My Dear Friend, Pat Proffitt...
It has been about a year since you left us all behind. I had always admired you and your work ethic when it came to
sports. Our sophomore year in football I looked up to you. You never complained
about anything and you always had a smile for me when I needed it. When we used
to have to run for conditioning, I would run behind you and tried to keep up
with you. I knew if I could keep up running with you, I knew I would be doing
well. I always told myself that I could quit at any time and just walk off the
practice field. Then I would tell
myself, stick with Pat and he could get me to do it. I don’t think he ever said
much to me about it, we would just make eye contact and we did it. He sort of carried me through it all with his
determination and his work ethics and he never even knew it. He never even knew that I depended on him and
I looked up to him. He got me through the entire football season and he had no
clue how important he was to me. I even needed to borrow a car a few times and
he loaned me his Firebird without ever making it a big deal.
He was always so silent in all he did, but he
said loads in a simple smile or kind gesture.
I believe during one of our class reunions I did go up to him and told
him that I never forgot running behind him and how much his friendship and
kindness meant to me. I am not at all a
religious person, even though I attended Catholic school for 9 years, but he
has inspired me to aspire to be a much better person. He made me want to be a
better person and to this day I try to live like he would be proud of how I
act. I am no means a saint, and I have done things I am not so proud of, but I
try to be a better person because of this one single guy, who made a big
difference in my life.
I am proud to have had him as a friend, but I am really
honored that he considered me a friend. I try to live up to that each and everyday.
Thank you Pat for making me want to be a better person. May
you look down and spread your love over all that need it. I think I might be one of those people.
Hopefully I will see you again, my friend. Until then, it was an honor to have met you.
your friend,
- Michael
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