Based just on first impressions, I am very lucky to have been invited to this wedding at all. It was Junior Nationals, spring 2004 in Orlando, FL. I had been following TarHeelBlue.com trying to figure out who had committed to UNC, and whether or not I was fast enough to join the team (I was not). I knew that Keith had signed his letter of intent, so obviously I stalked him all the meet. Of course the most opportune time for me to introduce myself was as he was walking up to receive his metal on the podium after 200 back. "HEY HEY HEY, ARE YOU KEITH LAABS? HUH? ARE YOU KEITH LAABS???" I tapped furiously on his shoulder (if you are imagining a really annoying 18 year old kid in the back seat of the car kicking the driver's seat, asking 'if we're there yet?!' then you've got the right concept going). "KEEEEEEITH! KEITH LAABS!" Keith looked at me quizzically and answered hesitantly: "Yes?" As if I wasn't ready for this response, "Oh. Well. I'm Robby Swendiman and I might be going to UNC next year!" (squeaky voice). It was still March, and I wasn't even sure if I would go to Carolina at that point; I'm not sure why I felt the need to accost him right then and there.
I think Keith responded cordially with an "Okay," or perhaps a "Cool." Either way I'm not sure. It probably should have been a "get the hell away from me, you freak," but as I later learned, Keith is a gentleman of the highest order. I do know, however, that he promptly walked away and accepted his award, while I became cognizant of the loss of my dignity.
Fortunately, I had 6+ years to make up for that first impression and it has given me the opportunity to get to know Papa Bear as a devoted friend, superb leader, and a man who has really filled in his body over the past few years. When I look back at the better half of a decade of knowing Keith, I realize we've been through some pretty challenging times, but many truly wonderful years together. From struggling to be leaders as junior captains on the team, to jumping over fires on Franklin Street together after a National Championship, it's been a heck of a ride.
After an unfortunate miscommunication at the rehearsal dinner, I immediately regretted not giving a toast to the almost-wed couple. I started thinking of what I would say if I could go back and have the opportunity to speak. Our class has had some crazy, ridiculous, unbelievable times these past few years, and it is a true testament to all our friendships that the 8 of us were invited and flew out to celebrate with Keith. So how do I classify all these moments? There were so many of them. In a moment of nostalgia, I started going through my pictures in an attempt to pick out some of the best. Oddly, I started to realize that I've seen Keith in a lot of different outfits. And these outfits represent who Keith is as a human being. Perhaps it was not the clothing itself (as you will see), but these moments have helped me define him as someone everyone looks up to.
A Leader in a Thong. Yes, I have seen Keith, or in this case Officer Fagoo, in women's panties. It was the night of Century Club our freshman year (if you don't know about Century Club, don't worry about it); all the first-years had to make sure that after each shot of beer, we all slammed down our glasses at the exact same time. After tens of failed attempts for all 13 of us to coordinate this motion, Keith stepped in. Every person in that room remembers to this day his deep booming voice: "THREE, TWOOOO, ONE, DOWN!" Everyone was terrified of Keith at this point. "THREEEE, TWOOOO, ONE!" He owned the room. He led, we followed. Two years later Keith would be one of the few junior captains in UNC swimming history. He has been a leader since day one, and he still is.
The Capped and Gowned Intellectual. We have a wonderful picture of our class at graduation. All of us have on our Baby Blue Best, ready to turn that tassel. Keith was then off to work in Atlanta, GA at a terrific job with Bain & Company as a consultant. A year or so later he aced the GMAT, and will surely be accepted at the top MBA programs in the country. From thong to cap and gown, Keith is also a smarty-pants.
A Friend in Women's Clothing. How can anyone forget when he was dressed up as one of the "Ho-Jo-No Ho's" ('Hinton James North Whores' for those of you who don't)? I wish I could say otherwise, but Keith is an absolutely ugly woman. I think he was in some tight tube top and a short skirt of some sort, with an atrocious wig. But he was there with all of us for an amazing Halloween on Franklin Street. There are a ton of parties I could go back to and remember all the phenomenal times I had with Keith; but for some reason when I recall our friendship, the image of a 6'5'' 220 lbs. man in drag stands out.
A Competitor in a Speedo. During most of our relationship, I've seen Keith half naked (apparently even when we weren't swimming I saw a LOT of Keith...). He is a true competitor, and naturally gifted. Mark Laabs was right at the wedding; Keith and Denise are going to have some damn athletic kids. I vividly remember Keith's 200 back at prelims during ACCs our junior year. I was getting out of the warm-down pool and looked up at the scoreboard. Few times in my life have I been so inspired to swim. I had had an abysmal meet up until that point, and his race was the reason I mustered up the energy to get my first Senior National cut. A competitor in the pool, and a leader by example.
A Man in a Tux. Most recently I remember the man standing across from his wonderful and gorgeous bride. Even in his Sunday best Keith cannot come close to matching Denise in her dress, but he does pretty well. Whilst in the waiting room with his groomsmen, he sat patiently: no anxiety, no sweaty palms, no hesitation. He is a man who knows exactly what he wants, and is confident in the decisions he makes. We may have been a bunch of kids running around Franklin Street during college (some of us still are), but there was a man standing in that church. We have looked to Keith and Denise's relationship as an example to which we all aspire. And although I've only known Denise as mostly an acquaintance for a short time, everything I needed to know I saw Saturday. The way Keith and Denise looked into each other eyes, it was self-evident. Trust, love, respect, equality, and God. It was all there.
And so I propose a toast. Please raise your glasses to Keith and Denise. May you be leaders, intellectuals, friends, competitors, and loving human beings for the rest of your lives. Cheers.
I think Keith responded cordially with an "Okay," or perhaps a "Cool." Either way I'm not sure. It probably should have been a "get the hell away from me, you freak," but as I later learned, Keith is a gentleman of the highest order. I do know, however, that he promptly walked away and accepted his award, while I became cognizant of the loss of my dignity.
Fortunately, I had 6+ years to make up for that first impression and it has given me the opportunity to get to know Papa Bear as a devoted friend, superb leader, and a man who has really filled in his body over the past few years. When I look back at the better half of a decade of knowing Keith, I realize we've been through some pretty challenging times, but many truly wonderful years together. From struggling to be leaders as junior captains on the team, to jumping over fires on Franklin Street together after a National Championship, it's been a heck of a ride.
After an unfortunate miscommunication at the rehearsal dinner, I immediately regretted not giving a toast to the almost-wed couple. I started thinking of what I would say if I could go back and have the opportunity to speak. Our class has had some crazy, ridiculous, unbelievable times these past few years, and it is a true testament to all our friendships that the 8 of us were invited and flew out to celebrate with Keith. So how do I classify all these moments? There were so many of them. In a moment of nostalgia, I started going through my pictures in an attempt to pick out some of the best. Oddly, I started to realize that I've seen Keith in a lot of different outfits. And these outfits represent who Keith is as a human being. Perhaps it was not the clothing itself (as you will see), but these moments have helped me define him as someone everyone looks up to.
A Leader in a Thong. Yes, I have seen Keith, or in this case Officer Fagoo, in women's panties. It was the night of Century Club our freshman year (if you don't know about Century Club, don't worry about it); all the first-years had to make sure that after each shot of beer, we all slammed down our glasses at the exact same time. After tens of failed attempts for all 13 of us to coordinate this motion, Keith stepped in. Every person in that room remembers to this day his deep booming voice: "THREE, TWOOOO, ONE, DOWN!" Everyone was terrified of Keith at this point. "THREEEE, TWOOOO, ONE!" He owned the room. He led, we followed. Two years later Keith would be one of the few junior captains in UNC swimming history. He has been a leader since day one, and he still is.
The Capped and Gowned Intellectual. We have a wonderful picture of our class at graduation. All of us have on our Baby Blue Best, ready to turn that tassel. Keith was then off to work in Atlanta, GA at a terrific job with Bain & Company as a consultant. A year or so later he aced the GMAT, and will surely be accepted at the top MBA programs in the country. From thong to cap and gown, Keith is also a smarty-pants.
A Friend in Women's Clothing. How can anyone forget when he was dressed up as one of the "Ho-Jo-No Ho's" ('Hinton James North Whores' for those of you who don't)? I wish I could say otherwise, but Keith is an absolutely ugly woman. I think he was in some tight tube top and a short skirt of some sort, with an atrocious wig. But he was there with all of us for an amazing Halloween on Franklin Street. There are a ton of parties I could go back to and remember all the phenomenal times I had with Keith; but for some reason when I recall our friendship, the image of a 6'5'' 220 lbs. man in drag stands out.
A Competitor in a Speedo. During most of our relationship, I've seen Keith half naked (apparently even when we weren't swimming I saw a LOT of Keith...). He is a true competitor, and naturally gifted. Mark Laabs was right at the wedding; Keith and Denise are going to have some damn athletic kids. I vividly remember Keith's 200 back at prelims during ACCs our junior year. I was getting out of the warm-down pool and looked up at the scoreboard. Few times in my life have I been so inspired to swim. I had had an abysmal meet up until that point, and his race was the reason I mustered up the energy to get my first Senior National cut. A competitor in the pool, and a leader by example.
A Man in a Tux. Most recently I remember the man standing across from his wonderful and gorgeous bride. Even in his Sunday best Keith cannot come close to matching Denise in her dress, but he does pretty well. Whilst in the waiting room with his groomsmen, he sat patiently: no anxiety, no sweaty palms, no hesitation. He is a man who knows exactly what he wants, and is confident in the decisions he makes. We may have been a bunch of kids running around Franklin Street during college (some of us still are), but there was a man standing in that church. We have looked to Keith and Denise's relationship as an example to which we all aspire. And although I've only known Denise as mostly an acquaintance for a short time, everything I needed to know I saw Saturday. The way Keith and Denise looked into each other eyes, it was self-evident. Trust, love, respect, equality, and God. It was all there.
And so I propose a toast. Please raise your glasses to Keith and Denise. May you be leaders, intellectuals, friends, competitors, and loving human beings for the rest of your lives. Cheers.
I seriously started to cry while reading this. Every word is so true! Keith is such an inspiration to the rest of us, and I pray I find someone as beautiful and amazing as Denise! I cherish all the moments I have with you guys, and this weekend was one for the record books. An beautiful wedding, amazing friends, and times we will never forget. Love you all!
ReplyDeleteWow,
ReplyDeleteI only have a few things to add, a lot of which is redundant and somewhat rambling so bear with me. During the last few years I have asked myself countless times What Would Keith Do? Sometimes the answer was to make fun of Swartz or have another drink. Other times it was to go home and call Jenna or to go study. But every time I asked myself WWKD I ended up doing the right thing. Most importantly. In my relationship with Jenna Keith and Denise have been an inspiration and a source of reassurance that despite the many miles we could make it work... Even if that required 4-way phone conversations while watching the OC in a dorm room.
I think it is more than fitting, that although Keith doesn't always know it he is still and will always be a leader in my/our lives. Keith and Denise you are the best friends and example I could ever ask for. Hopefully sometime soon(ish) I can repay the honor you paid my family and I on Saturday. Cheers!