch of us out to one of the finer dinners in recent memory.
A brief strange thing - New Year's Eve 2003 (?) I bought myself a treadmill. They loaded the box in the back of my pickup (the only pickup in the ENTIRE state of GA with an Obama sticker on it) and hauled it home. I somehow managed to get it in the house and unpacked it. I sat on the floor and stared at the parts and the various screwdrivers and wrenches and the phone rang. It was Suerk. While I put it together we had a great conversation - I think this was the year he and John were planning to go to Canada but other than that I do not recall the content, only that it just felt right to be talking to Suerk on New Year's Eve while I sat trying to put a treadmill together.
I still have that treadmill and I even occasionally use it and I swear every time I walk by it (and much less often get on it) I think about Suerk!
So you are right! This isn't about you! IT'S ABOUT ME!
I love you Suerk and when I get a number for you I am going to call and give you a load of shit.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO times 100 billion trillion
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