Steve

               Just about 36 years ago, we attended a church picnic and met the couple who would become some of our best friends.  The man, Steve, was our future pastor, and eventually baptized our baby and later confirmed him in the Christian faith. His wife, Lori, was a teacher who worked in the same building as my hubby and would become like a sister to me.

               We spent a lot of years together with our son and their two daughters.  We watched our kids grow up – donning Halloween costumes, playing Little Mermaid, having cookouts and scavenger hunts, bouncing on trampolines, and playing games in the woods.  As the kids grew older, we commiserated on driving, dating, and the perils of raising teenagers.

               Raising our kids together was one of the reasons we were so close.  There were others, of course.  We shared not only our faith, but also a love of having a good time.  Whenever the four of us were together, you could count on there being good food (and lots of it!), good beverages, games and a lot of laughter.

               Once we were empty-nesters, the four of us took many vacations together.  One, to Blowing Rock, N.C. was especially memorable.  We spent several different trips going to Put-in-Bay, Ohio, which was one of our favorite places. These provided years of laughter over strange hotels, and strange experiences.

               One night, we thought we were all to go out together, so my hubby went over to their room in the hotel.  He opened the door, and sort of waved his hand. Turns out, Steve and Lori thought we were retiring for the evening, so they had decided to try out the jaccuzi in their room.  I am not sure who was more startled by the interruption, but rather than get upset, they laughed.  We all laughed for days and weeks afterward.

               Another trip to Put-in-Bay, we got what we thought was a defective golf cart.  The horn would blow randomly!  After the second day, with Steve driving us everywhere, some island-goer yelled to us “Take your foot off the horn!”  Apparently, the horn button was on the floor of the golf cart and he was tooting it with his foot!  We laughed about “bigfoot” for years.

               Playing games on Sunday evenings was one of our favorite things to do – euchre, charades, board games, and anything that required us to be silly.  Watching the menfolk act out “skateboarding” made us laugh until we cried. 

               We attended a lot of Ohio State games together – both in the Shoe and away games.  Staying in the hotels, tailgating, and watching the games were some of our favorite times.  One of the first away games we attended was in Indiana.  We somehow got on a detour and were on backroads, with no signs of civilization, for what seemed hours.  I know many folks would be frustrated and upset, but it was just more reason to laugh.

               Steve was a brother to us in many ways. We lost him on this earth last week, and it is a void that won’t be filled.  But when I think of him, I have to smile.  Our friendship was built on laughter and will remain one that gives me joy.

               It’s all about the laughter.