By Terra Avilla
We may in fact live in a small community, however, I am constantly reminded that there is a plethora of wonderful humans we have here.
This week’s feature actually came into my life quite recently, and now he and his gorgeous girlfriend are so adored by me, I couldn’t imagine my life without them.
They are living proof that even though we are “small” there are still so many people to meet and places to discover.
I am taking this week to highlight one of my newly founded “favorite people ever” Casey Lee.
Casey grew up in Susanville, so I am sure, many of you already know him, and I’m sure if you know him, you probably also adore him. I, however, met him through Lassen College Baseball.
To this day, I’m not actually quite certain how Frankie even knows him (Casey very bravely and honorably served in our military for over 8 years.) He recently returned from active duty, back to Susanville. Somehow or another through the community that is baseball, I’m sure Frankie heard Casey was very talented and somehow conned him into volunteering to coach with him.
All I know is that I started seeing this fella in the dugout, with his iconic grin (like he is about to do something he shouldn’t) from ear to ear. I just remember instantly liking him, and thinking he was a really good fit for the team.
He is old enough that he is not the player’s peer, but young enough where he is still very much a role model for them, and “cool enough” they will listen to him.
My husband gives speeches upon speeches to the team; however, Frankie repeatedly will say that Coach Casey provides some of the best motivational speeches. After all, Casey has had a LOT of life experience in a very short time.
Casey is always in a good mood, and never complains. I fell in love with him, watching how he is with my middle child. Pearl is a strong-willed firecracker, and boy does she love her some “Coach Casey”. He is never too busy or too “cool” to play with her, and he is perhaps one of three people in the world that she will listen to.
You can just tell through their interactions the type of person that he is. He is kind, and sweet. I have also had the pleasure of having numerous conversations with him and he is incredibly funny. Like, no wonder Frankie loves having him around. (To be fair, all the coaches crack me up, but Coach Casey is hilarious.)
When Casey is not volunteering with the college, he works full time as a bartender and is on his way to completing his schooling to be a teacher, another occupation that I think he is very well suited for. I have watched him teach/instruct and he has a very innate ability that is hard to describe.
Casey is the epitome of a doting boyfriend, hence why I got to meet another gem of a human, his girlfriend, Nicomi. (The way he talks about her, melts my heart.)
He is a caring son, and brother, oh and don’t let the man fool you, not only is he incredibly athletic, but he is also incredibly artistic. Those awesome LCC baseball pictures showing up on Facebook – they are captured by Casey himself.
He is a great new addition to my life, and I am sad that I had to wait ten years of living here before I got to meet him. He is proof that we have a huge pool of fantastic people, which compile a multitude of reasons why I love where we live.
