… behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. -Muhammad Ali.

Sheyvone.

This is just a late addition in the countdown but there’s something about it I just like so much… though Shevs will kill me again for broadcasting her ‘amazing abs’ on this big, new thing called the ‘world wide web’
I just enjoy it. Maybe its because I know the subject so well and to me she is beautiful and this just nails her personality… maybe it’s just the positive and negative space… maybe, it’s my countdown and I’ll put it on here if I want to…..
Ok jokes. Love it, love her.

I could have never imagined the impact Tony would have had on my life had you asked me say… five years ago. I guess that’s the beauty of change… we’re all so scared of change… for me, its the unknowing… but if I look at change as it applies to my Tony situation, I am solaced… as I know that the unknown could be something way more wonderful than I’ve ever expected.
Tony and I went to the big, dangerous, crazy school Iowa State University. Big… in the small town of Ames, Iowa. Dangerous… in that you’ll never live someplace more safe thus giving you false sense of security where ever you should venture after. Crazy… in that despite the ‘Iowa-ness’ of it you could still have a good time and feel comfortable and sometimes even proud saying ‘Go Cyclones.’ Tony was quite the big man on campus, kicker for the football team, handsome guy with lady followers and well-known for his doorman/tending bar days at a little pub on the main drag of Ames. I always knew him, in fact he dated my best friend in college, Rachel (to this day, the most beautiful woman I have ever met), but we were never what I would call friends. Let’s just say our first meeting is rather infamous involving fake ID’s, fatherly advice of ‘Be good,’ and someone (notice the lack of details here) being carried out of a fine establishment. It was maybe five years later that I got a phone call from Mr. Tony as he was on his way down to the big, dangerous and crazy city (those are true, not implied nor sarcastic descriptions now) of Atlanta to kick for the Atlanta Falcons… one more reason for me to adore the Falcons (see this earlier post)! :)
I could go on and on about the ‘how’ he came to be my most trusted and greatest friend but I’ll just break the ‘why’ down. He is a talker, for a guy this is a rarity… initially his use of my cell phone minutes scared me but I learned quickly that this is just one of the ways he cares so much. He is loyal beyond one would think possible… I could and I have asked favors of him that are outlandish and absurd, he comes through because it’s just not in his nature to not, simple as that. (EX: ‘Tony will you go to the airport and find my car among thousands of cars? Oh and I have no idea where it is… Will you also pay my huge parking bill and then when I get home in three days drive all the way back to the airport to pick me up?” A: “Sure, and I’ll vacuum your car while you’re gone too!”… No I’m not exaggerating.) His heart is bigger than any man’s I’ve ever met (even my dad)… the way he cares for his brothers, niece, sister, mother alone is proof… the way he cares for those who don’t care for him is bigger proof… for physical evidence you are welcome to visit the condo and see the paintings for yourself.
Everything about Tony is truly inspirational… personally, he has come into my life and made me better on so many accords… made me more content, made me have more concern for others, made me realize what a man can and should be to a woman, made me want to be a better friend, oh and definitely has made me a cleaner, more OCD (which is good) person. :) Most inspiring to me though is his work ethic and dedication for all things even when no one is looking… I don’t mean just in work, Mr. Medical Salesman. I mean in all things in life he dedicates himself totally. That is simple to understand but the area I want to most highlight is his compassion. Personally, he has stood by my side through some of my harder moments… business and personal. The airport example is one… more being, the time he came home and saw some of my tears and then emailed all my friends (though he told them to not tell me he did this
to organize pity parties for me where my friends took turns taking me to eat or sitting with me, he’s laid next to me when my health and safety was in question, he’s talked me back to confidence when I have business doubts (yes occasionally I have them…). Those are huge examples of a man that is compassionate but the dedication to this way of life is seen daily: in his texts if I want anything from Kroger when he is going, he’ll change my laundry when I forget, he’ll text me to make sure I made it on long distance car drives, and simply he’ll just ask me how my day was and truly want to know. He does all these things without ever asking for payback or applause. The athlete that he is, he embodies this title quote, but it is his character and compassion that I see most applicable here… he never needs witnesses to induce nor prove his goodness.
I am beyond blessed to have him in my life. I hope I never know a life without him in it. I often stop and wonder how I get so lucky to have the people I have in my life and even Tony has told me before… ‘Erika, you really have some really good friends in your life.’ So now Tony… wake up and realize that you are one of the best I got…
ONE MORE DAY… five more to go! Thanks for sticking around… erika@erikaleighphotography.com! Oh and fun stuff (well in a way
… TROPICAL STORM ERIKA (Erika with a K) is out there… she’s gonna take it easy on the islands though… sad that that excited me.
