Unreasonable Reasons

Hi Greg,

This is Cullen. We only met the one time, at your brother Phil's wedding to Carrie. We all had a great time that weekend. In particular, I remember laying out on the docks with you and your two brothers, just before the ceremony.

It was one of those improbably nice days that you get in Maine in September- the trees are starting to turn and the air has dried out, but the sun is still warm and strong.

We all stayed up late the night before, sitting around the campfire after the wedding rehearsal. Sometimes you just hit those pockets of time when you're content to sit and do nothing. The lake was quiet and empty. We were all just laying about, sometimes idly speculating about the future, comparing rent-controlled apartments or trips we'd like to take or you and your brothers would tease about childhood memories.

That was one of those golden moments in time- improbably calm, since we were all supposed to go put on monkey suits and marry off Phil. But there it was. No time, no worries, no fears. Just warm sunlight on a rickety old dock.

Carrie tells me that maybe you can hear these messages, maybe you can't, who knows. You do, I suppose.

If nobody else told you, Carrie is working really hard to try to rally support for you. Heck, you've got your own blog. I wouldn't be surprised if she has corporate sponsorship lined up by the end of the week. If you wake up with a "Doritos" tattoo, well, now you know why.

It's exhausting, no doubt, for her and Phil and Frankie and the rest of your family to sit there and clench various bits that can be clenched, aching for *action*. Aching to *do* something. Aching to help you.

The curse/blessing of this fascinating modern age is we are drenched in information, yet little better equipped to make use of that information. For example, I know your vital stats than the manager of the Yankees does for his starting pitcher. (Incidentally, lets work on that O2 absorption rate, eh? Spring training is almost over.)

But, what do you think of all this? Where are you right now? As a homework assignment, Carrie has emailed basically everyone you know, and asked them to send good thoughts your way. To be honest, I'm about as spiritual as a Magnavox remote control manual (in spanish), but I gave it a try.

Here's what I got: I saw a golden buddha on the other side of a mirror in a cave. Somewhat disturbingly, Buddha turned into Shiva and we arm wrestled. (I know what you're thinking: Just like Patrick Swayze and Sylvester Stalone the classic long-haul trucker anthem "Over The Top" Yeah. It was like that.) Lucky for me, it was a a draw.

Metaphors aside, what is it like being you right now? Are you staring in a mirror right now? The people around you love you, and they're scared. Scared of losing you, scared of death itself, scared of the unfinished business that only you can complete. I'm probably not supposed to say this, but Carrie told me that she actually feels guilty because she made a snarky comment on your facebook profile. Hah! Isn't that awesome? I bet you'd laugh.

How about you? Are you scared? Do you have unfinished business? I wonder what you're thinking about. You Sewell boys run pretty deep. I hope we can sit on a dock again, someday, and you and tell me what you think.

Good luck Greg. Your family & friends need you.

-Cullen McGough
Friend of Phil and Carrie
Maine