I Still Remember
It was a very hot August afternoon in
2007 the last time this happened. My dad and I had met at the golf course and
were getting ready to go out. No silly, not to play, to watch Kelcey begin her
last year in high school athletics. A tradition that Kelcey, my dad, and I
shared for 7 lightning quick years. Dad and I would follow her around watching
her play, living and dying on every swing with her. There were days when she
was hitting it well and I would want soooo bad to shout to the mountaintops for
everyone to watch (but the golf course people frowned on that so I don’t do
that anymore) because she was happy and confident. She would look over where
dad and I were and flash a smile and we knew it was a good day. As she got
older the flashes turned into full fledged grins and on occasion a flexing of
her muscles toward us to let us know she hit that one goooood. And of course
there were other days when she wasn’t swinging good and the sparkle in her eye
wasn’t there and she was so disappointed and I wanted to run out and take her
in my arms and dare anyone to say or do anything to her (but Kelcey frowned on
this so I don’t that anymore either). But on both occasions I would cheer for
her. And for the record, my dad lived and died on every shot also. He may have
been worse than me.
As
we met for the beginning of the last year I said to my dad, “I still remember
her starting this just a few years ago. I can’t believe she’s a senior.”
To
which my dad replied, “Hang in there son, I still remember your last year of
high school basketball. Before you know it, Jordan will be a senior.”
And
here it is. Jordan tonight begins his last year in high school basketball. My
son will be 18 years old in only 9 weeks. I remember, as with Kelcey, coaching
in Upward Basketball till they were old enough to play on school teams. Jordan
started out a little skinny runt. Grew into a not-so-little chubby boy. Now is
a solid muscled young man. I remember him learning to dribble when he wasn’t
much taller than the ball. I remember teaching him to shoot because kids weren’t
learning technique; they were just being told to throw it up there. I remember
him hurting his knee in football and missing a basketball season and he was
actually depressed. I remember every coach every year talked about how great a
young man he was before they would mention any basketball skill. I remember
playing in the driveway with him. I remember Tammy getting mad because I wouldn’t
let him win, he had to earn it. And he did. He played hard and wanted to do
well. I remember getting tired and sitting down while he kept shooting and
shooting. I remember telling him that if he didn’t shoot it right I was gonna throw
rocks at his legs. And I did (don’t call the po po just yet. It was a game and
we had fun with it.). I remember him going to high school and making the varsity
team his freshman year. I remember the long days and weeks but the seasons were
always short. I remember the gyms, the travel, the uniforms, the horrid
smelling socks and shoes, the hotels, did you know that I still have 5
basketballs in and around my driveway at all times. I counted them this
morning. And by the way, there are golf clubs and golf shoes all over the
garage still.
But
what I remember most with both of them is this. Every year, every team, every
time, someone would stop Tammy or me and say something that sounded like this, “Are
you Jordan’s mom? I just want you to know that he is the nicest young man. You should
be proud!” Or, “Are you Kelcey’s dad? I just wanted to tell you that she is an
absolute joy to be around. I have never seen or heard a cross word from her.
You should be proud!”
And
let me tell you. WE ARE! Funny how milestones take you back isn’t it? As Kelcey
began her last year in golf, we were looking back to the 6th grade
where she hit a driver on par 3’s and still couldn’t get it to the green. As Jordan
begins his last year in basketball I’m thinking about his little Upward team
where they didn’t keep score in the 2nd grade games but before we
left the house every Saturday morning HE
would go to his room and get a paper and pen and give it to his mom and tell
her, “You know what to do!”
Kelcey
and Jordan; Your mother and I are so proud of you guys. We are proud, Kelcey
that you got the opportunity to play golf in college and that you are still a
joy to be around. We are proud, Jordan, whether you choose to play basketball
in college or not because you are still the nicest young man. Jordan, my Papaw Bryant
told me once as he was taking off his boots at the end of another hard day in
the field that he had done all he could do. He worked hard at what he did and
his clothes and shoes showed it. I had asked him, “What now papaw?” after I had
helped plant corn. He said this, “We have done our part and now it’s up to God.
If he sends the right amount of sun and rain, we will have corn. If he doesn’t
then we will do something else. But either way I will sleep well tonight
because I did my part and I did the best that I could. And then tomorrow I will
get out of bed and do it again.” Great advice from a great man!
“God, thank you for entrusting Tammy and me
with such wonderful kids. We asked for protection over them every day that they
live. We thank you for the ability that you have given them and asked that you
would continue to grow and test and challenge them in their faith as well as
careers and athletics. Thank you for faith. Thank you for family.”
Let
the last season begin!
Comments
Post a Comment