The Early Years

Click on the article and the size should be readable.

Friend

The word friend has many different definitions, but my definition of friend changed 14 years ago. It was 1993, and I was a sophomore at the University of Connecticut. I posted an add for personal care attendants at the beginning of the semester around campus. I received many responses and I had hired a handful of aides but one stood out from the rest; his name was Randy Spellman.
It was an early fall evening and Randy came over to my dorm to meet me and interview for the job. Randy was kind of under the weather with the flu but, he really wanted a job so he showed up anyway. After a half hour of excusing himself he told me was ill and would have to call me tomorrow. Naturally I just thought that this kid wasn’t interested in the job and was looking for an excuse to get out of my room without hurting my feelings. The next day, to my surprise, he called and we have been close friends ever since.
They say you’re lucky if you find one good friend in your life, well I have been really lucky. I have had some of the most loyal and understanding friends that anyone could ever ask for. But when I met Randy I never dreamed that another person who is not related to me would be so dedicated and giving.
At first when Randy began working for me he was just another aide, but after I invited him to come home with me for a week during winter break our relationship was lifted to an entirely new level. After that week we were no longer just employer and employee, but instead were now friends and our friendship has been growing ever since.
During our college years we went on several spring break adventures, trained to become marathoners, and basically became brothers. I chose Randy as my guide when I was selected as a community hero to carry the Olympic Torch in 1996. He even pushed my wheelchair up to the stage when I received my college diploma from the University of Connecticut in 1998. Three months later, I was honored to be his groomsman when he married his wife Jen. I have many close friends but Randy is a friend you can count on in both good times and bad. He always finds a way to include me in things that others would never give a thought to.
Now that we have gotten older our relationship has changed again but we are still as close as ever. Last year, Randy and Jen had their first baby and I was one of their first friends they called to come to the hospital.
Although Randy has more responsibility in his life he continues to make time for me. This fall when I compete in my 39th and 40th career marathons, Randy will be there every step of the way for both 26.2-mile races. This type of devotion is rare and should be recognized. So I’d like to thank Randy for assisting me in achieving my goals and helping me live life to the fullest. To me you are the best best friend in the world.
-Jason Pisano