My Cowboy Cousin

Strange thing, death. But, we have hope...

"Spencer John Miller, 24, was born on September 21, 1985 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to William L. Miller and Maureen Petersen Miller. Spencer passed away on November 15, 2009 as the result of an automobile accident in Pueblo.

Spencer graduated from Calhan High School in 2004 where he was extremely active. He was the 2004 Class President and the Football Team Captain. After high school, he attended and graduated with a degree in finance from Colorado State University in Forth Collins. He was a cowboy first in his professional life and a well-respected banker in the community.
Spencer was an outgoing and personable man with a love for God, his family and friends. He would light up a room just by walking through the door. He enjoyed getting together with people for events of all types. His life was a testimony to his Christian faith. He has expressed his love and devotion for Jesus since his baptism at age 14 by Rick Cofer at the Living Word Church in Calhan.

Being a professional rodeo contestant was paramount in Spencer's life. He made impeccable choices in the friends he kept. His roping partners are incredible mature men that mentored and counseled Spencer in many walks of life. In his younger years, he was a member of the Little Britches Rodeo, moving to the Colorado High School Rodeo Association and ultimately a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Spencer is survived by his mother, Maureen Miller; father, William L. Miller; brother, Stuart Miller; grandmothers, Regina Miller and Jeanne Petersen as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He knew and had a personal relationship with each one of these important individuals.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Swan Law Funeral Directors. A funeral service will be held on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mountain Springs Church, 7345 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs. Private interment will take place. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Spencer's name to the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys. P.O. Box 3010, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80934."

- Obituary from the Colorado Springs Gazette

Dear Mean Person,

This has been a long time in coming, but I think we're both ready now. I came to a revelation today. And because it was all because of you, I feel you should be the first to know:

I.Don't.Like.You.

What? I can imagine you saying.

You heard me! I don't like you!

I don't get to choose everyone I come in contact with. Some people,I choose to be around, some people I get to be around and some people I have to be around. I have a lot of relationships that fall into the "choose to" and "get to" categories. But you, mean person, are in the third.

I don't like being around you because you don't treat me well. You're borderline rude, outright snarky and often just plain old mean. I've excused you for months now with inane comments like: "You're just having a bad day (which turned into bad week, which turned into bad month...)" "You don't know me well enough yet. I can still win you over!" "You're just stressed right now."

However, the excuses are over and done with. I've observed enough and heard enough to realize it's not me, it's you! I will respect you and be polite, but beyond that - nothing. I'm giving myself the freedom to stop trying to like you - you make it too hard! The dread before our encounters is not worth it. The stress headaches after our encounters are not worth it either!

I'm still going to give other people a chance. I'm still going to cultivate meaningful relationships. I'm still going to keep putting myself out there. But just to show you this isn't all about me, I wanted to let you in on a little secret. Ready?

You don't have to like me either.

Most Sincerely,
Kate