W’s

So one asks how do I pass the time (or agony)??

Today was W day.

On my street in Montvale lives one of the best families I know.  Great parents and 3 great kids.  I am a better person for knowing this family.

Specifically there is a young man, now a freshman in college, who I had the honor of coaching on a few occasions through the K-8th grade, and I would like to share some moments.

The sport I am referring to is baseball and this young man was certainly not my best player; he was however one of the most confident.  There was never a moment he was afraid of, and he always thought he would succeed.

When it came time to draft players prior to a season, he was always available and I always took him. Again he was confident but also a great teammate and his family was one I could count on for support.

At Ithaca College I did my thesis on how teachers/coaches interacted with highly skilled and lesser skilled students/athletes.  Hoping to prove that lesser skilled would get more attention, I actually found the opposite.  So how does this tie into to the above?

Well, I found that spending more time at the rec level (or any level for that matter) with lesser skilled players made them better, and therefore made the team better.  To me, that was always the secret.

The young Mr. Worthington personified this on so many levels.

Moving onto high school, he had a stellar high school wrestling career and I am sure will do great things in college and beyond.  And why? Because of his confidence.

I am so happy to have known him and to admire his achievements. He gave me the confidence today that I would finish my ride!!

And now there is a town named Worthington in Minnesota?  Just saying…

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As for my second W, that would stand for Wally (or Papa Wally in our family).  The sign below (100th Ave.) reminded me of him today.  Wally almost lived to 100 and today was his birthday, God rest his soul.

Walter was my first boss at my first real job.  He spent a lot of time with me, learning what made me tick.  He made me think, he motivated me, he listened to me, he mentored me, he was a father figure to me, and he loved me.

Not a day goes by when I don’t think of him.

Walter lived life, he didn’t fear death, and believed in life after death.

He was a devoted husband, father, and friend to many. Without him I don’t know where I would be today.

Thank you to both the W’s in my life today, as without you both I would not have had the will or confidence to finish.

I love you both,

D

PS: Passed the 2,000 mile mark today!