Happy Birthday Wifey

Well, today is the birthday of my best friend and wifey.  I won't dare tell you how old she is but I will tell you how much I love her.  I love this woman more than life itself.  We have been married for 25 years.  I honestly can't remember life before her.  It was an empty life, void of color and music.  Kenny Rogers sang a song years ago that said.

All my life was a paper once plain, pure and white
Till you moved with your pen changin' moods now and then
Till the balance was right
Then you added some music, ev'ry note was in place
And anybody could see all the changes in me by the look on my face
Like a rhyme with no reason in an unfinished song
There was no harmony life meant nothin' to me, until you came along
And you brought out the colors, what a gentle surprise
Now I'm able to see all the things life can be shinin' soft in your eyes
And you decorated my life, created a world where dreams are a apart
And you decorated my life by paintin' your love all over my heart
You decorated my life

I wish I had written that.  It pretty much sums up what Tina did to my life.  She decorated it beautifully.

We have had our ups and downs like any married couple.  We have joy and heartache, gain and loss, laughter and tears, but I would do it all over again as long as my partner was with me.  I have said many times when I have had the honor of speaking about our son Titus.  My wife is my hero.  She carried Titus for 4 months knowing his fate should God choose not to intervene.  And she did so with grace and faith that only comes from a Godly woman.  I will forever admire her for that.

I guess I am feeling a little "old school" country music tonight.  Because I am also reminded of an old Ronnie Milsap song that says:

What a difference you've made in my life 
What a difference you've made in my life 
You're my sunshine day and night
Oh, what a difference you've made in my life
What a change you have made in my heart
What a change you have made in my heart
You replaced all the broken parts
Oh, what a change you have made in my heart
Love to me was just a word in a song that had been way overused
But now I've joined in the singin'
'Cause you've shown me love's true meanin'
That's why I want to spread the news
What a difference you've made in my life

There's an old Middle English word that is a derivative from the Latin word matrona, it is matron.  The matron of a family is one who is dignified and mature.  My wife is THE matron of our family both dignified and mature.  And what a family she has raised!

I love this woman.  She deserves much more than what I can give her for her birthday.  Much more than the words I have written here, but I want everyone to know how awesome she truly is.  I might as well close with another old country song from one of my favorites, Randy Travis:

They say time takes it's toll on a body 
Makes a young girl's brown hair turn gray 
Well, honey, I don't care 
I ain't in love with your hair 
And if it all fell out 
Well I'd love you anyway 

They say time can play tricks on a memory 
Make people forget things they knew 
Well, it's easy to see 
It's happening to me 
I've already forgotten every woman but you 
Oh darling 

I'm gonna love you forever 
Forever and ever, amen 
As long as old men sit and talk about the weather 
As long as old women sit and talk about old men 
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful 
Just listen to how this song ends 
I'm gonna love you 
Forever and ever 
Forever and ever, amen 

I love you wifey!!!!!

Is There School Tomorrow in Carter ...Oh Wait...

As I sit here on the couch I noticed it was snowing outside.  I went to look at the yard and sure enough, it's starting to stick.  Then I found myself heading to wgohwugo.com to see if there was school tomorrow in Carter Co.  That's when it hit me.  That doesn't affect me or my kids any longer (for the first time in several years).  I felt silly, kind of like we all will on January 15, 2014 and we are still writing 2013 on our checks (checks?  What are checks? some of you are asking).

Then I started thinking about yesterday.  It was an absolutely awesome day for many reasons.  First and foremost I got to spend the entire day with my son, Tucker.  We have so much fun together.  I know these days are numbered.  There will come a time when "Pops" (yes, he calls me Pops) will not be a priority (unless I have UK or Reds tickets).  But I did have UK tickets.  But it was more than our passion for the Cats that made the day fun, we just talked, hung out, chilled (whatever the youngsters are using these days for being together).  We WANTED to be in each others company.  Tucker even suggested we mark the day with a Father/Son photo.  His suggestion, I was a little taken back, I can't remember Tucker ever saying, "Pops, let's take a picture."  So he handed his brand new iPhone 5s to a complete stranger behind us (he was wearing a UK sweater so we trusted him) and here is the result:

Not a bad pic!  That is his new UK pullover we bought before the game.  I am still wearing my "old school" pullover (although Tucker picked a new out for me to buy so he could give it to me for Christmas).

Without question the highlight of the day was just spending time with my son.  A true father/son day at the Cathedral of College Basketball and the Cats won.

Another awesome aspect of the day was getting to talk to a dear friend of mine.  One of the finest gentlemen on the earth.  Mr. Bobby Flynn.  Mr Flynn and I have known each other for several years.  He works the media tables at UK games but also at the Boys Sweet 16.  I love it when I have a game off and Mr Flynn is setting at the end of media row.  I will spend an entire game just sitting and talking to him.  He has been around sports for many years and still keeps clock for 2 Lexington high schools, he's officiated, he works at the Legends games and at Keeneland.  The guy is a walking history book when it comes to Kentucky sports.  I saw him before the game and caught his attention, he motioned me to come down the floor and we caught up on things. He greeted me with  "How'd you get out of Grayson Tim?  No ballgames going on tonight?"  We talked for about 10 minutes or so.  I returned to my seat and talked to Tucker.  

Then it hit me.  There were people all over Rupp Arena taking pictures of the players, trying to get their faces in a picture with WCS in the back ground or the big UK at center court.  Pictures that will mean something to all of them.  The picture above of me and my son is one I will long treasure as a reminder of our day.  People want their picture taken with Cal or the Harrison twins or MR Randle.  But I wonder how many people have asked Mr Flynn to take a picture with them?  He is there every home game.  He's forgotten more about sports than I will ever know.  I looked at Tucker and said, "I wish I had you take a picture of me and Bobby.  I've known him for years and I would like to have a pic of him before one of us is gone."  Almost on cue, I looked down and there was Mr Flynn.  I hollered at him and he came over, I said, "Mr Flynn, will you let my son take a picture of me and you?"  "Why would you want that Timmy?"

"I just think it would be nice to have."  

"Well, smile big and get close"

Here is the result, a picture I will treasure for a lifetime.

He seemed almost addled at the thought that someone would want a picture of him.  As he went back to work and I went back to my seat he shook my hand and said, "Tim, you made an old man feel important tonight."

"You are important to me Mr Flynn, very important!"

I guess as I grow older, I realize how important others are to me.  I also realize how celebrated youth is in our society.  Almost glorified.  We do a lot of silly things to try to stay young.  We also tend to dismiss those with gray in their hair and diminished spring in their step.  I wouldn't trade times spent with Mr Flynn for anything.  He is one amazing gentleman.

Two challenges this evening:

1.  Treasure the times you get to spend with your kids.  As they get older, those times become fewer and fewer.

2.  Take time to talk to and LISTEN to those senior citizens in your life.  You'll be glad you did.

God bless and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Don't Blink

I heard the splashing but wasn’t sure what was going on.  I had put Tori in the bath tub and was making us lunch, but the splashing was getting louder.  As I was making my way to the bathroom, I could hear my 4 year old saying something, I just wasn’t sure what it was.  When I entered the bathroom I saw about 20 naked Barbies lined up along the rim of the tub.  I watched as Tori was grabbing each one and dunking them under the water.

“What are you doing Pudd?”  

“Baptizing Barbie for the remission of sins!”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

The fall sky was so blue.  The lake was cold but wonderfully reflected the beauty of the sky.  The bread was almost gone but the ducks seemed to be still hungry.  Tucker, my 5 year old son at the time, was having a blast seeing how far he could make a duck swim for a piece of bread.  Then came the noise.  HONK!  HONK!  HONK!  A quick glance above and there were the geese.  It was time for their annual migration south, much like the senior saints from church.  I glanced over at Tucker to see what his reaction might be to the noise and beautiful V pattern of the guess.  Their unison wing flapping as they moved almost effortlessly across the fall sky.  

“What do you think about that Tuck-man?”

“Pretty cool.  Do they know any other letters?”

FAST forward…..

That seemed like yesterday.  Both events.  Although they were a few years apart themselves and more than 15 years or so ago.  In between?  Dance recitals, football games, tee ball, vacations, church camp, cheerleading, basketball, first boyfriend, first girlfriend, dances, Homecoming, Prom, science fair projects, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Captain Underpants, VBS, tears, laughter, “the Talk”, boo boos, Honey Boo Boo, movies, Reds Games, road trips, picnics, Lupus, Titus, life, death, hugs, kisses…….a blur!!

Today, I have a son in law and a college student.  Gone are the Barbies and the duck feedings.  Gone are the diaper changes, shoe tying, cutting up meat, rocking to sleep, wiping noses, tap shoes and cleats.  Where did the time go?  It marches on.  We all have 7 days in a week.  24 hours in a day.  We can’t stop the clock from ticking.  There are no time outs in life to delay the game.  The clock never stops.  

Don’t blink.  Enjoy every hour of every day.  It is a gift from God.  Time?  It moves on.  What is a half second?  Ask the silver medalist in the 100 yard dash.  What’s a minute?  Ask the guy who missed the plane.  What’s an hour?  Ask the parent waiting for a child to come home from a date.  What is a month?  Ask me and my wife, who only had a month with our son Titus.  

Don't blink!  But have fun!  Don't be a fuddy duddy.  Too often we take life way to seriously! It’s OK to have fun. Life has enough struggles along the way, don’t make it worse by forgetting what matters. Laugh, smile, giggle, be goofy once in a while. It won’t kill you and it might just be contagious!

Don’t blink.  Treasure your time.  Share it with others.  Don’t be selfish.  You blink, and they are gone.  Not forever, they are coming back and bringing more with them!  I can’t wait for grand babies!  And you can bet with them, I won’t blink.

God bless you!