A Colt For Life

Of all the jobs and titles I've held, the one I look back at with the most emotions, both good and bad, is that of Athletic Director.

You see, I worked at a new Christian school for 2 years as the high school Bible teacher, and I was their first Athletic Director, not to mention the "Voice of the Colts," which meant for better or worse you could not attend a sporting event in those first two years without hearing me over the speakers.

I resigned from my position two years ago, just days after achieving a personal and professional goal, getting the Colts into the Carolina Christian Conference for Varsity contests.

I have looked back at my time as a Colt nearly every day since graduation '07.

On Friday night I drove over an hour to watch the Colts in the Carolina Christian Conference girls Varsity Basketball championship, and the Lord allowed the game to be played close enough for me be there.

Of the 11 girls that took the floor that night, I had coached 9 of them, either on the Varsity softball team, or as an assistant coach on the Middle School basketball team. I was also fortunate to be invited into the locker room by the baskeball coach, whom I am still close with, for a pregame speech, not to mention that for one more night, I was the "Voice of the Colts" and was asked to call out the starting lineups.

For one final time I was able to speak the names of girls that I had watched as grow as freshmen, for one final time I called out numbers and positions of kids that I had helped train as 7th graders, for one final time I was able to give my usual speech about how "you play like you live...", for one final time I was the loudest cheerleader in the stands, trying to will my team on to victory.

Ultimately, the Colts fell in a valiant effort, but second place is more then I dreamed I would ever see when I packed up my office and the microphone fell silent two years ago, and now the Colts are on their way to their first State Basketball birth, and as a # 10 seed to boot.

Having been in that gym to see the Lady Colts one more time has given me some closure, though I doubt I will ever stop thinking back to what was, what is, and what could have been, for I will always be a Colt for Life!

The Academy

I went to high school in a small farming community in CT. On a beautiful June day in 1996, I along with about 150 other classmates graduated. That afternoon my parents and I moved an hour away. I've only been back 2 or 3 times since, and though I went to college with 4 others from high school, it wasn't long until I lost all contact with those 150 people. And I'm ashamed.

I realize now, just entering my 30's just how big an impact those 4 years had on me. I've been slowly reconnecting with some of those folks from high school through facebook, and I'm so glad to see that we've grown up.

I can remember almost all of them.
I remember the jocks, and how I so wanted to be one of them...if not for smoking a pack-a-day.
I remember girls that I had crushes on, but was too awkward to know how to ask them out.
I remember the stoners, but they probably don't remember much of me...
I remember the kids I was mean to, though I was not a bully.
I remember the ones who are already gone into the next life...
I remember the bright stars who faded, along with the late bloomers who blossomed after I knew them.
I can remember most of them, and I miss them.

I was not a popular person. I was always drawing attention to myself, trying to fit in, but mostly being loud and annoying. But I, along with most people, wish I could have been the person I am now 15 years ago. Then I remember something so simple, yet so profound. Each of those classmates and our shared experience have had a hand in making me who I am today.