friendship – …my temporary assignment.

We seem to be together.

Daily writing prompt

In what ways do you communicate online?

Back in the day, I used to frequent some social media sites. For the most part, I viewed it as an avenue to coach up student athletes away from the field. As life evolved, that went away, and business centered sites became prevalent as a way to communicate ideas. That has since been hibernated.

This platform has been pretty much a constant in my life and will remain so far as I know. Emails are “ok” for work, but nothing will ever beat a voice on the phone or a face to face somewhere, some time with some body. I think that is what appeals to me about being here, with you all now, on line.

We seem to be together.

I can sit in the kitchen, wearing shorts and a warm beanie, look out the window and watch Chris and Rich hop around the yard hunting for scraps, chat about the daily prompt or whatever else works its way into my bald noggin. As close as I am likely to get to having a sit down with each of you. You would prolly want to bring your own coffee. Mine isn’t to die for, but to die because of.

Letters remain the best way to connect. Nothing will ever beat a hand written note to another. They aren’t tucked away in some e-file, folder or drive. They get opened, read, and tucked away in a drawer that is entered and exited every day. There is great joy to be found in sharing yourself with others in that fashion. A part of you is left in the ink on that page, in that envelope.

Since I became acquainted with expressing myself here, it seems to be the closest thing I found to pen and paper. Not ever a replacement. But a genuine source of warmth and connection. Hopefully for the reader. Definitely for this writer. Despite the miles and time zones, one thing is for sure.

We seem to be together.

Two horses & A bell

Author Unknown

“Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it.

From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.

Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.

Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell.

It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, And that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.

Good friends are like that.You may not always see them, but you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours.

And remember, be kinder than necessary – everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, love generously,care deeply, speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God. “

“anonymous”

If I may beg your indulgence a bit, I have a love story of sorts. Inspired in part by “anonymous”.

If you love the game:

“…then life truly began when the season started.”

Team dinners are the best sit down meal of the week.

Hudl is your preferred form of social media

Bruises are your favorite fall colors

Wearing white to out of town events is still permissible after Labor Day

Tape has become your socks

You accessorize with ice packs

Eye black brings out your cheekbones

And the hitch in your giddy-up later in life is still your source of pride and joy.

If you love the game:

Having the opportunity to practice the day after a game is as big a deal as playing under the lights on Friday nights.

Scout team is the ideal way to contribute. A golden opportunity to make the team maximize its potential and achieve its goals.

A role on special teams may be your ticket to change the course of a game – or season – through superlative effort and will.

If you love the game:

Then no matter what – A or B, JV or reserve, starter, or finish out the rout – “just get me on that field. “

Being wedded to a position will never supplant being bonded to a unit or the team.

Still being there for them though hurt casts a lasting impression.

You can’t be hung up on the division. Just play on in college.

If you love the game:

Embrace the blessings and needs of being a member of a large, multigenerational, extended family

Depend upon the friends you found in the weight room, during speed and agility, at morning misery, during two a days, and with your back to the goal line.

They are here for you now – and most likely will be later on in life.

If you love the game:

Stop an errant “brother”, diffuse a bad situation, console a friend in need, and raise another up even if you are down.

Invest. Time given freely to another is a precious gift.

Smile the most when accolades and attention for your team and teammates are delivered.

Be humble; you are but one in a long line of fine athletes that came before – and will follow you.

Commit. Relentless effort, stellar character and extraordinary leadership regardless of your role is the best way to honor that big family.

If you love the game:

Honor all of this for what it truly is; a rare and fleeting privilege.

Lean in. A challenge of this magnitude – to work harder than you ever have at something, and then, work even harder than that – is an extraordinary opportunity. One that needs to be accepted with genuine and lasting gratitude.

Let go. Giving up all of you for something bigger is a life-changing event.

If you love the game:

Trust. That all of them will honor the sacrifices you make on their behalf in kind.

Respect. Everyone has something in them that can make this team like no other – before or after.

Affirm. Prove their genuine worth to you through your thoughts, words and deeds.

Be accountable. Yes, to the ones with the whistles.

But more so to your partner in the weight room. Those sharing morning misery. The one next to you on the bus. Your teammates doing up-downs. Your unit when you huddle. The three-tech on the line of scrimmage. And that guy next to you right here, right now.

If you love the game:

Make it about all of them by leaving all of you on that field.

Because if you can love the game this much, then because of you, they will love the game too.

Thanks for the inspiration, “Anonymous”

I love it.

Saints

“Something I shared with all back in 2017. Came across it tonight and thought it good to share again. This made me misty eyed, but he still makes me smile. “

To set the tone for this day and his homily this evening, Father Matthew sought to describe the essence of a saint. Part of which resonated with this author.

“Someone that does what they do, the way that they do it”.

Rick Hader left this world today.

All too soon. And the hurt is palpable. But it is All-Saints Day. He has a chance to play to a much larger crowd, in a storied venue. Doing what he does. The way he does it.

I had the honor of blocking for him in college as a Siwash. He was All-Conference as a running back, and All-American as a role model, man and friend if you ask me. (Rick is #44)

He was just as gifted running between the tackles and catching the ball coming out of the backfield as he was cracking us up. The voices, faces, mannerisms and making his teeth squeaky clean with only an index finger were recurring bits in the dorm, on campus and in the huddle.

He found great joy in making us smile, laugh and forget about things for only a little while.

Now, 37 years later and aided by some hindsight, I now realize he was building his schtick there at Knox College. And creating his persona.

For Myron Noodleman was right there with us all along. But it was just Rick. Doing what he did. The way he did it.

I would encourage you to take a few moments and read about this national nerd.

It details a wonderful life’s journey from Park Ridge to Broken Arrow. Starting as a janitor, to being a beloved high school math teacher and becoming a diamond doofus.

An All-American role model, man and friend to many that found great joy in making thousands upon thousands of people smile, laugh and forget about things for a while.

Go deeper, between the lines and you will come to know them both as I. A match now made for heaven. A pair with the guts to listen, heed their calling and fearlessly follow it. And from what I understand, all the way to the end.

Your departure has left a big hole in the lives of many. But there are warm and lasting memories enough to fill it back in, bring a smile to the face, some laughter for the heart and offer many a respite from things for a while.

Just Rick and Myron doing what they did. The way they did it.

Saints if you ask me.