The impact of a life

Last night, Honduras played El Salvador in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. As I was flipping through the channels and came across the game, I instantly wanted Honduras to win. I don't have any favorite players on the Honduran team, but Honduras reminds me of a favorite person I knew.

I don't remember exactly how I met Mike Murdock, it must have been in school though. We probably knew each other in middle school, throughout the first two years of high school I knew him casually, but my first real experience being around Mike was in our junior year. We were two juniors stuck in Keith Leppert's sophomore geometry class. As we were the only two junior in the class we sat next to each other.

Throughout that year, I have countless memories of Mike. He was from Honduras and him and I quickly became friends. Not a day went by that he didn't make me laugh some how. I remember the time he smuggled gummy worms into class. I remember him trying to sing country music songs as Mr. Leppert always let us watch CMTV. I remember Mike and I working together trying to figure out our assignments. I remember him telling me about his many car-related incidents. But the best memory I have of Mike came out of class.

One day we had an assembly, I decided I wanted to skip it but not having a car, I planned on spending the hour or so just walking around town. I'd gotten a few hundred yards from the school when Mike pulled up in his car next to me and asked me if I wanted to get in.

I got in and was instantly handed one of those little bottles of juice that are usually reserved for little kids. I looked around and Mike had whole case of them from Sams Club. That day, we went to a park and spun cookies, then headed back to the school after getting chased out of the park by a neighbor.

Mike was easily the happiest, most genuine person i've ever known. He loved life and loved people. After graduation, I fell out of contact with Mike, a few years later while I was in the Philippines, I got an email from a friend who told me Mike had passed away. It's been about six years since I got that email and not a month goes by that I don't think of Mike at least once.

It's amazing the impact that one person can make in your life. The really amazing thing is, I wasn't that close with Mike. We were good friends in school and always talked during classes, but I only hung out with him a handful of times outside of school. I can't imagine the impact he had on lives of those who knew him better.