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Updated: October 6, 2009
Mealer brothers a lesson in courage
Merrill By Elizabeth Merrill
ESPN.com

WAUSEON, Ohio -- They know they're not normal. A light dusting of snow falls on Christmas Eve, and Dave Mealer is bouncing around the house, cooking and entertaining and plotting surprises. He has never dropped this much money on Christmas, but hey, it's time to celebrate. His youngest boy, Elliott, is going to play college football next fall at Michigan; his family, his life, is so complete.

Twenty-five years of marriage, and Mealer is still first-date gaga. He asks Shelly to walk by his chair, just so he can stare and tell her how beautiful she is. She tells him he's full of it. They have three strapping boys, two dogs and a fine statuette collection that has somehow stayed perfectly intact. Nobody in this house, it seems, ever fights. Some people are born to be doctors, or farmers, but the Mealers believe their calling is to raise Blake, Brock and Elliott.

And what men they've become. They're best-friend tight, closer than Dave and Shelly could've hoped. Blake and Brock are helping run the family concrete business; Elliott has college ahead and a loving girlfriend he wouldn't dare leave behind. She has a Christmas present to give Elliott. It's a Bible. They climb into their Mercedes that night and head to a family party, presents waiting for them back at home. Before they leave the party later that evening, before everything changes, Dave puts his hand on Shelly's leg and looks into her eyes. "It is my pleasure to be sitting with you tonight," he says.

Sometimes, when Dave hugs his boys, it's almost as if he can't let go. Shelly worries about this, that things are too perfect.

"People don't hug and love on each other like this," she tells her husband on several occasions.

"I'm just afraid something's going to happen."

Michigan football player Elliott Mealer returns to team after family tragedy - ESPN