tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654750547893166181.post2752113969096590573..comments2023-06-14T03:47:00.400-07:00Comments on Conrad Family Chronicles: Happy Birthday Babe!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13453716269793554606noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654750547893166181.post-37824076366362792352012-01-29T07:38:08.717-08:002012-01-29T07:38:08.717-08:00Thanks for that Sally. It brought back so many me...Thanks for that Sally. It brought back so many memories that I have of Phil... and our running days. Every time I hit the trails he has been with me and some bit of the course always has his memories flooding back to me.<br /><br />I was reflecting the other day when you all came here to celebrate my 50th and how "old" I felt then. :) Thanks so much for bring back such fond memories. I celebrate with you.Mike A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01947896794722723852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654750547893166181.post-89970405901636096302012-01-27T11:07:31.611-08:002012-01-27T11:07:31.611-08:00Sally - your tribute to Phil on his 50th birthday ...Sally - your tribute to Phil on his 50th birthday really struck a chord within me - for so many reasons...<br /><br />Yes, it is a tragedy and so antithetical that Phil had to contend with all of the challenges he experienced in his life and yet, as so you so eloquently wrote, cancer, illness, accidents, adversity of any kind spares none of us and can occur at any time. <br /><br />And yet... the honesty, the courage, the humility, the kindness, and care which he demonstrated in contending with his cancer and his other challenges served as not only an ongoing testament to his character but as a beacon of hope to all of us privileged to know and love Phil who do and will deal with our own challenges. <br /><br />Phil will always remain a champion in my mind - someone who I always have and always will think of when the road ahead appears dark, uncertain, frightening, and one of the best friends I ever knew who will stay alive in my thoughts, words, and deeds.<br /><br />Your remarks about Phil's youthful nature, his tremendous capacities - for fun, for openness, for sharing, for forgiveness, for understanding, for learning, and physical capacities for almost any athletic endeavor - were right on. Despite capacities far beyond what most of us commonly encounter in others, Phil went about what he did quietly, with humility, and good humor. <br /><br />Being a few years younger than Phil and less mature in many ways, I learned a great deal from his example - in the classroom, with patients, and on our many, many runs across the rolling, wooded North Carolina Landscape, deep into The American River Canyon in California, and here in Maine. <br /><br />It was clear to me at the time but ever clearer in retrospect that each and every run we shared, the words, the studying on-the-fly, the laughter, the discussionsand ruminations about life and love, and even our friendly competition forged a friendship that spanned many years and miles apart but never faded. <br /><br />The indelible impression that Phil left upon me will never fade.<br /><br />To this day, not a training run, not a race, not a bike ride, not a nordic ski passes without my mind and my heart syncing with my dear friend and his courageous spirit.<br /><br />I wear the Livestrong band he gave me every time I train or race. Zoe and Gretchen wear it as well.<br /><br />So here is to my friend, his lovely wife, and his dear children on his birthday.<br /><br />Cheers my friend.<br /><br />David HuishAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654750547893166181.post-71764147927387237832012-01-27T09:46:17.808-08:002012-01-27T09:46:17.808-08:00Thanks, Sally, for a great tribute. Happy Birthda...Thanks, Sally, for a great tribute. Happy Birthday, Philbo!<br /><br />Bennett West & familyBennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11715433168263649018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654750547893166181.post-15152106579721929252012-01-27T09:24:35.993-08:002012-01-27T09:24:35.993-08:00Well said. His strong spirit continues in you and ...Well said. His strong spirit continues in you and the kids.<br />God Bless and keep you that way.<br /><br />Alice FallonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654750547893166181.post-57367401922471903272012-01-27T09:07:14.366-08:002012-01-27T09:07:14.366-08:00Happy 50th Birthday, Phil!Happy 50th Birthday, Phil!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com