Gratitude

To the Fisher family and friends: my deepest condolences. I hope that you will know much joy, rest, and peace in the midst of your sadness and loss. May you be surrounded by people and memories that allow for and enable rich celebration as you honor the amazing gift of father, husband, and friend. I have tried so many times over the years to explain Drill Team to people. They usually look at me with some combination of amusement and skepticism, not having a category in which to understand my words, my imagery, or my unbridled enthusiasm (especially with no digital video recording to give credence to my stories). It truly was an experience that one had to see to believe. Even as I try to tell my daughters about it today, they look at me strangely and then quickly add it to their ever-growing list of things that are “weird” about mom. No matter. I know what I was a part of. I know what we accomplished and how much work it was to achieve such. And I know that none of it would have been possible without the heart and commitment of Ken Fisher. What a gift, even on this blogsite, to know that there are so many others who do know what I’m talking about, who smile knowingly, who remember proudly. In this way, Mr. Fisher’s legacy continues as together we re-tell our stories. As for my story, it has been profoundly shaped by Mr. Fisher. I am so deeply grateful to him for many things, but chief among them is the invaluable opportunity he provided me for leadership. In Drill Team, and specifically as a captain during the notable, victorious-over-Cypress-year, his trust in my ability was hugely shaping. At all times my opinion was valued, my decisions respected, my ideas heard, my motivation encouraged, my skills built, my capacity increased. And in so many periods of my life since those long-ago days, the memories of those formative years and their accompanying amazing experiences have reminded me that I still have the ability and capacity to excel, to achieve, to strive toward perfection, to work generatively with a team toward a common goal, to persevere, and to celebrate well. Of course, he could not have known what his impact would one day be. And that may be the very thing that made him the man he was: one who naturally, spontaneously, intuitively imbued leadership into his students. I know I am only one of many he impacted throughout the years. I also know I am a better person for such.

• ← I will remember him for his kindness to me….
• God Bless him… →