In my life, I have been very privileged to have people who genuinely love and care about me, and who have made a large impact in my life. Today, I would like to share my fourth hero highlight- Glen Christensen.
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| Glen Christensen- this story to come later :) |
After moving to Utah from Texas, and from Orem to Pleasant Grove, I quickly met my next door neighbor, Glen Christensen. I think I was drawn to him initially because he had a dog (Nikki), and at that age (somewhere around 9) I was infatuated with the idea of having a dog. My parents of course refused to allow us to have a dog, and that was now being made up for by Glen. I remember the first couple of times I went over to his house, we'd play with the dog, he taught me the German phrases he used with her, and it was lots of fun. A couple of months later, he bought a puppy (Jake), and so it became twice as fun to go and chill with the dogs.
Over time, however, our friendship bloomed. I was a dork (was? Who am I kidding, I am a dork) and would often play outside in costume doing something or other. I'd wear a bath robe on the tramp, and take out my lightsaber and fight the bad guys. I'd wear something that resembled a uniform and play star trek. I'd put on a football uniform and helmet (a Christmas present) and play football on my tramp- always pretending that I was the hero of said activity. I don't recall exactly when it was, but I remember that Glen at one point purchased a red lightsaber, showed up on my tramp, and became the bad guy of my story. He and I played for an hour or so. For me, I was in heaven.
This happened time and time again. I remember him coming over and playing football with me, running patterns, playing on the tramp. He played one-on-one baseball with me several times (this was a game my friends and I played, and had very strict rules, haha- Glen was a good sport). He was one of the greatest friends I'd ever had; and instead of mocking me for being a weird whack, he'd let me be me, and enjoyed it with me, and those memories for me are amazing.
Despite all of that, he got me interested in Joe Montana- one of his all-time favorite football players. I went over to his house many times to watch re-runs of Joe Montana's greatest games. He and I also played "Zelda: A Link to the Past" on his Super Nintendo, which was fun- we'd take turns (he usually played because it was more fun when we were winning) and had so much fun playing that game. I have so many memories with Glen, that I honestly can't remember them all.
Glen is one of my best friends, and I love him dearly. I don't know if he understands how much his friendship, mentorship, directorship, and love has meant to me. My life would be very different without Glen. He was like a second father to me- and he is a truly incredible man. I've tried to emulate him in many of life's aspects, and I truly hope to be more like him in the coming years. He is a loving father, a great member of our church (we are both members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), and an amazing man. I tell stories of him all of the time, and his big heart, and his loving personality.
The things that he's done for me are incredible. Most recently, he drove from Utah to San Diego for Lejana and I's wedding. He took several days off of work, and came out to be there for that wedding. He (as shown in the first picture) even gave a speech about Lejana and I, and though I remember little of that day, I am so grateful that he came, and showed his support. I don't have a way to tell the world or him how much he has done for me, and how much I appreciate and love him, but I hope that this might honor him in some way. Glen Christensen is one of my heroes, and I will never let him forget it.
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Top and Bottom Left- Glen Marc and I taking funny photos after the Ceremony.
Right - Marc and I doing who knows what, I was laughing too hard to focus.
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