It's The Little Things That Count

 There's an old phrase telling us to 'stop and smell the roses'. Yesterday, the roses came into MJ Hawkeyes life. As with most of us who are seemingly consumed with today's world events I often times fail to reflect on the days, oh wait, those years gone bye but events came flying back into my life around noon time on Friday. 

I heard the phone ring on my iPhone and immediately looked at the number. It said the call was coming from Utah but under the number I saw the words, 'verified'. Folks, I can honestly say I know of no one, not even Mitt Romney, from that area of the world. For some unexplainable reason I answered the call.

On the other end was a young man, now age 70, and his first words were, "Hey, Coach, how're you doing?" Lo and behold this youngster was one of my basketball players from my time at Storm Lake St. Mary's high school in Iowa. It was my place of employment from 1969-1971.

His name is Kenneth and the lad just turned age 70. We talked for a great deal of time and he filled me in on his family and of his siblings. The memories came flooding back like water coming out of an open faucet. Kenny also played baseball for me along with his younger brother. The reason Kenny and brother, Mike, were so supportive is because his parents were that way, too. If you don't know supportive mom's and dad's were much appreciated for those of us who were in the coaching arena.

Around twenty years ago I was an airplane flying out of Kansas City and a man sat down next to me who I knew. He'd played on one of the teams I'd coached during my tenure in Davenport, Iowa in 1976. One of the first words out of his mouth was the utterance of my first name. For some reason I was slightly taken aback. From the time I began playing sports I have never in my life called any of my teachers or coaches by their first name. For me there was no higher of a compliment than calling someone 'Coach'. 

Kenneth and I spoke about the olden days for an hour. During the course of our conversations he must have called me 'Coach' ten times. I appreciated this. 

Yesterday was a good day.