today has been a day that can only be described as friday the 13th. really weird.
today, i had 2 stops to make in the johnson city area and take them to paris landing state park. no big deal, just a long day.
as i have aged, at times, i get very emotional. their is a song by michael english called "the prodigal son". i have grown very attached to this song and today i listened to it over and over for almost 2 hours. there is a story here i will not dive into, but when i hear it, how i long for one more moment with my dad. so much i want to tell him, about how right he was and how dumb i was for thinking i new better on everything.
anyway, later into my trip, the john denver song, "poems, prayers and promises" played and lots more emotions came back. i can't cry and drive. it's not professional!!!
i always prayed to God to just let me live long enough to see my children accept christ and be baptized. that was all i needed then he could bring me home. well, they have, and i am still here. driving up I24 into clarksville, i decide to call my mom. i am in paris, tn. and my nephew lives here. he only met my brother, his father, one time and that was by accident. i always felt like he got the short end of the deal never knowing his father. dirty laundry will not get cleaned here.
anyway, my mom has his phone numbers and i really had a strong leading to visit him while i was here. my mom did not answer so i left a message on her answering machine something like this,"mom, sorry to bother you. i am on my way to paris and i need jonathan's phone numbers. i want to call him and try to visit. love you mom". simple enough, right. well, not too long after that, i lost cell phone coverage. as i am driving along, listening to john denver, i could not help but praise God for the wonderful life he has blessed me with. 4 wonderful children. loved and been loved by some good women (and bad). finally found a job i love. where i live, gotta give him credit for that. it is awesome. my health is good, i have some wonderful friends. seen some things along the way that both touched me and humbled me. today, most everywhere i looked, i could see the hand of God. oh, and i am happier right now than i ever have been in my life. if it all ended now, i would be so selfish to complain. hold all these thoughts.
i get to the hotel, drop my passengers off, and go to my hotel. i am staying in another hotel about 15 miles away. i still have no phone service.
anyway, i get checked into my hotel, and when i get my laptop out, plug in my laptop, and call my youngest 2. no answer so i call their mom. she does not recognize the number calling but answers anyway. i said "hey, just checking on isaac and grace and make sure they have this number". she starts asking me about the tree, how bad was i hurt, was everybody else ok, where i was, and on and on!! of course my reponse was, huh?
my mom, bless her heart, is 84 and lives alone. when she listened to the message, she "heard" me say, "i have hit a tree, i am hurt, everybody else is ok" and that is all she heard.
well, she starts calling me back, doesn't get me for about 2-3 hours. she calls the neighbors. they all come over. they know i am pinned in the bus, after hitting a tree, and i am calling to tell my mom bye. they all start calling. she calls my ex's house, leaves 2 frantic messages (which the kids hear and freak out cause dad is probably dead). they both call my office, the owner answers, and hears frantic calls from 2 different women. he gets online, tracks my bus by gps, and it is sitting still with the engine running. he calls my cell, no answer. he activates the drive cam, and he can tell i am where i am supposed to be, but not on the bus. weirdly, i am sitting with a big tree in front of my bus. he calls the park rangers, police, and has an apb put out on me!!! so, now not only am i dead, or dying, but i am wanted by the police. in the meantime, while all of this is going on, i am driving, listening to "poems, prayers, and promises". kinda creepy, huh?
no, this is not a spoof. it really happened. i have the witnesses to support all of this.
until next time...
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
kicking myself all night
today i had the pleasure of picking up the university of memphis football team at the airport. kinda ironic based on my last post about "you can't make this stuff up" because when we do sports team pickups, we drive thru secure gates right on the tarmac right under the plane!!!
anyway, when we got there, we pulled up beside a navy trainer (a T4?) and i wanted to take some pics. my camera is always in my backpack but i have been taking a lot of pics at home posting most on facebook. it was not there. so, i used my phone. i don't care how good the phone, phone pics suck, at best. shot several pics, kicked myself in the butt.
we had a police escort to their hotel. police escorts are very cool. you don't slow down, they are usually high speed, and exciting to say the least. a pic would have been nice. kicked self in butt, again.
after the hotel, we got another escort to neyland stadium. not only TO neyland stadium, we parked UNDER neyland stadium. very cool. kicked myself again. once unloaded, we reset our buses (sorry, there were 3 of us). soon, i realized not only were we under the stadium, we were at field level. a 50 yard walk and i was standing in the south end zone!!! very cool. kicked myself again. walked around the field, looking UP at the seats. very cool. kicked myself again. they finished their workout and another police escort back to their hotel. during these escorts, we don't stop. traffic is stopped for us at all intersections. i have been in dozens of them and it never gets old. i just wish i had my camera. and, my butt hurts.
after some down time, we ate and drove them to a movie. while sitting there waiting i pulled out my laptop. when i opened my computer bag, guess what i found?
i am still kicking myself. hard!!!
until next time... yes, i put my camera back in my backpack where it should have been to begin with!!!
anyway, when we got there, we pulled up beside a navy trainer (a T4?) and i wanted to take some pics. my camera is always in my backpack but i have been taking a lot of pics at home posting most on facebook. it was not there. so, i used my phone. i don't care how good the phone, phone pics suck, at best. shot several pics, kicked myself in the butt.
we had a police escort to their hotel. police escorts are very cool. you don't slow down, they are usually high speed, and exciting to say the least. a pic would have been nice. kicked self in butt, again.
after the hotel, we got another escort to neyland stadium. not only TO neyland stadium, we parked UNDER neyland stadium. very cool. kicked myself again. once unloaded, we reset our buses (sorry, there were 3 of us). soon, i realized not only were we under the stadium, we were at field level. a 50 yard walk and i was standing in the south end zone!!! very cool. kicked myself again. walked around the field, looking UP at the seats. very cool. kicked myself again. they finished their workout and another police escort back to their hotel. during these escorts, we don't stop. traffic is stopped for us at all intersections. i have been in dozens of them and it never gets old. i just wish i had my camera. and, my butt hurts.
after some down time, we ate and drove them to a movie. while sitting there waiting i pulled out my laptop. when i opened my computer bag, guess what i found?
i am still kicking myself. hard!!!
until next time... yes, i put my camera back in my backpack where it should have been to begin with!!!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
another episode of "you can't make this stuff up"
yesterday i took a group on a tour of some installations in oak ridge. hold that thought for a moment.
when i got back to my office yesterday after a local trip, my boss told me he was pulling me off of a trip he had me set up to do.
it was a simple trip-a local high school track team going to nashville for a meet, an overnight (i was looking forward to because it meant i might spend time with my daughter) and then back home saturday. simple enough. i have made dozens of them.
when he told me, i asked why. he told me i was no longer qualified. thinking a pink slip was coming, i asked why. he told me that the knox county school system now requires all bus drivers be fingerprinted, a background check (another) a new photo id and a drug test (another). i had to laugh.
we, as a company and me personally, are approved department of defense contractors. i have had the high honor and privilege of transporting troops all over from fort polk, la to quantico va. i have been on many military bases and in some restricted areas. as i said, i am qualified. the group i drove to oak ridge, went to y-12, ornl and several other very sensitive areas. if you cross the wrong line, their orders are literally "shoot to kill". i even drove up to the building where our nations supply of uranium is stored. when we got there, i had to surrender my camera, my cellphone and my pepper spray. and yes, another background check. i don't know if when a background check is done, all other inquiries show up like a credit report. if it did, it had to have been several pages long. of course, i passed.
it hit me when greg said i was no longer qualified how ironic it was that i can go on military installations, see where the u.s. government stores its uranium, but i am not "qualified" to drive a high school track team.
like i said, you can't make this stuff up!!!
until next time...
when i got back to my office yesterday after a local trip, my boss told me he was pulling me off of a trip he had me set up to do.
it was a simple trip-a local high school track team going to nashville for a meet, an overnight (i was looking forward to because it meant i might spend time with my daughter) and then back home saturday. simple enough. i have made dozens of them.
when he told me, i asked why. he told me i was no longer qualified. thinking a pink slip was coming, i asked why. he told me that the knox county school system now requires all bus drivers be fingerprinted, a background check (another) a new photo id and a drug test (another). i had to laugh.
we, as a company and me personally, are approved department of defense contractors. i have had the high honor and privilege of transporting troops all over from fort polk, la to quantico va. i have been on many military bases and in some restricted areas. as i said, i am qualified. the group i drove to oak ridge, went to y-12, ornl and several other very sensitive areas. if you cross the wrong line, their orders are literally "shoot to kill". i even drove up to the building where our nations supply of uranium is stored. when we got there, i had to surrender my camera, my cellphone and my pepper spray. and yes, another background check. i don't know if when a background check is done, all other inquiries show up like a credit report. if it did, it had to have been several pages long. of course, i passed.
it hit me when greg said i was no longer qualified how ironic it was that i can go on military installations, see where the u.s. government stores its uranium, but i am not "qualified" to drive a high school track team.
like i said, you can't make this stuff up!!!
until next time...
yes, i am back
what an incredible summer it has been. i have found myself in a dilemna. being off for 10 months gave me a lot of time to post regularly. after coming back to work in april, i have been on the run quite a lot.
baseball is over and i am having withdrawals. the smokies made it to the southern league championships and we lost to jacksonville. being 2nd was hard to swallow but was, nevertheless, an amazing accomplishment. getting to know a new group of players was fun and seeing them develop as they did was impressive. at the same time, seeing the guys i have driven in years past playing for the cubs, well, it was easy to swell up with pride. some went on to other teams in the majors, but those in the cubs organization was especially fulfilling.
meeting ryne sandberg was an amazing experience for me. driving him was more than any kid could dream for. but i can't forget the other staff members who are coaching with him, well, i have a special memory of them as well.
most of all, it is the people i get to meet in the ballparks. normal, everyday people from blue collar workers to white collar executives, all brought together by the love of a game. returning to the parks and seeing them, shaking hands, hugging most is a time in my life i cherish. several i have the pleasure of keeping in contact with. my life is a very fulfilled one.
this season, we ended up driving about 20,000 miles. most trips were 6 day trips with weird hours and some wild times. even getting to know the people in the host hotels and then going back to catch up with them was a wonderful experience. i can tell you more about getting around in jacksonville or mobile or several other cities than i can getting around knoxville.
when i was getting back into the swing of coming back to work, i got addicted to facebook and have spent most of my life writing there. i love to write and it filled a gap, but being here fills a huge void. most of my life for the past several years is on here and it is time to get back to regular posting here.
i have other things to post so i am not going to dump it all here. i don't know if i will be driving the smokies next year. our contract is up and i don't know if we will get it or not. i hope i do get one more year. rumor has it sandberg is coming back and i would be a fool not to step back into the dream. ryne and his wife margaret are wonderful people and i would be honored to be their driver one more time.
until next time...
baseball is over and i am having withdrawals. the smokies made it to the southern league championships and we lost to jacksonville. being 2nd was hard to swallow but was, nevertheless, an amazing accomplishment. getting to know a new group of players was fun and seeing them develop as they did was impressive. at the same time, seeing the guys i have driven in years past playing for the cubs, well, it was easy to swell up with pride. some went on to other teams in the majors, but those in the cubs organization was especially fulfilling.
meeting ryne sandberg was an amazing experience for me. driving him was more than any kid could dream for. but i can't forget the other staff members who are coaching with him, well, i have a special memory of them as well.
most of all, it is the people i get to meet in the ballparks. normal, everyday people from blue collar workers to white collar executives, all brought together by the love of a game. returning to the parks and seeing them, shaking hands, hugging most is a time in my life i cherish. several i have the pleasure of keeping in contact with. my life is a very fulfilled one.
this season, we ended up driving about 20,000 miles. most trips were 6 day trips with weird hours and some wild times. even getting to know the people in the host hotels and then going back to catch up with them was a wonderful experience. i can tell you more about getting around in jacksonville or mobile or several other cities than i can getting around knoxville.
when i was getting back into the swing of coming back to work, i got addicted to facebook and have spent most of my life writing there. i love to write and it filled a gap, but being here fills a huge void. most of my life for the past several years is on here and it is time to get back to regular posting here.
i have other things to post so i am not going to dump it all here. i don't know if i will be driving the smokies next year. our contract is up and i don't know if we will get it or not. i hope i do get one more year. rumor has it sandberg is coming back and i would be a fool not to step back into the dream. ryne and his wife margaret are wonderful people and i would be honored to be their driver one more time.
until next time...
Thursday, July 16, 2009
bernard
my life is an incredibly blessed one. i am without a doubt the most blessed man who has ever walked the face of God's green earth. part of this is the people i have met.
in all of the ballparks i go to, i know a lot of people from security to the "clubbies", ticket takers to fans, local law enforcement to the people who-do-i-don't-know-what-but-they-get-paid-anyway.
i have known bernard for 3 years and he never ceases to amaze me. every year when i see him, we shake hands, give bear hugs, and seem genuinely glad to see each other. lately, his bear hugs have gotten less "bearish".
before every game, he sits at his post and checks the other workers in and a host of other things. and he is always smiling. today when i dropped the players off, i saw him struggling to walk with his cane, partially paralyzed on one side. i couldn't help but choke up.
during the game, his duties were over and it was time for him to go home. i stopped him for a chat and to ask how he was doing. he told me he was good and i told him i thought he looked good. he said, smiling, "i am. i have a few problems but i am happy". last time we talked, he told me he had 1/2 of one of his feet removed, but he was happy. tonight, i asked him how his foot was doing. we talked for a few more minutes and he shared so much. his father was a common laborer for some large company and died of mesothelioma. he told me he needs more surgery. i asked, "what this time?" half kiddingly. he told me his doctor needs to replace both knees, both hips, and he also is having some neurological issues that are worsening. he told me he was a boxer growing up and his doctors think that is where it came from. "but i am happy". here is a man, i guess in his mid 60's, needing all of these surgeries as well as suffering neurologically, all the surgeries he has had, and he is genuinely happy! i really wanted to hug him and tell him i love him and i am blessed to know him.
i thought back to something bear grylls (man vs wild) said and i have to think about my own life. bear said, and i quote:
'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, covered in scars, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'yahoo!', what a ride.'
until next time...
in all of the ballparks i go to, i know a lot of people from security to the "clubbies", ticket takers to fans, local law enforcement to the people who-do-i-don't-know-what-but-they-get-paid-anyway.
i have known bernard for 3 years and he never ceases to amaze me. every year when i see him, we shake hands, give bear hugs, and seem genuinely glad to see each other. lately, his bear hugs have gotten less "bearish".
before every game, he sits at his post and checks the other workers in and a host of other things. and he is always smiling. today when i dropped the players off, i saw him struggling to walk with his cane, partially paralyzed on one side. i couldn't help but choke up.
during the game, his duties were over and it was time for him to go home. i stopped him for a chat and to ask how he was doing. he told me he was good and i told him i thought he looked good. he said, smiling, "i am. i have a few problems but i am happy". last time we talked, he told me he had 1/2 of one of his feet removed, but he was happy. tonight, i asked him how his foot was doing. we talked for a few more minutes and he shared so much. his father was a common laborer for some large company and died of mesothelioma. he told me he needs more surgery. i asked, "what this time?" half kiddingly. he told me his doctor needs to replace both knees, both hips, and he also is having some neurological issues that are worsening. he told me he was a boxer growing up and his doctors think that is where it came from. "but i am happy". here is a man, i guess in his mid 60's, needing all of these surgeries as well as suffering neurologically, all the surgeries he has had, and he is genuinely happy! i really wanted to hug him and tell him i love him and i am blessed to know him.
i thought back to something bear grylls (man vs wild) said and i have to think about my own life. bear said, and i quote:
'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, covered in scars, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'yahoo!', what a ride.'
until next time...
Friday, July 10, 2009
you just can't make this stuff up
i admit it, i am a voyeur. now, before you go down than path, i only mean i am a "people watcher". the more i observe, the more people become like those animals at the zoo. probably don't know someone is watching. equally, most don't care.
i have another one of those moments that i have got to pass along. i wrote about my experience in jacksonville with the security guard telling me that bus parking does not mean bus parking even though the sign say "bus parking only".
here is another one for your amusement and comes from the renassaince in mobile.
this hotel had spent tens of millions of dollars renovating this property. one thing they did was move the main entry from the water street side to the rear. at the rear is a large canopy for guests to check in and out.
i had been loading/unloading the players under the canopy which is about 3-4 car lanes wide. when i am doing a movement with the players, it is a pull up and get off or a park and scramble so i am there about 10-15 minutes.
about the 3rd day, i pull under the canopy and the players are coming on to the bus. one of the "valets" comes up to the bus with a message.
"Valet Manager says you can't come in here anymore". i asked "why"? i was told that he said it blocked traffic and they did not want me there. i said, "you know i am here for only a few minutes" to which she replied, "people only come in here for a few minutes and then leave, Valet Manager's orders". i looked over at a mercedes that had been parked under the canopy everytime i was there. i said, "how come i have to move but he parks here all the time"? she told me it was the Valet Managers!!! i told her i should be able to be allowed to stop here for 10 minutes twice a day. we have about 20 rooms here for 5 nights" to which she replies, again, "Valet Manager's" orders. By now i am fuming. I told her this was not fair and i demanded to see him.
her reply? "well, he is in a customer service meeting and told us not to bother him".
like i said, you can't make this up!!!
until next time...
i have another one of those moments that i have got to pass along. i wrote about my experience in jacksonville with the security guard telling me that bus parking does not mean bus parking even though the sign say "bus parking only".
here is another one for your amusement and comes from the renassaince in mobile.
this hotel had spent tens of millions of dollars renovating this property. one thing they did was move the main entry from the water street side to the rear. at the rear is a large canopy for guests to check in and out.
i had been loading/unloading the players under the canopy which is about 3-4 car lanes wide. when i am doing a movement with the players, it is a pull up and get off or a park and scramble so i am there about 10-15 minutes.
about the 3rd day, i pull under the canopy and the players are coming on to the bus. one of the "valets" comes up to the bus with a message.
"Valet Manager says you can't come in here anymore". i asked "why"? i was told that he said it blocked traffic and they did not want me there. i said, "you know i am here for only a few minutes" to which she replied, "people only come in here for a few minutes and then leave, Valet Manager's orders". i looked over at a mercedes that had been parked under the canopy everytime i was there. i said, "how come i have to move but he parks here all the time"? she told me it was the Valet Managers!!! i told her i should be able to be allowed to stop here for 10 minutes twice a day. we have about 20 rooms here for 5 nights" to which she replies, again, "Valet Manager's" orders. By now i am fuming. I told her this was not fair and i demanded to see him.
her reply? "well, he is in a customer service meeting and told us not to bother him".
like i said, you can't make this up!!!
until next time...
Thursday, June 25, 2009
"michael jackson is dead and i don't feel so good myself"
like most of the world, i watched the "play by play" unfold of michael jackson's death today on fox news.
i have had my own thoughts and feelings about the self professed "king of pop" and was leaning in the direction of him being about as innocent as o.j.
i was listening to greta van susteren and shepard smith as they danced around the issue of telling the world that he was dead but needed more credible information. they were talking about his life and the more they showed of his life, it started to look more like a freak parade. over the span of his life, incidents involving him would come and go and over time, we forget a lot of things. seeing his life in a 15 minute capsule make me really see this was one weird, strange guy. as in the movie "trading places", was he a product of heredity or environment? he was 5'11" tall and weighed 120lbs. he had no childhood. he became famous practically as a toddler and was in the limelight and he was quoted as saying he never felt loved.
my personal thoughts aside, one statement came out that really hit me hard. one of the countless people who "knew him well" was with him at some show in australia. as usual, he had kids all around him and this person asked him about the kids and made the comment to him about what people said about him and children and why they were always around him. this guy said he remembered michael jackson looking him squarely in the eyes and said, "because they are the only ones who tell me the truth".
you can't argue the fact that he was extremely talented. he was perhaps the greatest showman we will see in our lifetime. he sold something like 750 million albums and is not only in the rock and roll hall of fame, he is in there twice. it was said he was close to being, if not, a billionaire (his debts were almost that much as well).
but, what we remember more than anything else, his personal life was like the proverbial "bus full of nuns rolling off a cliff". a horrible tragedy.
"Because they are they only ones who tell me the truth" was perhaps the saddest statement i have ever heard in my life. of all the people he had around him, whom he called friends, his family, etc, people used him for their own gain and told him what they thought he wanted to hear at the time, well, you get the picture. but as usual, i found a life lesson there. i wonder, if people look at me or think about me and my relationship with them, could they think the same of me? how many people in my life could i say the same about?
i know a lot of people. i have met a lot of people in my lifetime, probably tens of thousands over my 52 years. is there anybody out there that i have a solid enough relationship with that could say i am the only one who would tell them the truth? unfortunately there is not. equally sad is i can't say the same about anyone else.
tomorrow is a new day and i now have this thought to carry forward with me. it is something i now see i must work on and it will be painful at times but the end result will be worth it.
rest in peace michael. God knows you did not find it here.
until next time...
i have had my own thoughts and feelings about the self professed "king of pop" and was leaning in the direction of him being about as innocent as o.j.
i was listening to greta van susteren and shepard smith as they danced around the issue of telling the world that he was dead but needed more credible information. they were talking about his life and the more they showed of his life, it started to look more like a freak parade. over the span of his life, incidents involving him would come and go and over time, we forget a lot of things. seeing his life in a 15 minute capsule make me really see this was one weird, strange guy. as in the movie "trading places", was he a product of heredity or environment? he was 5'11" tall and weighed 120lbs. he had no childhood. he became famous practically as a toddler and was in the limelight and he was quoted as saying he never felt loved.
my personal thoughts aside, one statement came out that really hit me hard. one of the countless people who "knew him well" was with him at some show in australia. as usual, he had kids all around him and this person asked him about the kids and made the comment to him about what people said about him and children and why they were always around him. this guy said he remembered michael jackson looking him squarely in the eyes and said, "because they are the only ones who tell me the truth".
you can't argue the fact that he was extremely talented. he was perhaps the greatest showman we will see in our lifetime. he sold something like 750 million albums and is not only in the rock and roll hall of fame, he is in there twice. it was said he was close to being, if not, a billionaire (his debts were almost that much as well).
but, what we remember more than anything else, his personal life was like the proverbial "bus full of nuns rolling off a cliff". a horrible tragedy.
"Because they are they only ones who tell me the truth" was perhaps the saddest statement i have ever heard in my life. of all the people he had around him, whom he called friends, his family, etc, people used him for their own gain and told him what they thought he wanted to hear at the time, well, you get the picture. but as usual, i found a life lesson there. i wonder, if people look at me or think about me and my relationship with them, could they think the same of me? how many people in my life could i say the same about?
i know a lot of people. i have met a lot of people in my lifetime, probably tens of thousands over my 52 years. is there anybody out there that i have a solid enough relationship with that could say i am the only one who would tell them the truth? unfortunately there is not. equally sad is i can't say the same about anyone else.
tomorrow is a new day and i now have this thought to carry forward with me. it is something i now see i must work on and it will be painful at times but the end result will be worth it.
rest in peace michael. God knows you did not find it here.
until next time...
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
fathers day
i loved my dad. he was one of the most moral, character filled men i have ever known. growing up, we did not have much but we had what we needed. he never knew a stranger and people who knew him loved him. he was quick to bust my butt (always when i needed it) and he would use reason if you asked why. he was funny, witty, and could talk to anybody no matter their place in life, their skin color or anything else. when he looked at people, that is what he saw-people. he taught me how to play poker and he taught me how to fish. he took me hunting and he took me for target practice. he came to my sporting games and i really can't ever remember him "not being there" his advise was dead on but only gave it when asked.
he loved my mom and she loved him. he served in WWII and was proud he did. he was never too busy if i needed help with something and when i needed advice, he was right 100 out of 100 times.
he worked hard for the telephone company all his life. never thought about changing jobs. he might have made better money somewhere else but he would not take a risk because he did everything for the benefit of his family.
very few times i saw him scared. i did see him hurt when wronged and i saw him cry. i remember the day before he died. i was in knoxville and they lived about 300 miles away. my mom called me while i was at work. she was crying and so scared. my dad was everything to her and the mighty oak was being chopped down.
it was just her and i in the room when he died and i had to make the decision for him to be taken off the respirator. i knew it was what he would have wanted. he also knew it would hurt us badly. and it did. when i go back to see my mom, i go to the cemetery to visit and talk to him. it might look odd for me to go there in a 45' motorcoach but i would not miss the opportunity for anything.
as i try to be an influence and guide in my children's lives, i often wonder what dad would have done. did i do it right?
as i look back, i never told him how much i respected him. i never thought about thanking him for all he did for my mom, my brother and myself. i never told him i love you as much as i should have. my dad was the neatest guy i have ever known and i miss him more every day and as i age, i need him more every day.
happy fathers day, dad. i love you.
until next time...
he loved my mom and she loved him. he served in WWII and was proud he did. he was never too busy if i needed help with something and when i needed advice, he was right 100 out of 100 times.
he worked hard for the telephone company all his life. never thought about changing jobs. he might have made better money somewhere else but he would not take a risk because he did everything for the benefit of his family.
very few times i saw him scared. i did see him hurt when wronged and i saw him cry. i remember the day before he died. i was in knoxville and they lived about 300 miles away. my mom called me while i was at work. she was crying and so scared. my dad was everything to her and the mighty oak was being chopped down.
it was just her and i in the room when he died and i had to make the decision for him to be taken off the respirator. i knew it was what he would have wanted. he also knew it would hurt us badly. and it did. when i go back to see my mom, i go to the cemetery to visit and talk to him. it might look odd for me to go there in a 45' motorcoach but i would not miss the opportunity for anything.
as i try to be an influence and guide in my children's lives, i often wonder what dad would have done. did i do it right?
as i look back, i never told him how much i respected him. i never thought about thanking him for all he did for my mom, my brother and myself. i never told him i love you as much as i should have. my dad was the neatest guy i have ever known and i miss him more every day and as i age, i need him more every day.
happy fathers day, dad. i love you.
until next time...
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
5 generations of service
on the road i get to meet some interesting people. some are forgetable, some i can't help but think about almost daily.
while in mobile, i spent 5 nights in the company of "henry". henry is a somewhat quiet guy who goes about his work unassumingly. late 50's, long, gray hair, a few "tats" and doesn't like talking about himself. he is fiercely loyal to his family and his wife of 37 years.
on the 2nd night, he opened up some and told me about his family. he is retired military and spent 24 years in the elite special forces. he told me his family serving in the military spans 5 generations for a total of 145 years!!! as i listened to him open up, he told me he had been wounded (shot) 3 times and had 3 purple hearts. he told me he had been shot in the shoulder requiring pins, screws and pretty much rebuilding his shoulder. he then told me about landing in a "hot LZ" and as soon as he hit the ground, he was shot in the upper inside thigh. he was concerned he had his "boys" blown off but the medic assured "all apparatus" was intact. the next time was in the knee requiring a total knee replacement. after he told me, i said "you qualify for Arlington". he said "yeah", but i want to be close to my family.
what really set me back was when he told me he had them in a storage container in the shed behind his house. i asked "why don't you have them in a display case". his answer was "because nobody cares". "most people don't care what me and many other people have done. i have had very few people outside family i can talk about it with. most people don't want to talk about it because it does not impact their day to day lives". i said, "but it does". he said he knew it did but then he got up to get back to his work.
it upsets me to think about his comments. my previous posts address how i appreciate our military and all they have and continue to do. but for a decorated vet with 3 purple hearts really got to me.
next week we celebrate july 4th. does anybody really know why? is it just another day off to go to the lake, cookout and get drunk? what are we celebrating? if this vet doesn't think anyone cares, why do we celebrate our freedoms if we can't show gratitude to the ones who helped us obtain and keep them?
until next time...
Sunday, May 31, 2009
do deer believe in karma?
last night (actually, early this morning) i hit a deer just outside greensboro, nc. i have often wondered what i would do if and when i ever hit an animal. i love wildlife and some of the things that bring me the most joy besides my children are watching animals. a few nights ago, i thought back to christmas eve last year when we had the 4 deer in my front yard. i posted about it and looking out my front door reminded me of that special night. i have a momma groundhog living in my barn and she has 3 pups. we have enjoyed watching them so much. and a wayward turkey we named "george".
i think any professional driver should rehearse the what if. if a car cuts me off, i will do this. if an animal runs in front of me, i will do that. i thought it would prepare me. it did not.
i was having a good ride and it was a beautiful night. and then, out of no where and in less than a second, it was over.
i try to look farther ahead and on the sides of the road especially at night. i thought that if i ever did hit an animal, it would be in the country or some desolate spot. i40 thru greensboro is i think, 5 or 6 lanes each way. it is very well lit. not where you think a deer would be. all i remember is me yelling, "oh god" and then the impact and i will not describe further. split second. i recognized the head of the deer and then impact. 70-75 mph and i new it was a quick kill so she did not suffer. but, i did and am.
i never backed off or slowed down. nothing i could do. i wanted to scream. i wanted to curse god for putting me then and there. i wanted to cry. sob. why me? he knows i love his creatures (except snakes and mosquitoes) and i try to take care of them by feeding them. yes, i know i have dominion over all animals so why do i hurt so bad? as i collected my thoughts, i began to ask god for forgiveness for what i had done. i was shaking. i did it over and over and i still am. i have heard time heals all hurts and i wish time would fly by.
the front end of the bus is a mess and thankfully after i called the owner at 0315, he actually was not angry. he could tell in my quivering voice it was traumatic. and in about 13 hours later, i have a replacement bus so all is well with the players.
i know all will work out. but, i can't help but wonder if deer have a way of communicating with each other over long distances, and, do deer believe in karma?
until next time...
Saturday, May 23, 2009
happy, kentucky
i started to title this post "teachers gone wild" but in keeping with my policy of protecting those (well, most anyway) i decided to tone it down so as not to get them fired!!!
i love kentucky and i love the people from there. when most think of kentucky, they think of lexington (another favorite city of mine) and louisville (not!!!). but there is so much more.
some of the most real people i have met have come from kentucky. i have an ex brother-in-law who is a farmer in western ky and he is one of the most straight up people i have ever known and i miss him. the ruggedness in southeast kentucky is an absolute wonder. it is primitive and still some of the people very clanish. coal miners. depression. high unemployment. poverty at the worst i have ever seen. i have been many places that when you are driving down the road, you see signs warning "ATV Crossing". one town in particular (kenvir (see mission of hope trip post) actually had atv parking at a church!!!
at this moment, i have a group that has been really fun. they are from happy, kentucky. i guess you could say it is a suburb of hazard, kentucky!!! really hard to find on the map. my tomtom, when i was entering the information, burped, and said, "where? are you kidding?"
happy is at best, small. to most of america, non-existent. it became real to me as i went there twice and spent an enjoyable weekend with about 22-23 of it residents.
as i mentioned, alot of the people in rural areas (wilderness!!!) such as this tend to be "clannish" and i do not mean it in any negative way. the point is, they stick together.
being from a community this small, the kids i had with me will experience relationships with their schoolmates that few of us will ever have the chance to know.
the teachers were smokin' hot and the kids were very polite and respectful. we stayed at "wilderness at the smokies" and it was incredible place. so incredible, my kids and i are going for a week the end of june.
i toned this post down. i was really prepared to talk about the teachers and their "teachers gone wild" attitude. as i also said, i don't want to get them fired but i do have video i will let go to the highest bidder!!! just kidding. they were a great group and i would be honored to take them anywhere.
sevier county is NOT one of my favorite places to go, particularly gatlinburg. the area from sevierville to the park i very pretty and i am proud to have it in my backyard, however, tourists do not know how to drive inheavy traffic and some exhibit that "too bad, i got mine" attitude. gatlinburg is the least motorcoach friendly city i have driven in. d.c. is easier than gatlinburg and the roads are much more navigable. all that being said, i still have a job to do and a responsibility to get my passengers wherever they need to be as safely and quickly as i can. it can't all be easy and carefree.
to the teachers: this was not as bad as it could have been considering all i saw this weekend!!!
until next time...
i love kentucky and i love the people from there. when most think of kentucky, they think of lexington (another favorite city of mine) and louisville (not!!!). but there is so much more.
some of the most real people i have met have come from kentucky. i have an ex brother-in-law who is a farmer in western ky and he is one of the most straight up people i have ever known and i miss him. the ruggedness in southeast kentucky is an absolute wonder. it is primitive and still some of the people very clanish. coal miners. depression. high unemployment. poverty at the worst i have ever seen. i have been many places that when you are driving down the road, you see signs warning "ATV Crossing". one town in particular (kenvir (see mission of hope trip post) actually had atv parking at a church!!!
at this moment, i have a group that has been really fun. they are from happy, kentucky. i guess you could say it is a suburb of hazard, kentucky!!! really hard to find on the map. my tomtom, when i was entering the information, burped, and said, "where? are you kidding?"
happy is at best, small. to most of america, non-existent. it became real to me as i went there twice and spent an enjoyable weekend with about 22-23 of it residents.
as i mentioned, alot of the people in rural areas (wilderness!!!) such as this tend to be "clannish" and i do not mean it in any negative way. the point is, they stick together.
being from a community this small, the kids i had with me will experience relationships with their schoolmates that few of us will ever have the chance to know.
the teachers were smokin' hot and the kids were very polite and respectful. we stayed at "wilderness at the smokies" and it was incredible place. so incredible, my kids and i are going for a week the end of june.
i toned this post down. i was really prepared to talk about the teachers and their "teachers gone wild" attitude. as i also said, i don't want to get them fired but i do have video i will let go to the highest bidder!!! just kidding. they were a great group and i would be honored to take them anywhere.
sevier county is NOT one of my favorite places to go, particularly gatlinburg. the area from sevierville to the park i very pretty and i am proud to have it in my backyard, however, tourists do not know how to drive inheavy traffic and some exhibit that "too bad, i got mine" attitude. gatlinburg is the least motorcoach friendly city i have driven in. d.c. is easier than gatlinburg and the roads are much more navigable. all that being said, i still have a job to do and a responsibility to get my passengers wherever they need to be as safely and quickly as i can. it can't all be easy and carefree.
to the teachers: this was not as bad as it could have been considering all i saw this weekend!!!
until next time...
confession and an appeal for forgiveness
this is one of the hardest things i have done in my life. opening myself up like this is very painful. it is not the sympathy i am looking for. i am looking for someone.
things in life have a way of haunting you, especially when you do the wrong thing and hurt someone.
for years now, i have tried to find a girl from jackson, tennessee named mary teresa hayes. terri was a sweethart and she did not deserve how i ended up treating her.
i don't remember how we met, i think it was from another friend. her father was an accountant, and her mother was sick, very sick. cancer. and it was terminal. she went to northside high school in jackson, tennessee. i think i had graduated.
everyday, after school until bedtime, it was her job to care for her mother and fill in for her doing all the things a homemaker does plus doing homework and trying to be a teenager. her father was abusive to her. i don't know all of the story, i only know he was a very angry man. i will never forget the time he pulled a gun on me in the parking lot of a methodist church one sunday night. he was serious.
we continued to see each other despite the threats. his anger escalated until one night, she ran away and wandered the streets until dawn and she called me to pick her up. several hours later, her father found her at my house. he came in to talk to my parents and he was so polite and kind. he assured them it was just teenagers being teenagers and things were going to be better.
after he got her home, he beat her. then enrolled her at harrison-chilhowee baptist academy which was over 300 miles away and pretty much left her there. she continued to write me and i wrote her for awhile and i slowly stopped. her mother died and she called me. i would not call her back and left her with no one who really cared for her.
somewhere about this time, the oak ridge boys came out with the song, "i'll be true to you" and the lyrics were so true except except for the overdose. here are the lyrics:
They met upon a blue moon,
And they parted on a cloudy day
They were so in love and out of school,
But he was goin' so far, far away.
She said: "I'll be true to you,
"Even though you don't want me to.
"And I'll be blue for you,
"Even though you've asked me not to."
Well the year's drifted by them, as we all know they can.
He found other women, but she refused other men.
But as fate would have it, they met again,
She was on a down-hill slide, and he was just slidin' in.
As he looked into her eyes that night, he never realize.
The only real love in his life was passin' by.
When he turned and left her there, his words: "Goodbye".
He heard her calling out to him, and as he walked, she cried:
"I've been true to you.
"Seems like speakin' to me is the least that you could do.
"And I've been blue for you,
"Even though you've asked me not to."
She'd been drinkin way too hard one night,
She'd been drinkin way too long.
Alone and pale in a cheap hotel, she died there in the dawn.
Kneelin' by the grave, oh so late and oh so wrong,
He longed to hold her close again, cryin' on and on.
He cried: "I''ll be true to you.
"After all that I have put you through.
"And I'll be blue for you,
"Though you never even asked me to."
sometimes we don't have the opportunity to attempt to make things right despite how hard we try. i have tried and i will never give up. this one haunts me and as i have felt the pain of this one, it has taught me many lessons.
we don't always feel the hurt we cause others because of our self obsessing tendencies. me first. i'll get mine, you get yours when you can. help me, but i am too busy to help you. a friend lost. a family member (BEH) lost. we attempt a "sorry" but sometimes then is not the time to make up. sometimes it takes some time for healing to start before the sincerity of an "i am sorry" holds significance.
please, if you have hurt someone, take the time to contact them and make things right before time runs out. we are not guaranteed tomorrow for it is only a moment away and God knows the timeline. and, if i have ever hurt you, i am sorry. i truly am.
until next time...
things in life have a way of haunting you, especially when you do the wrong thing and hurt someone.
for years now, i have tried to find a girl from jackson, tennessee named mary teresa hayes. terri was a sweethart and she did not deserve how i ended up treating her.
i don't remember how we met, i think it was from another friend. her father was an accountant, and her mother was sick, very sick. cancer. and it was terminal. she went to northside high school in jackson, tennessee. i think i had graduated.
everyday, after school until bedtime, it was her job to care for her mother and fill in for her doing all the things a homemaker does plus doing homework and trying to be a teenager. her father was abusive to her. i don't know all of the story, i only know he was a very angry man. i will never forget the time he pulled a gun on me in the parking lot of a methodist church one sunday night. he was serious.
we continued to see each other despite the threats. his anger escalated until one night, she ran away and wandered the streets until dawn and she called me to pick her up. several hours later, her father found her at my house. he came in to talk to my parents and he was so polite and kind. he assured them it was just teenagers being teenagers and things were going to be better.
after he got her home, he beat her. then enrolled her at harrison-chilhowee baptist academy which was over 300 miles away and pretty much left her there. she continued to write me and i wrote her for awhile and i slowly stopped. her mother died and she called me. i would not call her back and left her with no one who really cared for her.
somewhere about this time, the oak ridge boys came out with the song, "i'll be true to you" and the lyrics were so true except except for the overdose. here are the lyrics:
They met upon a blue moon,
And they parted on a cloudy day
They were so in love and out of school,
But he was goin' so far, far away.
She said: "I'll be true to you,
"Even though you don't want me to.
"And I'll be blue for you,
"Even though you've asked me not to."
Well the year's drifted by them, as we all know they can.
He found other women, but she refused other men.
But as fate would have it, they met again,
She was on a down-hill slide, and he was just slidin' in.
As he looked into her eyes that night, he never realize.
The only real love in his life was passin' by.
When he turned and left her there, his words: "Goodbye".
He heard her calling out to him, and as he walked, she cried:
"I've been true to you.
"Seems like speakin' to me is the least that you could do.
"And I've been blue for you,
"Even though you've asked me not to."
She'd been drinkin way too hard one night,
She'd been drinkin way too long.
Alone and pale in a cheap hotel, she died there in the dawn.
Kneelin' by the grave, oh so late and oh so wrong,
He longed to hold her close again, cryin' on and on.
He cried: "I''ll be true to you.
"After all that I have put you through.
"And I'll be blue for you,
"Though you never even asked me to."
sometimes we don't have the opportunity to attempt to make things right despite how hard we try. i have tried and i will never give up. this one haunts me and as i have felt the pain of this one, it has taught me many lessons.
we don't always feel the hurt we cause others because of our self obsessing tendencies. me first. i'll get mine, you get yours when you can. help me, but i am too busy to help you. a friend lost. a family member (BEH) lost. we attempt a "sorry" but sometimes then is not the time to make up. sometimes it takes some time for healing to start before the sincerity of an "i am sorry" holds significance.
please, if you have hurt someone, take the time to contact them and make things right before time runs out. we are not guaranteed tomorrow for it is only a moment away and God knows the timeline. and, if i have ever hurt you, i am sorry. i truly am.
until next time...
knoxville to chattanooga to knoxville to athens to...
sometimes, i forget where i am. i also forget who i am but that is another post.
in the last week, i have been driving quite a bit.
in 48 hours, it went something like this. i woke up in chattanooga, and left for knoxville (actually kodak) about 3pm, dropped off the players, went to the ballpark, fueled up, went to my office, went home (couldn't get the bus up my driveway), back to my office, then athens, then back to chattanooga, cleveland, back to athens, then knoxville, then to hazard, kentucky and then to sevierville. i will post later about these kentuckians.
it may sound like a pain and at times it is. i love every second i spend behind the wheel of my bus and i love the people i drive. i just checked and in the last week, i have driven over 1500 miles and after tomorrow, it will be about 2000 miles in 8 days!!! i have stayed in 4 different hotels and used about 205 gallons of fuel plus another 70 tomorrow for a total of about 275 gallons at a cost of just over $625. i have not slept in my bed in over a week.
my life is far from ordinary. i miss my children and i miss my home. attached is a photo. once you see the view i have, you will understand. i never knew how much wandering blood i had and how deep it was. i love traveling and all the challenges that come up. there is only one other thing i have done that brings me so much pleasure as driving (well, besides being a father) and that is photography. i shot professionally for several years and it is probably the only job i would quit this one for.
some of you asked and here it is. my life!!!
until next time...
in the last week, i have been driving quite a bit.
in 48 hours, it went something like this. i woke up in chattanooga, and left for knoxville (actually kodak) about 3pm, dropped off the players, went to the ballpark, fueled up, went to my office, went home (couldn't get the bus up my driveway), back to my office, then athens, then back to chattanooga, cleveland, back to athens, then knoxville, then to hazard, kentucky and then to sevierville. i will post later about these kentuckians.
it may sound like a pain and at times it is. i love every second i spend behind the wheel of my bus and i love the people i drive. i just checked and in the last week, i have driven over 1500 miles and after tomorrow, it will be about 2000 miles in 8 days!!! i have stayed in 4 different hotels and used about 205 gallons of fuel plus another 70 tomorrow for a total of about 275 gallons at a cost of just over $625. i have not slept in my bed in over a week.
my life is far from ordinary. i miss my children and i miss my home. attached is a photo. once you see the view i have, you will understand. i never knew how much wandering blood i had and how deep it was. i love traveling and all the challenges that come up. there is only one other thing i have done that brings me so much pleasure as driving (well, besides being a father) and that is photography. i shot professionally for several years and it is probably the only job i would quit this one for.
some of you asked and here it is. my life!!!
until next time...
sights for sore eyes
there is an expression here in the south that goes, "you are a sight for sore eyes" which is redneck for it is good to see you, that you are a friend, and you hold a special place in my life.
after a 5 game road trip with the smokies, i was sent to a nearby town to take a middle school to chattanooga for the day. this was to be my 6th day in a row to be in chattanooga and i wanted a change of scenery. don't get me wrong, chattanooga is one of my favorite cities but even too much of the good stuff gets old.
when i pulled up to the school and the kids were getting on, a man walked up to me and i paid no attention until i saw who it was. "remember me"? yes, i sure did!!!
mike is the principal at this school and 2 years ago i took him and some of his pupils to d.c. and had a great time. he is one of those people that his kids all know he is a good man and cares about them very much. i don't know about his administrative abilities, but when i see the respect the kids show him, you know he is well liked and admired.
after i looked up and saw him, i recognized him and without hesitation i hugged him, spilling his coffee!!! it was so good to see him and being around him you instantly feel some connection.
we went to several of the top places (tourist) and the day was a good one for everybody.
as i said in a previous post, seeing an old friend and getting to spend some time with them is time well spent. spending time with mike is no exception. but, being in the moment, i had to think about my life.
if i died tomorrow and had time to reflect on my amazing life, i would have a heart full of significant moments in my life to carry with me from seeing 3 of my children baptized (by God's saving grace), my parents, things i have seen and done, and, the people i have met.
life is a pretty good ride. i have learned that if you care about someone, tell them and tell them often. if you love them, tell them and tell them often. a friend once told me "if you love someone, tell them before someone else does" and that is good advice.
until next time...
after a 5 game road trip with the smokies, i was sent to a nearby town to take a middle school to chattanooga for the day. this was to be my 6th day in a row to be in chattanooga and i wanted a change of scenery. don't get me wrong, chattanooga is one of my favorite cities but even too much of the good stuff gets old.
when i pulled up to the school and the kids were getting on, a man walked up to me and i paid no attention until i saw who it was. "remember me"? yes, i sure did!!!
mike is the principal at this school and 2 years ago i took him and some of his pupils to d.c. and had a great time. he is one of those people that his kids all know he is a good man and cares about them very much. i don't know about his administrative abilities, but when i see the respect the kids show him, you know he is well liked and admired.
after i looked up and saw him, i recognized him and without hesitation i hugged him, spilling his coffee!!! it was so good to see him and being around him you instantly feel some connection.
we went to several of the top places (tourist) and the day was a good one for everybody.
as i said in a previous post, seeing an old friend and getting to spend some time with them is time well spent. spending time with mike is no exception. but, being in the moment, i had to think about my life.
if i died tomorrow and had time to reflect on my amazing life, i would have a heart full of significant moments in my life to carry with me from seeing 3 of my children baptized (by God's saving grace), my parents, things i have seen and done, and, the people i have met.
life is a pretty good ride. i have learned that if you care about someone, tell them and tell them often. if you love them, tell them and tell them often. a friend once told me "if you love someone, tell them before someone else does" and that is good advice.
until next time...
wow!!!!!!!!
many times, i have written about how i feel about being so blessed. way more than one man should be. for some reason, it just keeps on.
my trip to chattanooga is always a good one. i have made some friends over the years at all of the ballparks i go to, but this one is special. catch up with friends is always time well spent.
tonight, at at&t field, it was one of those "bring your pet to the park night" which is always interesting. however, i was blind-sided by who sang the Star Spangled Banner.
i can't remember his name, and yes, it is important because of several things. first, he is a huge chattanooga lookouts fan. second, he is paralyzed, in a wheelchair, and uses one of those text-to speech keyboards attached to his chair. i don't always pay attention to the person singing as i feel the message is more important than the messenger. the messenger over-rode the message. when it was time, he pressed a button on the keyboard and his pre-recorded rendition was played.
i sometimes get emotional when it is sung really well with personal touches. this went beyond it. as i was taught, when our anthem is played, we are to look at the flag and reflect on the great heritage of our country. tonight, my eyes, as well as most in the park, were fixed on him. when it was finished, just before the applause and after, you could hear the "sniffing sounds" from those around you. lots of people were crying and even the burliest of those had some wet eyes. i am trying to get an image from one of the photogs there and when i do, i will upload it. it was truly one of those moments in your life that makes you proud of where you were at a particular place and time. i was very honored to be able to witness it.
until next time...
my trip to chattanooga is always a good one. i have made some friends over the years at all of the ballparks i go to, but this one is special. catch up with friends is always time well spent.
tonight, at at&t field, it was one of those "bring your pet to the park night" which is always interesting. however, i was blind-sided by who sang the Star Spangled Banner.
i can't remember his name, and yes, it is important because of several things. first, he is a huge chattanooga lookouts fan. second, he is paralyzed, in a wheelchair, and uses one of those text-to speech keyboards attached to his chair. i don't always pay attention to the person singing as i feel the message is more important than the messenger. the messenger over-rode the message. when it was time, he pressed a button on the keyboard and his pre-recorded rendition was played.
i sometimes get emotional when it is sung really well with personal touches. this went beyond it. as i was taught, when our anthem is played, we are to look at the flag and reflect on the great heritage of our country. tonight, my eyes, as well as most in the park, were fixed on him. when it was finished, just before the applause and after, you could hear the "sniffing sounds" from those around you. lots of people were crying and even the burliest of those had some wet eyes. i am trying to get an image from one of the photogs there and when i do, i will upload it. it was truly one of those moments in your life that makes you proud of where you were at a particular place and time. i was very honored to be able to witness it.
until next time...
Monday, May 18, 2009
i know i am a "little" different than your average "bear"
sometimes on the road, i have toooooo much time on my hands and that can be a bad thing. i am in chattanooga and the last 3 road trips have had a lot of rain which means rained out games. i have to do something with my time so, i study people.
i never much cared for reading mysteries and all that new age crap. i don't much care for how the stars and moon line up either. all i have to do is talk to the one who made the stars. so, i prefer biographies or even better, auto-biographies. i go to the mall only to watch people.
i am not a perv or some type of voyeur, well, maybe i am. i find it fascinating trying to predict peoples actions and reactions.
i came back to the hotel with the intent of reading about bobby jones, arguably the best golfer who has ever lived. www.bobbyjones.com
bobby jones was a remarkable man. he is the only person in recorded history who has won the grand slam of golf. golf was only a game to him and it is kind of funny when you consider he retired from golf not yet at his peak to practice law.
one of my favorite movies is "the legend of bagger vance" that starred will smith and matt damon. will smiths character was so strong he took the part although many say he took a backseat to matt damon. i have seen this movie countless times and everytime i watch it, i see something different.
anyway, the guys on the bus wanted to watch it so that is why i started with bobby jones. and that led to walter hagan and many other golfers of that era and also into the history of golf, and, this only started me looking.
the main part of this all this led me to, and i don't know how other than randomness.
recently, there was a local moonshiner named marvin "popcorn" sutton who passed. he was the epitome of an appalachian moonshine maker. his only thing in life was "likker". he even made stills for others.
"popcorn" was arrested while he was finishing off making 800 gallons of the prized sqeezins' and he was sentenced to 18 months in the pokey. his comment while in court was "i would rather be dead than in jail" and he made his wish come true the day before he was to report. like a sponge i absorbed all i could find about this remarkable man. his daughter, sky sutton, has a blog about her father and there is a link to a book about him.
www.popcornsutton.blogspot.com.
for those of you who remember (or don't) the movie "thunder road", it was about "shiners" and their lives and all the romance associated with the lifestyle. sometimes late at night when i am driving, my mind drifts into one of these "shine" runners in some souped up car running at nascar speeds on some back country road (it's birthplace) avoiding the law and making my delivery of the much sought after liquid corn. i guess i will research nascar and junior johnson next and yes, that will be another blog. steve earle sang the song "copperhead road" and that sets a catchy tune with all of this. btw, if you drink moonshine, is it considered a serving of vegetables?
i have spent much time looking at his photos and hopefully the ones attached will say more about him than i ever can. there is only one photo i have spent more time looking at in my life so far and it is a grandmother (don't know how many greats or how far up the tree she is) of mine. she was full blooded cherokeee and when i see it there is so much she is trying to say. anyway, back to "popcorn".
if you take the time, photographs can reveal a lot about a person. in their silence some can speak louder than if they were in person. tell me what you think.
until next time...
p.s. double-header tonight!!!
Monday, April 27, 2009
1 lucky man or blessed more than i deserve?
I am still the luckiest man in the world
I have always felt lucky. don’t know why, and to be truthful, I am. most every night, I am blessed to be in a ballpark somewhere in the southeast. every night I get to hear the “star spangled banner”. I, like most others, place my hand over my heart and stand there.
tonight, I was talking to one of the security people and come to find out, he goes to church with my cousin and knew most of my family. this was the same cousin who called me about a month ago to tell me my mother had been involved in a car accident.
as we were talking, a military color guard came on the field to present the colors. in other words, they marched on the field carrying a flag and our national anthem was played and sung.
tonight is kinda breezy so the flag was blowing quite a bit. the top right side of the field flag is torn and starting to fray. as I stood there, I thought about francis scott key as he wrote the star spangled banner and what an incredible sight it must have been as the smoke from battle cleared and the flag could not only be seen, it was still standing which meant not only was there victory, but that we would be free of the chains of tyranny.
I listened to the words and thought of that scene and had to give thanks to be a part of something much, much bigger than me. this country is very blessed and always has been since we became a nation and yes, I do believe God led the hearts and minds of several men to be our founding fathers. as I look at all of the challenges that face us from wall street to main street to your street and mine, we are still free and I prayerfully hope we always be. we will never be perfect and I hope we never are because then we strive for more. but at least we have the freedom to exercise our liberties. countless men and women have given their lives and their time to protect us and to them I am grateful. as I stood there, it almost became overwhelming to think of a much bigger picture.
I am, without any doubt, the luckiest man alive.
until next time…
I have always felt lucky. don’t know why, and to be truthful, I am. most every night, I am blessed to be in a ballpark somewhere in the southeast. every night I get to hear the “star spangled banner”. I, like most others, place my hand over my heart and stand there.
tonight, I was talking to one of the security people and come to find out, he goes to church with my cousin and knew most of my family. this was the same cousin who called me about a month ago to tell me my mother had been involved in a car accident.
as we were talking, a military color guard came on the field to present the colors. in other words, they marched on the field carrying a flag and our national anthem was played and sung.
tonight is kinda breezy so the flag was blowing quite a bit. the top right side of the field flag is torn and starting to fray. as I stood there, I thought about francis scott key as he wrote the star spangled banner and what an incredible sight it must have been as the smoke from battle cleared and the flag could not only be seen, it was still standing which meant not only was there victory, but that we would be free of the chains of tyranny.
I listened to the words and thought of that scene and had to give thanks to be a part of something much, much bigger than me. this country is very blessed and always has been since we became a nation and yes, I do believe God led the hearts and minds of several men to be our founding fathers. as I look at all of the challenges that face us from wall street to main street to your street and mine, we are still free and I prayerfully hope we always be. we will never be perfect and I hope we never are because then we strive for more. but at least we have the freedom to exercise our liberties. countless men and women have given their lives and their time to protect us and to them I am grateful. as I stood there, it almost became overwhelming to think of a much bigger picture.
I am, without any doubt, the luckiest man alive.
until next time…
west tenn
i am back west tennessee for a five game road trip. this is my hometown and it is always kinda weird for me to come back here. my mom is still here and living in the same house we all grew up in. about a month ago, she had a serious car wreck and totaled her car. she is 84 and it scares me she still drives. her dr. tried to get her off the road by sending her to a re-hab place that assesses seniors to see if they still have the skills necessary to safely drive. she can barely walk across the room. so she goes to this place, takes 3 hours of testing, and passes!!! I can’t believe it. tomorrow, we are going car shopping.
last night was a slow night. the home team scored first and it was 1-0. top of the 5th with one on, one of our guys jacks a monster over the left field wall. later, we scored 2 more then they scored 2 more. final, 4-3 us. it has been fun watching these guys come together and play as a team. i really think they are going to the playoffs. all of the management has major league experience and our manager is a hall of famer. kinda cool to be driving around a hall of famer, a world series winner and others with considerable majors time.
tonight is a little on the cool side. lows are supposed to be in the 40’s but tomorrow it will be close to 80. any weather is baseball weather!!
until next time…
last night was a slow night. the home team scored first and it was 1-0. top of the 5th with one on, one of our guys jacks a monster over the left field wall. later, we scored 2 more then they scored 2 more. final, 4-3 us. it has been fun watching these guys come together and play as a team. i really think they are going to the playoffs. all of the management has major league experience and our manager is a hall of famer. kinda cool to be driving around a hall of famer, a world series winner and others with considerable majors time.
tonight is a little on the cool side. lows are supposed to be in the 40’s but tomorrow it will be close to 80. any weather is baseball weather!!
until next time…
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
road trip/catch up
i always enjoy going to jacksonville. it is always a trip where you have to find some humor or go insane.
the hotel we stay at is the hyatt on the st. johns river. beside the hotel, they have designated "bus parking only". never had a problem except for the margarita lime i found on the side of my bus last year, but, that is another story i believe i posted about.
anyway, we arrived in jacksonville wednesday night and i park in my usual parking spot. no problem, until saturday night.
after the game, i pulled up to the hotel, dropped off the players, and then went around the block to park. as i pull up, hotel security comes running up. she tells me i can't park here. here is the cliff's notes version of our conversation:
guard: sir, you can't park here.
me: why not?
guard: guests can't cross the road to get to the parking garage.
me: but that sign says "bus parking only".
guard: yes, i know. but you can't park here.
me: but the sign says "bus parking only".
guard: yes, i know. but you have to move or we will have your bus towed.
me: why do i have to move?
guard: because the guests can't get across the road to the parking garage.
me: okay, who came up with this?
guard: the hotel management.
me: let me get this right, "bus parking only" does not really mean bus parking?
guard: that's right.
me: ok, where do i park?
guard: up there in front of that police car.
me: you mean the one that has been parked in the no parking zone since we got here?
guard: yes, that is what i am saying.
me: so i am supposed to park in the "no parking zone-violators will be towed at owners expense", not where it says, legally, "bus parking only"?
guard: that's right.
me: last year, you told me i could not park there because i had designated parking that says "bus parking only" and that is the only spot i have to park.
at this point, she walked off. i parked (no parking spot) and went in to see the front desk manager. he and i have had known each other for 3 years and Michael is a very nice guy. i told him what happened. he laughed and told me if i did get ticketed, bring him the ticket and the hotel would take care of it. i had no problems from then on.
i got home about 0330, and i was tired. i unpacked, took a shower and had a quick snack. got to sleep about 0415. i set my alarm to get me up at 0630 so i could see my daughter and then take my son to school. i was planning on coming back home and sleeping until i went back to school to pick them up.
i got back home about 0845 and set my alarm for 1345. i put a note on my front door that read "do not disturb-i am sleeping" in case someone decided to come visit. my property is posted so unless i know you, yes, i can shoot your @ss and if i am tired enough, i might just do it. survivors will be shot again.
turkey season is open. about 1030, someone hunting in the field next to me must have seen a trophy. i woke up to a shotgun blast. i looked outside and he was about 100' from my bedroom window and was on his property. waking up to a shotgun blast will keep you up. i tried to lay down but my heart would not stop racing.
i decided to get up and finish my paperwork and i could not help but think about the trip and how good it was. we went 2-3 and for a road trip, that is not too bad. the players this year are hungry and they are playing well. i can't wait to see how they develop over this season. future posts will tell how it goes.
until next time...
the hotel we stay at is the hyatt on the st. johns river. beside the hotel, they have designated "bus parking only". never had a problem except for the margarita lime i found on the side of my bus last year, but, that is another story i believe i posted about.
anyway, we arrived in jacksonville wednesday night and i park in my usual parking spot. no problem, until saturday night.
after the game, i pulled up to the hotel, dropped off the players, and then went around the block to park. as i pull up, hotel security comes running up. she tells me i can't park here. here is the cliff's notes version of our conversation:
guard: sir, you can't park here.
me: why not?
guard: guests can't cross the road to get to the parking garage.
me: but that sign says "bus parking only".
guard: yes, i know. but you can't park here.
me: but the sign says "bus parking only".
guard: yes, i know. but you have to move or we will have your bus towed.
me: why do i have to move?
guard: because the guests can't get across the road to the parking garage.
me: okay, who came up with this?
guard: the hotel management.
me: let me get this right, "bus parking only" does not really mean bus parking?
guard: that's right.
me: ok, where do i park?
guard: up there in front of that police car.
me: you mean the one that has been parked in the no parking zone since we got here?
guard: yes, that is what i am saying.
me: so i am supposed to park in the "no parking zone-violators will be towed at owners expense", not where it says, legally, "bus parking only"?
guard: that's right.
me: last year, you told me i could not park there because i had designated parking that says "bus parking only" and that is the only spot i have to park.
at this point, she walked off. i parked (no parking spot) and went in to see the front desk manager. he and i have had known each other for 3 years and Michael is a very nice guy. i told him what happened. he laughed and told me if i did get ticketed, bring him the ticket and the hotel would take care of it. i had no problems from then on.
i got home about 0330, and i was tired. i unpacked, took a shower and had a quick snack. got to sleep about 0415. i set my alarm to get me up at 0630 so i could see my daughter and then take my son to school. i was planning on coming back home and sleeping until i went back to school to pick them up.
i got back home about 0845 and set my alarm for 1345. i put a note on my front door that read "do not disturb-i am sleeping" in case someone decided to come visit. my property is posted so unless i know you, yes, i can shoot your @ss and if i am tired enough, i might just do it. survivors will be shot again.
turkey season is open. about 1030, someone hunting in the field next to me must have seen a trophy. i woke up to a shotgun blast. i looked outside and he was about 100' from my bedroom window and was on his property. waking up to a shotgun blast will keep you up. i tried to lay down but my heart would not stop racing.
i decided to get up and finish my paperwork and i could not help but think about the trip and how good it was. we went 2-3 and for a road trip, that is not too bad. the players this year are hungry and they are playing well. i can't wait to see how they develop over this season. future posts will tell how it goes.
until next time...
Thursday, April 9, 2009
back in the saddle again
last thursday was my first day back to work after being off for almost 10 months. my knee still looks like a water balloon if i use it a lot but it still feels great to be back to work.
my first trip was to take a local college track and field team to gainesville, fl. it was a heck of a way to start back. 9 1/2 hours driving. i am really not complaining.
my second trip was to nashville to pick up the smokies, our "AA" affiliate of the chicago cubs. 2 days later, the 9th, we are in jacksonville, fl. it is so good to not only be back, but also that my boss has given me back my assignment to drive these guys for another season.
baseball is without a doubt, my favorite sport. sometimes, it creates conflict in my family. one daughter is aspiring to sing professionally and doing very well, my youngest daughter found her niche' in softball and her season is going well. her 2nd game, she hits her first homerun of the season. my son loves basketball and if it were a drink, he would drink it deep. my drink of choice is baseball.
the down side to this newly found euphoria, i miss my kids. i have 4 incredible children and i have been blessed greatly to have them.
recently, i decided to grow my hair long. in period of my past, i have had hair down my back and it seemed "cool". now, i have a different mission.
recently i was watching something from st. jude research hospital about kids and cancer and i was touched. my heart aches as i see these kids and hear their stories. i cry with the parents but i don't know (thankfully) their pain and i hope i never do. i can pray for these kids and trust God to heal them and i know in that i have some power. still, i am helpless. i found out that one of the most depressing things for girls is when they lose their hair. it is not the surgery or the chemo that hurts the most. it is losing all of their hair.
there is an organization called "locks of love" and they take hair, minimum 10" long, and make wigs for these kids. i know i can pray and it is effective for their healing, but what else can i do?
i decided that i can't give much money even though every little bit helps. but, i can grow my hair, have it cut off, and have a wig made for them and help them to feel better about themselves. it is a small thing, perhaps insignificant to most, but to them it is very significant.
this is not about me. this is not a "look at me" kinda thing. i think we have a responsibility as God's children to help others. "when you do it to the least of these..., you know the rest.
until next time...
my first trip was to take a local college track and field team to gainesville, fl. it was a heck of a way to start back. 9 1/2 hours driving. i am really not complaining.
my second trip was to nashville to pick up the smokies, our "AA" affiliate of the chicago cubs. 2 days later, the 9th, we are in jacksonville, fl. it is so good to not only be back, but also that my boss has given me back my assignment to drive these guys for another season.
baseball is without a doubt, my favorite sport. sometimes, it creates conflict in my family. one daughter is aspiring to sing professionally and doing very well, my youngest daughter found her niche' in softball and her season is going well. her 2nd game, she hits her first homerun of the season. my son loves basketball and if it were a drink, he would drink it deep. my drink of choice is baseball.
the down side to this newly found euphoria, i miss my kids. i have 4 incredible children and i have been blessed greatly to have them.
recently, i decided to grow my hair long. in period of my past, i have had hair down my back and it seemed "cool". now, i have a different mission.
recently i was watching something from st. jude research hospital about kids and cancer and i was touched. my heart aches as i see these kids and hear their stories. i cry with the parents but i don't know (thankfully) their pain and i hope i never do. i can pray for these kids and trust God to heal them and i know in that i have some power. still, i am helpless. i found out that one of the most depressing things for girls is when they lose their hair. it is not the surgery or the chemo that hurts the most. it is losing all of their hair.
there is an organization called "locks of love" and they take hair, minimum 10" long, and make wigs for these kids. i know i can pray and it is effective for their healing, but what else can i do?
i decided that i can't give much money even though every little bit helps. but, i can grow my hair, have it cut off, and have a wig made for them and help them to feel better about themselves. it is a small thing, perhaps insignificant to most, but to them it is very significant.
this is not about me. this is not a "look at me" kinda thing. i think we have a responsibility as God's children to help others. "when you do it to the least of these..., you know the rest.
until next time...
Friday, February 27, 2009
fatter and lazier
since i have been off, i have had the time to reflect on life and i am tired of just reflecting. my knee continues to give me problems. i finished a round of synvisc injections and it has not done much as far as helping my knee. if this continues, a total knee replacement may be the next step.
synvisc is supposed to be an amazing product. it is made from chicken combs. in other words, chicken fat!!! if there is medicinal value in chicken fat, i should be very healthy. i love fried chicken and all the trimmings. march 19 is my next dr. visit. if i am unable to drive this summer then i need to go on and get on anti-depressants. it depresses me greatly to think i might miss the 2009 baseball season. more than that, i miss going to dc.
i love dc and i have posted many times about my trips there. dc is an amazing place to go to. the highlight of my dc trips are the memorials and arlington. on "the wall" is the name of a neighbor of mine from my hometown, jackson, tennessee.
i remember being home the day military officers came to my next door neighbors house. my neighbor had stepped on a landmine in vietnam and had been killed. i can close my eyes and see it so vividly. they knocked on the door and when they got no answer, they knocked on our door to inquire as to where his parents could be found. when these guys come around, you know what has happened. as i write about this, i still get that knot in my stomach and the lump in my throat.
recently restrictions have been lifted as to the media covering the return of our war dead. i have always felt we should do all we can to remember those who gave their lives while serving in our militaries. i guess reading about this is what started all these memories to surface.
bottom line-whether or not you agree with war, real people die. our neighbors, friends, relatives and their families lose a loved one and it is unfortunate that they have to suffer so much pain. they volunteered to serve our country but i don't believe one of them volunteered to die. but they do.
today, take the time to pray for these people. as i write this, over 4100 men and women have died in iraq and afghanistan. they all left behind someone who loved them. they are grieving and hurting. some are angry. some mourn the loss and become depressed. all need to be prayed over and it is not only the least we can do, it is the most.
God bless them all and God bless our great nation.
until next time...
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