Remembering Eric Miller

Remembering Eric Miller

QIC: Spamalot

Date: 12/02/19

PAX: Balco, Touch Me Not, Huckleberry, Cherry Pie, Chisel, Razzie, Snooki, HOG, Cheesesteak, Swiss Miss, Wooden (f/k/a Perry Chen), Spamalot

Life is not fair. Everything happens for a reason. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. These are the types of phrases that many of us say when something unexpected or unwelcomed happens. As we progress through life, the more of these events we will encounter. As humans, we are exceedingly resilient creatures. We can compartmentalize our pain and our grief. Faced with the worst that life can give, people soldier on.

Why? How? When life knocks you down, you have two choices. You can chose to let it defeat you. OR you can chose to get up, dust yourself off, and keep on keeping on.

For YHC, December 2^nd is a date that causes me to pause. Often, it takes my breath away, and forces me to take a knee to catch my breath.

Nineteen years ago today, Eric Miller died. Eric was the first person I met during my Freshman year at Purdue University in 1988. We lived next door to each other in Owen Hall. He (and Rodney Bertsch) in Room SE 101, I was in SE 103.

Eric was one of the nicest, most generous, and selfless people I have known. He was always thinking of others. Whether it was friends or family, Eric was a giver.

During our Junior year, we shared an apartment together with two other guys. It was during this year that he met his future wife. I remember his excitement as he told me about her.

Fast forward to February 1993 and his wedding. Eric at his most happiest.

The last time I saw Eric was in 1995, when I was visiting law schools. My wife and I stayed with Eric and his wife outside of Raleigh. Eric was working on his Ph.D. at the time at NC State.

Four years later, on December 2, 1999, Eric Miller was murdered. As shocking as his death was, the fact that his wife ultimately pled guilty to his murder was equally as shocking.

So every December 2^nd, I spend time thinking about this wonderful person. About our friendship. About Eric and Michael, the other guys who lived with us our junior year. About his parents (Verus and Doris). About his sisters (Pam and Leanne). About his (now 20 year old) daughter (Clare). And I ask myself….why? Nineteen years later, I do not have an answer. Maybe I never will.

So this morning we did exercises and listened to music that Eric loved, or that reminded me of him. Some related to specific events, others…not so much.

The Thang

Warm-o-Rama

Lazy Dora (100 Pushups, 200 LBCs, 300 Squats)

Tabata (20 on, 10 off) With rocks. Alternating with SSH.

DB drill.

Mary

NMM

Thanks to everyone for coming out, I hope it was worth your time.

Welcome to Wooden (f/k/a Perry Chen). He was EH’d by Drip (who was not present). Wooden is a surgeon at Baptist Hospital. Said he usually runs by himself in the dark, so figured he would give us a try. USC grad for medical school, so we naturally went with a UCLA reference for his nickname. Welcome!

Fun fact – John Wooden (UCLA great) was, and always will be first a Purdue Boilermaker. NCAA champ. Now that is full circle stuff right there.

Announcements/Prayer Requests

F3/FiA Holiday Party – 12/14 – See Twitter for details

Consider donating to your favorite cause tomorrow – Giving Tuesday.

YHC asked for prayers for the Miller family.

Prayers for Swiss Miss/family and especially his son.

Though not spoken, prayers for Blue Steel, Dr. Toot, Rustbucket, and Spicoli as they all recover.

Thank you all for this morning.

-Spamalot