Angels: Custer
In my first year at Arizona State, when I was friends with 'Papa' John (a friend I've mentioned before) I also met a close friend of his, Custer. Now, Custer wasn't your standard residence life. No slight to him, but he was not charismatic, gregarious, or stern. He was not a standout leader, he did not necessarily do big things. He was an RA. He was involved in Hall Council. But other than that, he was not what many would expect a typical standout Reslifer to be.
He did bring two of the most important characteristics to the table: humor and compassion.
On the compassion end, Custer was the best person to talk to about anything. He would hear you out. He would be there for you in a pinch. He would ride shotgun when you needed a friend. He would drive you if you needed a ride. These sound like simple things. These may even sound borderline co-dependent. But his heart was so big, there's no way to refute the natural kindness he had for those around him.
Then there was his sense of humor. This has been a recent high point in an otherwise stressful life for me. As I've been bogged down in the administrative jumble which is applying to graduate school, I have been fortunate enough to be engaged in a series of e-mails regarding superheroes, fictional cartoon characters, and toys. Essentially, Custer, my friend Cole (another great leader and friend), and myself have started this e-mail chain which consists of us asking the important questions like:
-If you could have Castle Greyskull or Boulder Mountain as a HQ which would you pick?
-Second in command: Soundwave or Destro?
-Which of the GI Joes would you road trip with?
Do any of these questions have any bearing on real life? Of course not. That's the beauty of the humor which Custer shares with his friends. Cole, Custer and myself have been enjoying these e-mails ridiculously.
On a personal Custer note, I will never forget the time we had mid year training at ASU. We had an optional bowling night. Custer and I were determined to go dressed up. He had on a pair of old man warm up pants, ugly shirt, and he frosted and gelled his hair (imagine Frank N. Further from Rocky Horror without the lingerie but with tacky clothes). A perfect compliment to my camp skirt, purple/yellow bowling shirt, and 1/2 cut soccer ball. The picture, which I still have and display proudly, is priceless.
Custer teaches us two important lessons: Life is never too hard for yourself, where you can't spend five minutes listening to a friend, to hear what they're up to, to hear what's troubling them. And life's never too difficult where you can't find the humor in something. A good laugh gets you far.
pb
PS Quick shout out to two of my not oft seen "posse" of friends: the Tosa Crew is looking for a triumphant reunion in the near future and the e-mail conversations have been priceless. The ASU Crew, likewise, started a perfect e-mail chain regarding logic puzzles and games. Thanks guys for the smiles!!!
He did bring two of the most important characteristics to the table: humor and compassion.
On the compassion end, Custer was the best person to talk to about anything. He would hear you out. He would be there for you in a pinch. He would ride shotgun when you needed a friend. He would drive you if you needed a ride. These sound like simple things. These may even sound borderline co-dependent. But his heart was so big, there's no way to refute the natural kindness he had for those around him.
Then there was his sense of humor. This has been a recent high point in an otherwise stressful life for me. As I've been bogged down in the administrative jumble which is applying to graduate school, I have been fortunate enough to be engaged in a series of e-mails regarding superheroes, fictional cartoon characters, and toys. Essentially, Custer, my friend Cole (another great leader and friend), and myself have started this e-mail chain which consists of us asking the important questions like:
-If you could have Castle Greyskull or Boulder Mountain as a HQ which would you pick?
-Second in command: Soundwave or Destro?
-Which of the GI Joes would you road trip with?
Do any of these questions have any bearing on real life? Of course not. That's the beauty of the humor which Custer shares with his friends. Cole, Custer and myself have been enjoying these e-mails ridiculously.
On a personal Custer note, I will never forget the time we had mid year training at ASU. We had an optional bowling night. Custer and I were determined to go dressed up. He had on a pair of old man warm up pants, ugly shirt, and he frosted and gelled his hair (imagine Frank N. Further from Rocky Horror without the lingerie but with tacky clothes). A perfect compliment to my camp skirt, purple/yellow bowling shirt, and 1/2 cut soccer ball. The picture, which I still have and display proudly, is priceless.
Custer teaches us two important lessons: Life is never too hard for yourself, where you can't spend five minutes listening to a friend, to hear what they're up to, to hear what's troubling them. And life's never too difficult where you can't find the humor in something. A good laugh gets you far.
pb
PS Quick shout out to two of my not oft seen "posse" of friends: the Tosa Crew is looking for a triumphant reunion in the near future and the e-mail conversations have been priceless. The ASU Crew, likewise, started a perfect e-mail chain regarding logic puzzles and games. Thanks guys for the smiles!!!
posted by Peter Brooks at 2:47 AM
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