Sous Chef Drew

Batting 4th and playing first base for your 4th grade Carmel Pups, DREW THIEME! I batted leadoff for the Carmel Pups and Drew floated around the 4th-6th range for the squad. I got on base and drew had big hit capability, simple as that. I did not enjoy baseball, but I did enjoy the guys I was around, one of them being Drew. (Me, Clay, Chad, and Drew from right to left in the picture)

Establishing Drew and I's Friendship:

Drew and I began our friendship in 4th grade, but it truly started on the freshman basketball team. Him, clay, and I were starters and began to bond over our similar values and interests. Off the court, we all shared the wonderful class of Digital Citizenship. Little did Mr. Lane know, that would be one of the more irrelevant classes (sorry to be blunt) as far as coursework and yet solidified a trio as great friends. Drew, Clay, and I partnered up for the radio broadcast project. We decided to do a country broadcast on WDCDC 102.7. Everyday we sang American Kids and Sunny and 75. We can still quote you the entire Belt Buckle Barn commercial as well as taglines for the rest of our broadcast such as: "Larry's Lasso's *whip noise* round 'em up," "Cornelius's Corn, it's the cream of the crap," and "whatever cranks your tractor."

Slowly, but surely the inevitable happened and Drew and I wound up in the same friend group. A solid group of 11 athletic, genuine guys. A high school friendship so strong many of us stay close to this day. I could highlight any of the guys during the sous chef section, but today is all Drew. Quick little shoutout to his mom though who did this type of blogging for a whole year. That is darn impressive and your words have blessed so many and inspired me.

Things I admire about Drew:

1) Drew's support for the people he cares about is never extra or a burden, it is always a desire of his heart. Drew simply takes every chance he gets to be at his brothers' games, his friends' games, the people he loves' significant events in general. Next to nothing comes before it. If his brother has a game and the boys are hanging out, he will both invite the guys to the game and come after. I find it incredibly rare and admirable that something that is optional is an undeniable priority.

2) Drew is stubborn. Usually not an admirable term, but it is what we love about Drew. It has its moments as I hear about the famous Monopoly game where he refused to roll the dice for 45 minutes or something crazy. Any way Drew's stubbornness refuses to let Drew being anyone else but Drew. He will always put faith and family first. He will always work hard for his academics and love basketball. He will continue to text me to play basketball even though I continually can't play and I am so grateful for that. I feel like Drew being stubborn is why everything he does, he does in a Drew way. There is something Drew about the way he talks, the way he drives, his music taste, the way he plays basketball. It is awesome.

3) Drew reflects. We often hear of the fast-paced instant gratification culture we now live in. I think it comes across in our communication more than we think. Our conversations lack air space. Drew breaks that norm. He refuses to talk unless it is thought about aptly. I have learned to be patient in conversation because of him and it often makes conversation better, probably because I talk less. He will even revisit a conversation of the past after he has had time to think or he will start a conversation with "I've been thinking about ___ lately and ___________." It reminds me the past can be as important as the future to think about.

4) Drew does humility in faith better than anyone I know. I struggle so often on how to be a humble, don't toot your own horn, evangelist, Christian. Drew does it gracefully. He treats all types of people well. He undoubtedly goes to mass and confession, but never brings it up as over-the-top, people just know. He has a quiet way of inviting people to deeper faith by letting the conversation go there before he invites. I, honestly, can't describe it well. It is ever-present and undeniably recognizable but not loud or overwhelming.

Drewbie doobie Doo:

I could go on and on. I spent a whole semester learning to imitate you one year partially as a joke, but also out of respect. You are simple in so many ways and simply good. I cherish our friendship even if it is less constant than before. I have a boatload of good memories with you that clutter my brain that it almost makes it hard to pick one out. I think my favorite memory will be the next time we get to spend significant time together because I always enjoy it and find myself better in some way because of it. I don't have to tell you to keep doing you because you are stubborn and will do you anyway. So, know you are appreciated and loved brother.