A Young Boy's Super Bowl

We just added a new family member. That's him showing off the Colts blue. See more pics

Win or Lose, both Super Bowl teams had a great run this year. It's also been a great run for my 8yo, who took an interest in football for the first time.

It started this Fall when he decided to play flag football for the Browns. Being named after the NFL franchise prompted his curiosity to find out more about pro team. In the process, he became a fan.

As with all football fans, even young ones, the camaraderie of sharing the emotions of competition is very special. In other words, when dad likes a different team it rubs off. And that's how a young boy also became a Colts fan.

Even though both his teams were on different paths this year, he watched every game he could. He traded cards with friends and amassed quite a collection for both teams. As the Colts flourished, so did his interest.

My son recently showed me a video of the Baltimore Colts playing in the Super Bowl (in 1969). It was ironic because my first exposure to football and the Colts was that year, when I was a young boy. I remember my boyhood hero, Johnny Unitas - the quarterback, leading them to victory. And when they got to the Super Bowl, I was ecstatic. Didn't matter that they lost...I was forever hooked. Football taught me a lot about life's lessons, and I was better for it.

My son and I will be cheering for our Colts in the Super Bowl. He doesn't know the lessons he's about to learn...its just a game for an 8 yo mind. Or maybe not!

Christmas Family Traditions

Every Christmas Eve since my oldest child was 4, I visited our home as Santa. I'll be posting a video tribute to that event soon, so keep watching. I won't be doing that this year for the first time because my youngest two are about 99% certain it's me. I never seem to be around when Santa visits. They also discovered my tattered, worn out Santa suit....wouldn't have made it beyond this year anyway. That's OK, I have something else planned so please don't tell my kids. Shhhh!

We also like to go to the church plays. One in particular is done every other year by a small country church near our home. The entire church membership participates in an outdoor play of Jesus' birth, with the guests walking from scene to scene through the woods. It ALWAYS turns cold the week of that play...which makes the hot chocolate and desserts afterwards by the church fireplace a kid favorite.

What family traditions do you have for Christmas?

My Lost Blackberry

It happened just like this:

For lunch yesterday I decided to brave the elements and go out. Had a craving for Sushi which meant I would have to do some walking in the rain/wind storm. And it was during the walk that Mr. Blackberry and I became separated.

For several days now it has rained here in Virginia.

This is a combination of the remnants of hurricane Ida

and a passing Nor'easter.

I made it to the restaurant OK, although a little wet and cold from the driving rain. Lunch was great. I even managed to tweet about the experience while there. It was after lunch that I lost my blackberry.

While crossing a busy intersection, a gust of wind blew the raincoat around my head. I became significantly disoriented...and Yes, it wrapped around my head. I managed to get it off and hastily exited the intersection towards the nearest shelter. After composing myself, I realized my phone was missing from the holster.

Back out in the wind and rain I go, retracing my steps. And guess where I found it? In the middle of the intersection where I was attacked by the raincoat. Sitting in a pool of water. And that's not all. It had also been struck one or more times by a passing vehicle...as evidenced by the many new scars.

POOR Blackberry. RIP!

The Grandma Tree

9/11 will forever be... remembered as one of the saddest days in American history. Exactly 3 years after that tragedy was another sad day for my family. It was the day my mom was diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer. She fought valiantly, but succumbed to the disease exactly 13 months later on October 11.

At the funeral, mom had 5 pallbearers – her sons. My brothers and I had decided that since she carried us into this world, we were going to carry her out. She lived a hard life here on earth. At age 59, God said she had suffered enough and that it was time to come home. Knowing this gave us much peace, as we shouldered the responsibilty of taking our mother to a better place.

When I returned to the office, some friends gave me a tree to remember her. My kids called it the Grandma Tree and we decided to plant it in a special place in our backyard. Well, my skills as a gardener are at the same level as Roundup, so it was no surprise that the tree didn't grow much over the next few years.

Then one day my kids noticed that Grandma Tree had these beautiful purple and white flowers. A couple of days later, I was mowing the yard and stopped to reflect as I looked at the flowers which were now growing prolifically on Grandma Tree. At that very moment, I realized the significance of this event. The day my family first noticed the blooms was October 11, exactly three years after she died.

I love you mom.

A Valentine's Tale

Puppy Love. At least that's what it was called when it afflicted me....several times as I recall. I'm glad I no longer suffer from the condition. It had the power to make you do strange things.

I recollect one such instance when I was “overwhelmed” by a particular girl at school. Don't remember her name, or whether we were in middle or high school, or whether we even attended the same school.

Nevertheless, Puppy Love had infected my soul. So much so (I think), that I wanted to do something special for her. Something unique.

After much thought, I decided to what all jocks do (lol) and write a poem. That I did (with great pain I might add), as writing was not my forte in school. The completed masterpiece was given the title, Love is Time Not Lost.

After you've had a chance to compose yourself, please know that I am 100% certain about the title. Love is Time Not Lost. After all, it was the only poem I ever wrote. I kept a copy for myself and even re-read it several times over the years.

I don't remember how she reacted when I gave her the poem, although I'm sure it was a good experience. As is the case with many of my memories, the poem is now lost. Other than the title, the only recollection I have of the composition is that it was deep. Either I pulled it from way down in my soul or it was piled high :-)

Regardless, I'm sure I could reconstruct some of the poem if only I could remember the first few lines.

So, on this Valentine's Day occasion, could you help by telling me what you think those first few lines might have been?

My Worst Fears

The headaches wouldn't stop, and I couldn't help thinking the worst had come. After all, both my parents had died at a young age from chronic conditions. As many people do when faced with seemingly dire conditions, I put off a visit to the physician.

My oldest daughter and I were driving home from swim practice one day when it happened. She was texting on her cell phone like she always did and asked me to look at a photo someone had sent. It was a pic of a tornado. I glanced at the photo when we reached the next red light. “Nice”, I said, even though I couldn't see it. I realized then that my headaches and recently acquired poor eyesight must somehow be related. Yes, my fears were now confirmed.

That evening, my daughter showed her mother the photos. Excited, she called me over to look at them as well. I declined, describing the events earlier that day. “Have you had vision problems recently”, she asked in a tone that told me we were about to enter into a nurse/patient relationship. “Well.... Yes”, I replied, recounting how I could no longer read the fine print on sales papers. She gave me a pair of glasses and asked me to read some small print with them on. “O my God”, I could see the print perfectly.

A few days later, an optometrist confirmed my diagnosis and prescribed a pair of reading glasses.

I love my glasses, they make me look smart.

It All Started...

I had many life events growing up that I wish had been documented, but we didn't have the means. All that remains of my childhood are bits and pieces from the few photographs that were taken.

I was determined to ensure that my kids didn't suffer the same fate, so I learned how to create slideshows and burn them to DVD. I also discovered a way to use photos creatively in printed materials. Thus a hobby was born. It didn't take long for me to realize that photos and videos sometimes fell short in preserving the stories. I created this blog for that purpose.

In upcoming posts I'll relate a few things in my life that are memorable. I'll tell the story of a little boy's redemption and another about an event related to my worst fears. One of my favorites is the Grandma Tree, a story explaining what Sept 11 and a chamilia shrub have in common. Others around me will have their stories told as well. I'll even share some events involving Sasha, Cody, and other family pets that lived their entire lives with us. If you follow this blog, there will be an occasional surprise meant especially for you....but more about that later.