| Lisa's Memories of Nate I would like to share some happy memories of Nate with all of you. He was a very special person, and a wonderful friend. First of all, Nate was always smiling and laughing. He had a beautiful smile, and great teeth too (I would know because I was his hygienist). He was full of energy and ran everywhere, like up and down the stairs. He sounded like a herd of buffalo. I could hear him all the way down in my apartment. In July of 1997 Nate, Eric, Mike (Iron), and I moved into the lake house. We made bets as to who would be the first one to get married. Well, all I know, it was not me. Sometimes when Nate would come home, he would find Eric, Mike, and me sitting around just talking. Nate would say "Oh, good, the family's all here." He loved having "family days" as he put it. There was just something special about those times when it was just the roommates. Later that included Kevin, Pappy, and Matt. Nate loved the lake and he loved to swim. He was always training for triathlons. He would set out to swim clear across the lake. We would get real nervous when we couldn't see his head any longer as he was so far away. We would breathe a sigh of relief as he came back into sight. One time, I wanted to go swim across the lake with Nate. I had to take my Styrofoam floatie along to keep me afloat. I would have sank to the bottom otherwise. Nate would swim out ahead and them come back to check on me until we made it across the lake. We would then stand there on the other side and just talk about life and listen to each other. When we finally made it back, I was exhausted. Nate on the other hand, went for a run. I thought he was out of his mind. Every once in a while, we could talk Nate into going to McCabe's with us. He was not a real big country music fan, but every once in a while, he would venture out with us. On this one particular occasion, Nate drank too much alcohol. (That only happened one time of course.) He passed out sitting in a chair. He just sat there sleeping until it looked like he was going to get thrown out of the bar. (I guess there is no sleeping allowed.) I was recruited to dance with him to keep him awake. There I was trying to carry this drunk, sleeping guy around the dance floor. He just shuffled his feet. He was so proud of himself because he thought he was country dancing. I would do it again in a minute, Nate. I remember the day Nate told me that was going to ask Mari to marry him. He was the happiest guy on the planet that day. He had a great big smile on his face and told me that he just could not wait. He was so excited. I thought, wow, usually guys feel sick to their stomach at such a thought from nerves. I asked him if he was nervous and he said no. What a guy. I saw Nate the day after he had is wisdom teeth removed. He was all happy, smiling, running (remember I said he liked to run) around the kitchen cooking a steak. I just looked at him like he was nuts. Shouldn't he be laying around on the couch or something? He said, "That oral surgeon has good drugs." Well, that explained it, he was on drugs. I said, "You can't eat that steak." He said, "I know, this is for Mari. She is coming over for dinner." Amazing guy. My most favorite memory was the day that I was waiting for my dental hygiene board exam results. I had just graduated from D.H. School and taken the board exams like 2 weeks earlier. The results were to be there any day. It was a hot, sunny, July day and Nate and I were the only ones home and enjoying the lake. Nate said, "Lis, I think I hear the mailman." I refused to go to the mailbox and I was so very nervous. My future was depending on this. Nate RAN up to the mailbox and came back acting like nothing was there and then he handed me the envelopes. He was all smiles. He was so sure that I had passed. I opened the envelopes (I had more than one board exam to pass) and he was right. I did pass. We were both jumping up and down screaming. Nate hugged me and said, "I am so lucky to be the one who was here with you at this moment to share this with you." I just want to tell you Nate: I am the lucky one. I am lucky that I was with you that day. I would not have wanted to spend it with anyone else. I am so lucky to have that memory. I am so lucky to have had you in my life. You are awesome. There are many, many, other happy memories. xoxoxo Lisa |