Golly, My Kids Are Getting Old

Aside from your wedding day, the birth of your children and grandchildren can you ever think of a time when you tell yourself, "this is one of the best days of my life"? I had one of these last Tuesday. Lizzie and I were married in 1969 while I was teaching and coaching at Storm Lake St. Mary's Iowa High School. I was a 24 year old wise guy who knew more than St. Augustine or so I thought. The school had 200 students and it was the top of the world for me. We lived there two years and my daughter was born in the town's (8,000) hospital. I've been back a couple of times, four tops, because my cousin lives there and she's one of the most wonderful ladies on this earth. One thing I had not done earlier was visit the old high school so what better time to do it than on Tuesday. Excitement abounded since the boys' basketball team had won their first game in the Iowa boys state tournament the previous day. They were State Champions in 2011 and are now on 45 game winning streak. It was important for me to take a long look at the gymnasium. So many memories in a few fleeting moments of looking at the court. I still can remember my players. Mike and Ken Bosley were a tandem. Ken was a horse under the basket; broad shoulders and a hefty rear end. If he made slight contact with an opponent they went flying. Mike was lithe and could jump to the rafters. I stopped downtown earlier that day and visited with their mom. She and her husband were great boosters but, boy, could she get mad and me when she thought her boys had been wronged and she wasn't afraid to tell me about it, either. Danny Johnston was the star shooter. He could drain 'em from outside and then go inside and draw the foul. He had more moves than Michael Jackson and Fred Astair combined. Tim Cavanaugh was my point guard. Earlier in the season we played at LeMars Gehlen and were behind by eight points with a minute to go. Tim stole the ball five times in that last minute and we won by two. I'll never forget his smile after that one. He was a farm kid and his folks built a mini-gym in the barn and the guys would play all year long. Mark Ulrich moved in from out of town from Independence, Iowa and his 6'4" frame and expertise around the basket made us a real force. Not all things work out the way we want. We thought we were going to the state tournament but lost to Alta 58-50 in the final game to go to state. They became the eventual state champions. I still have to believe that group of kids are now the 3rd best team in the history of the school at 17-5.
Have you ever appreciated folks who showed you love, compassion and friendship and because of who they are they don't even recognize it? They probably didn't think about it because good people don't walk around saying, " Geez,arent I wonderful"? Some good people happened to Lizzie and I in Storm Lake. Dick and Pat were probably twelve years older than us with kids stepladdered thoughout the school. I will never forget their kindnesses. They were loyal and protective. Boosters and Booster Club Presidents can be nasty. It takes a good man and woman to stick up for The Coach when they could easily go the other way. Kindnesses are never forgotten. I was lucky enough to see Dick and Pat this time around. They haven't changed a lick except that they're better than ever.
I was lucky enough to run into four of 'my kids' i.e. 'my former students'. I happened to be in the church rectory talking to a lady and all of a sudden a lady came running down the hallway and gave me a big hug. "I could tell that voice anywhere", Martha Higgins said. Why not! It's only been forty-two years. My other kids who I saw all gave me a big hug. Who could forget Connie Gard? She might be in her late 50's now but she'll always have those cherubic little cheeks and that big smile. Her husband was Joe Hoye. He played for me, too, but sadly passed away recently. Joe was a good guy. And Nancy Naughton, too. She gave me a hug right after Mass. I think her son was on the championship team of last year. Her mom and dad were the best. John is gone now. He was the football coach at Buena Vista College and the funniest man I ever met. He could put you down with a feather but it felt more like a sledge hammer when he was done. Lee has to be pushing eighty. I always like her. She's feisty. When I was at St. Mary's she taught the second grade. She feign anger when I'd go to her room and get the kids all riled up.
So, that's it. I left Storm Lake at two in the afternoon with a smile on my face, wonderful memories in my brain and a heart bursting with joy. Not many of us can have that kind of day and live to tell about it.