Beneath a weathered car cover in my parents’ driveway rests a late 60's Ford Mustang. It is Bulldog red with a black top. It would make a perfect gameday vehicle in Athens, GA, or any other school that bleeds red & black.
This vehicle was restored by my Uncle, Jay Hinds. It was originally intended as a 16th birthday gift to my sister. My parents had asked Jay, a life-long gear head, to put it together. He jumped at the opportunity, as it gave him yet another excuse to spend time out in his garage. Make no mistake about it, Jay had a "man cave" before it was ever a term. He and my cousin, affectionately called Little Joe in our family, have always been gear heads and people willing to tackle the technical aspects of restoring classic cars. Unbeknownst to my sister at the time, Uncle Jay invited me down to spend some time with him and Aunt Ann. I was a sophomore at UGA, and Jay and Ann had already been kind to me on my journey to Athens. Every football game they would pull into the Phi Kappa Psi parking lot and have sandwiches and coca-colas ready. Jay also drove into town every now and again to take me to lunch. He was a salesman, so he claimed he coordinated his Athens trip around work, but like most that spend time in the Classic City, sometimes you do not need a reason ... you just want to be there. So in the middle of my sophomore year I drove my Honda Civic down to Barnesville, GA. Jay was never one to really mince words. When I arrived, he stepped out of the back door and immediately gave me hell for not driving an American car. Not even one minute into being there and I had already lost credibility. He and Ann welcomed me into the house. Their home is a classic ... a beautiful older home with character a new builder could never emulate. They had slowly been updating it over the years, but the same old wood floors, the same staircase and the same fire places in each bedroom were still there from my first visit years ago. Barnesville is one of those towns where you could blink and drive through it, but their home sits on a street which could rival any Main Street. Gorgeous old homes, established trees and a nice sidewalk. Basically what you would expect out of small town living. After throwing my bags in the room, Jay took me out to his garage ... all the while still giving me hell about that damn Honda. He and Ann were both curious about my time at Georgia as well ... grades, girls, the fraternity ... but when we stepped into the garage, I quickly realized why I was there. The shell of this old Mustang sat in one of the bays. No doors, no seats, no trunk, no bells and whistles. Jay looked at me as I examined what was in front of us. He started chuckling in his gruff laugh and asked me, "Ever put a car together?" Two things quickly came to mind: 1) Why in the hell was I going to help fix this car for my sister? If anyone was going to get a classic car in the family, it should be me. That nerd should bring her 14-year-old butt down here and fix it herself. 2) Wait, he was asking if I ever put model cars together, right? Cause I've done that. He couldn't seriously mean a real freakin' car. But he did, he meant a real car. So he wandered around the garage, looking for parts and tools, and we started working on a car door. I had no idea what I was doing, but in his own way he made me realize it was not rocket science. Do not get me wrong, I would not advise trying to work on a car alone with little to no experience. Although that day and the next Uncle Jay made me feel like this was no big deal. Hey, we were putting a car door together. What could go wrong? The big reveal came the next day when we aligned that sucker and rolled the window up for the first time. Before I touched the window handle, he said to me, "Look, that damn window has got to be tight. I can't have your mother yelling at me about rain getting in the car." I shrugged my shoulders and rolled the window up. It was a tight seal. The door, quite heavier than my little Civic door, shut firmly. I'll be damned. I just put a car door together. It was fascinating and exhilarating at the same time. We finally wrapped up, ate some lunch and they sent me on my way back to Athens, but not before Jay got one more dig in on my Honda ... "Hey, when you want a real car come on back down here and we'll put one together." Jay and Ann returned each fall for those Georgia Football games. The more I became involved with the Athletic Association as a student worker, the less time we were able to interact. We would catch up early in the mornings or maybe after the game. Ann would always make sure I had something to eat or drink, Jay would deconstruct the game. He loved to tease me too. The Honda was one example. Although, the best may have been when I introduced them to Meghan, my most serious girlfriend in college. After he met her, he pulled me aside and asked me how in the hell I landed a girl like that. He was right, I out kicked my coverage. He later would say the same thing to me about Courtney the weekend we married. Yet again, he was correct. Two years ago I was able to spend some time with Jay and Ann in Barnesville. I was traveling down to Tifton for work and decided to spend a night with them. Mom and Dad had told Jay I enjoyed scotch from time to time, so when I arrived he and Ann had a bottle waiting. Uncle Jay poured two glasses and told me to "come on." He was never really one to say please, and I've never been one to argue with a man who is offering a free glass of scotch. We sat on a small side porch, just off of his tv room, which also served as his war memorabilia room. He loved combat history. As he was sneaking a few cigarettes and the sun was settling in, he told me old family stories. We talked about Granny and Pappy, family drama, his time at UNC, how he ended up at UGA, why they moved to Barnesville and how he was proud of Little Joe for making some tough decisions in his life. I mentioned it earlier, but Jay was gruff. However, he was also someone who loved his family. Uncle Jay passed away suddenly Wednesday evening. I could feel the pain in my mother's voice as she told me. I've yet to catch up with Little Joe or Ann, but the funeral details are coming in piece by piece. As difficult as it can be to lose a family member, the reality is life happens. You live, you love, you learn, you grow and you move on. It is not easy, but what becomes easier is remembering times with a lost loved one. The Phi Psi tailgates, the constant teasing, the surprise lunches, the car door and the shared scotch. These are memories I will hopefully have the rest of my life. My sister said it well earlier today ... Uncle Jay was a husband, a dad, a grandfather, a brother and an uncle. He was a good man, and I feel fortunate for the limited time we spent. Aunt Ann, Little Joe and Jim all have my thoughts and prayers. It is difficult to lose family, but now when I return to Winston I can lift up that weathered car cover and take a look at something Uncle Jay and I worked on together. Finding peace in little things makes difficult times just a bit easier. The latest trick Arabelle has showcased is a yelling match ... with her Dad. For several months now she has been saying "da da," or "da da da da da." Every now and again it feels like she might actually know what she is saying, by looking directly at me and saying it. We've been working on trying to say "ma ma," which hasn't really happened yet.
Tuesday evening, I was attempting to eat a quick dinner while Arabelle was bouncing around in her exersaucer. She started with her "da da," and I said "ma." My hope was she would be saying "ma ma" by the time Courtney returned home from class. Arabelle had other plans. We went back and forth, me saying "ma," and her responding "da." It came to the point where my food had to rest on the coffee table, as this little eight-month-old human and I were both laughing. We attempted to replicate this banter with "ma ma" in the room last night, but it just did not quite take off. Those private Tuesday evening moments have been a blessing, but they are somewhat coming to an end. In two weeks, Courtney will complete her graduate studies and be awarded a master's degree in instructional design and technology. Hopefully she understands just how amazed and proud I am of her tackling pregnancy, a full-time job and being a first-time mom all while completing this degree program the past two years. It is safe to say we are all thrilled to have this portion of our life coming to a close, but secretly I hope Arabelle and I can still have our own little moments. Courtney returned to class only a couple of weeks after Arabelle's birth. Neither of us had hesitation about what needed to be done. I came home and took care of our little baby while she drove to the UGA Gwinnett campus. These were my first few moments alone with Arabelle. At only a few weeks old, I have to admit ... it was really easy. She slept a lot, ate and pooped. Dad was able to catch up on the DVR while basically being lazy with a baby. It was great. Those Tuesday evenings have changed quite a bit since September. As she has grown, she has required more attention. Recently we've been spending a good bit of time outside on those evenings; playing in the grass, waving to neighbors passing by, letting the dogs entertain us, bird watching. In eight short months she has become so much more aware of her surroundings. I'm sure Arabelle and I will continue to have daddy/daughter time, but these last couple of Tuesday evenings will be very special to me. They will always be a cherished part of my life. Moving forward though, it is equally as important we celebrate "ma ma's" accomplishment. This past fall our athletic director brought in Dr. Earl Suttle to speak to the entire athletic association. There are tons of motivational speakers out there making the rounds, and I've heard several in my life. When listening to one I find it important to take away not the entire discussion but bits and pieces. One thing Dr. Suttle discussed was celebrating our successes. Now, I've never been one to turn down a good party, but this really clicked with me. I had just witnessed my wife give birth and we had just become aunt & uncle a second time to lovely Ms. Alice. These are major life events, and it is important to recognize and celebrate them. Courtney is someone who does not care for being the center of attention. Despite this fact, she and I have discussed the importance of celebrating the milestone of her graduate school completion. Life really is precious. We really do need to tell our loved ones how we feel. We need to celebrate the successes. Too often we can be pulled into the disappointments or pain we feel in life. These are moments which should be dealt with. Although what is more important? Some say success breeds success. If that is the case, why not fully celebrate every success in life? So how are we going to celebrate? Graduation day is important. She will walk for the first time, since she chose not to walk as an undergrad. She will be surrounded by family that day and will be able to take a picture dressed in her cap & gown, holding her daughter. Pretty neat. We are planning to have a big lunch spread back at the house that afternoon, and hopefully she'll finally open that bottle of Belle Glos Pinot she's kept locked up. We are also continuing the celebration in June with a trip to Mexico. Drug cartel jokes aside, we plan to live it up with Doug and Lindsey. The end of June will also mark five years of marriage. Our anniversary, along with Courtney's degree completion and our first year of parenthood deserves a fantastic celebration. So while those Tuesday evenings with Arabelle are coming to a close, it is far greater we celebrate the successes. Hopefully someday Lady A will understand this too. Do not dwell on the negative; celebrate all you have and all you have accomplished. Arabelle found her first love. Her eyes light up every time she sees it. While her mother and I cannot get a real smile out of her, it seems to work every time. The ceiling fan is Arabelle's first love, and she is smitten. It is quite funny to watch her face. We do not have a true giggle out of her yet, but the smiles are awesome.
Next weekend, all three of us will finally meet Alice. It still blows my mind we had a child only six days after my sister and her husband. Alice will be baptized at our home church, St. Leo's of Winston-Salem. Marian asked me to serve as a God Father (there will be two, as I will share the duty with Darryl's brother Ken). Hopefully Marian realizes what a true honor this is. My little niece will grow to be an amazing young woman, and we are thrilled to finally meet her. If you do not watch Breaking Bad on AMC, you are missing out. Go to amazon and order the seasons. It is a fantastic show. So well written, so dramatic. As much of a fan as I am of Mad Men, I do think Breaking Bad may be the best written show on tv. Ridiculous it took me until this past summer to realize this. AMC makes great shows. We are pumped for The Walking Dead, which returns this Sunday. Zombies really aren't Courtney's thing, but she loves the show. AMC has a new show, Hell on Wheels, which looks promising too. Needless to say, I will watch any series they put on the network. After a 0-2 start, the Dawgs head to Nashville 4-2. Hopefully they pick up the win, utilize the bye week to rest some guys and head to Jacksonville with momentum. There was hope we would take the little one to Nashville to meet some of our good friends in the area. Nashville still holds a special place in our hearts, and we will take her there one day. With the visit to NC the very next week, the calm weekend ahead without travel will be nice. Mama Olin came over for dinner tonight with our nephew, Chance. We probably do not say this enough to any of our parents, but we have been so well supported through these first 8 weeks of parenthood. All 6 of Arabelle's grandparents have been thoughtful, caring and responsive. We are lucky children, and Arabelle is a lucky little grandbaby. Only two more weeks at home for Courtney. We've talked about it some, but not much. For obvious reasons she really does not enjoy discussing it. I get it. I struggled leaving them after only two weeks. Since she has been home all eight weeks, I imagine it will be more difficult. We have a great daycare picked out. The real challenge will be juggling our schedules now. Anyone want to start an American Pickers/Storage Wars business with me? Those shows strike a cord, and I'm not quite sure why. Courtney would say it is because lit eans on my pack-rat tendencies. No argument there, but it is also quite interesting to learn the history behind the items they find. Traveling back roads of Georgia, I've been tempted to stop and do something similar. Date night with my girls tomorrow. Courtney and I haven't been to dinner with Arabelle by ourselves. We've gone out a few times but always with friends or family. Friday night will be our little date night. We need to get out of the house a little, it is an away game weekend and we want to prove Arabelle isn't land-locking us. We hear mixed messages from friends who are parents ... some do not dare do it, others take their kids everywhere. Certainly age and temperament are factors. While she cannot walk or really talk, we are going to take advantage. Today, Mom and Dad celebrate 36 years of marriage. Research is not my thing, but it would be interesting to know the amount of marriages which make it that long. Let's be honest though, can you really be married to someone for 36 years without bumps in the road?
My parents were raised in the "old school." Family is important, and you do what is needed to protect it. Mom and Dad raised us to work hard and respect our elders, as that is what they were taught growing up. They both made countless sacrifices to be a couple and raise a family. They've never told us about their sacrifices, but one has to imagine there are quite a few. Courtney and I are learning that now as we begin to raise little Arabelle. Years of sacrifice provided great opportunities for us. We attended St. Leo's, a private catholic grade school in Winston-Salem. Erase the thoughts you might have of a 900-year-old nun beating us with giant rulers. It didn't happen. We learned a great deal about respecting our classmates and community. Religion aside, it was a fantastic experience which cost them time and money. Mom and Dad made those sacrifices so we could have strong educations and be in a controlled environment. Time and money also went into the countless family vacations. We weren't the type to go "tropical" on our vacations. We hit the beach almost every summer, but there was a hint of history tied to the rest of our vacations. Multiple trips to Washington, DC, as well as so many visits to civil war battle sites. Mom and Dad have tried to provide as much culture as possible. Sports, music, extracurricular activities ... they allowed us to attempt anything we wanted. Well, expect baseball. It always interfered with soccer. Silly rec sport scheduling. Regardless, we were encouraged to try things. Even to this day, Mom and Dad encourage us with our careers and outside interests. My role in ARGUS would have died long ago without their encouragement. Sacrifices were also made in order to provide us with cars and tuition for college. One could argue we were spoiled. There could be some truth. Older now, we realize they provided so we had opportunity. In so many ways, we were and still are a fortunate family. So 36 years are marked today. Despite any little bump in the road, any argument, Mom and Dad can be thankful. They raised two (fairly) well-adjusted kids. Those kids have gone on to careers they enjoy, married their loves and now had kids of their own. Mom and Dad, congratulations on 36 years. We love you, and are thankful for creating this family. Certainly the intent had been to pen a post well before now. With all of the emotion and love that comes with having a child, the initial thought was to immediately put all of that on the blog. Documenting the day of birth was to be highlighted weeks ago. Pictures of the little lady with all of her grandparents certainly should have been up by now. But as each day has passed since August 18th, nothing has seemed as important as just spending time with my little girl. After her birth and our return home, the three of us spent two full weeks together. Every step of the way, we were a unit. Courtney took care of the feedings while I played my role as jester, keeping them entertained and awake. Figuring out how to work a car seat, we all did that together. Bath time for Arabelle in the sink, yep a team effort. The first couple of trips out of the house, while a little nerve racking, we knocked it out. While every moment during those two weeks was special, those late night feedings might be the fondest memories. As someone told me, it seems like no one else in the world is awake at that time. Mommy, daddy and baby up at 2am or 3am or 4am making sure this little girl is getting what she needs. Now back at work, daddy has slacked off a bit on those middle of the night feedings, but we are still finding time to do things together. Someone had previously said, "watching your wife give birth is an unbelievable experience." He was 110% correct. It is humbling, moving and breathtaking all at once. It probably doesn't "feel" that way for the moms, at least during the process, but husbands gain a new found respect for women. Courtney was remarkable throughout the entire 9 months. We are a lucky family, and I am a lucky man. ARABELLE'S BIRTH STORY Thursday, August 18th was her birth date, but daddy did not believe it would happen that day. Mommy had her check-up early that morning. Despite starting to feel uncomfortable and already at 3cm, she drove to work. Around lunch time, as daddy was jumping on the elevator, mommy called. Said she was coming home and felt like she was having contractions. The estimated birth date was August 23rd, so daddy thought maybe mommy just needed rest. Mommy asked daddy to meet her half way and follow her home because the tightness was bothering her a good bit so daddy did this. Mommy's good friend at work, Tracy, followed her almost the entire way to Athens. By the time mommy and daddy both ended up at the house, mommy decided to call the doctor on call. Since this was our first pregnancy, he suggested we go on to the hospital. Still not totally believing today was the day, daddy threw some clothes in a bag, grabbed mommy's things and took off to the hospital. From 2pm-4, mommy was under observation. Mommy and daddy got the feeling the doctor did not even think today was going to be the day, but by 4pm mommy was at 5cm and was admitted as a patient. Daddy had all these visions in his head of the day Arabelle would be born ... the process taking some time, changing into more comfortable clothes, lounging in the hospital room, even maybe blogging about being there. The next four and a half hours barely gave mommy and daddy time to catch their breath. Saint Mary's hospital is where Arabelle was born. The rooms are spacious and they keep you in one place. Your birthing room becomes your recovery room, so when we moved to the maternity ward we knew we were in for the long haul. At this point mommy and daddy had not even contacted family or friends. So between 4pm and 5, some text messages were sent and phone calls made. The doctor assured us we'd be having a baby soon, possibly by midnight. Little did we know. As the contractions increased, daddy felt helpless. Holding mommy's hand was all he could do to attempt to ease the pain, and it was not working. Mommy was asked if she wanted the epidural, and without hesitation she said yes. Daddy was all for this, because there is no way in hell he would have gone through any of this without medication. By 6:30, mommy had her epidural and was finally resting comfortably. By 7pm, mommy was already 8cm and progressing nicely. Firing off text messages was daddy's way of keeping people in the loop while comforting mommy. Around 7:45, mommy was a full 10cm and finally had her water break. It was about that time the doctor told the nurses to prepare the room for birth. We were only three and a half hours removed from being admitted to the hospital. Everything was happening so fast. Mommy and daddy's good friend Jill labored for almost 12 hours. Daddy's sister had labored basically 24 hours. It was mind blowing that Arabelle was about to make her way into the world on such short notice. Then again, she is a Lowe. We do what we want, when we want. Shortly after 8pm, mommy began pushing. The nurses were there to keep the process moving. The doctor was not in the room yet, which daddy thought was odd. Little did he know doctors only swoop in at the last minute for all the glory. So while mommy was pushing, daddy was holding her hand and providing words of encouragement. Learning how to push while under the influence of an epidural is challenging. Mommy was trying very hard to concentrate on the words of the nurses, so she politely told daddy to be quiet. Now that part of the birth story will change over the years. In 30 years, daddy will probably say mommy cursed him and told him to keep his big mouth shut. Daddy will be lying at that point, but it will make the story more dramatic. In reality, mommy was polite and daddy made his first great parenting decision. He just shut the hell up and held her hand. By 8:30 the doctor was in the room for the grande finale and by 8:46, Arabelle screamed as she was brought into the world. When he saw Arabelle's face, daddy tried to say something. All he did was make some odd noises and start to cry. She was the most beautiful creature, and he grabbed mommy's hand even harder. He immediately kissed mommy and told her how proud he was of her. The doctor asked if daddy would like to cut the umbilical cord, which he did. Arabelle was wrapped up and given to mommy. Weight checks, visitors, nursings, dirty diapers ... it has all become a part of mommy's, daddy's and Arabelle's life. Birth truly is a miracle, and we are all better for it. For more pictures of this beautiful little girl visit our picasa page or follow me on twitter. I'm a sucker for posting random pictures of my new little love.
Welcome to the world, Ms. Alice Moye Kennedy! Born August 12, 2011 to Marian and Darryl Kennedy.
So happy for all three of them, and certainly happy for my parents. They can now officially call themselves Granny and Granddaddy. Cannot wait for our Little A to meet Alice. Here's to many years of play dates and love between cousins. This month, my wife and I will become parents. My sister and brother-in-law will become parents. Mom and Dad will become grandparents. Everything changes in August of 2011.
Baby season actually began Sunday, July 24, when Erich and Jill gave birth to little Fischer. It was amazing to be so in touch with Erich while everything was happening. Just 48 hours later, we used the FaceTime feature on my ipad & their iphone to catch up with them and "meet" Fischer for the first time. Other than a big yawn he gave us, he was pretty much spent. Only two days on this earth and the kid had already accomplished one of life's biggest ordeals, just being born. As Erich, Jill and Fischer kicked off the start of baby season, we assume Marian and Darryl are up next. Baby Alice should be making herself known later this week with a due date of August 13th. This past weekend I was looking through some old pictures of our time growing up, and they made me smile. While Marian and I fought like most siblings do, the love for my sister will always be strong. I feel her pain, her happiness, her confusion. It amazes me the little girl who chopped off her own hair when she was seven is about to have a child. My niece will be amazing, simply because her mother is. We should be following with Little A shortly after Alice's arrival. Steve and Catherine are expecting their daughter just a few days after us, then Greg and Sarah follow early September with the arrival of their son. Coincidence is certainly a factor here, but some part of me believes this was a bigger plan. For us all to go through something so amazing as individuals and also as a group is fascinating. I am sure we will all rely on each other for guidance, an open ear and the occasional "oh yeah, my kid did this ...," but it is totally reassuring to know we will all be going about this around the same time. Serious question ... does it count as nesting if you grow more tired each day before the kid arrives? Oh wait, maybe it is just that I am getting older. Realizing everyone who has a kid will say "oh you don't know tired yet," it baffles me I have been this tired all summer. Typically during weekends a 7am or earlier wake-up is ordinary. This past summer 8 and 9am has been more like it. Maybe my body is smarter than I give it credit for, and this is nothing more than a preemptive strike. We have spent most of the summer preparing. Fixing up the baby's room was the largest task. Breaking down the old furniture, bringing in the new, putting up crown molding, painting and decorating. It has been exhausting, but Court has been a great general contractor. She had the design plan she wanted in her head. We did not go crazy or over the top, but we totally transformed the room. It was well worth the sweat equity. Pretty soon we will be seeing her smiling face. Little A has caused Court some discomfort these last couple weeks, so hopefully we will see her sooner than later. While Court will be taking off a few weeks, I am taking a lead from Erich and plan to stay home for two weeks. I had heard most guys take a week. Realizing football season is also about to kick-off, my phone and email will not be far away. Right now though, it is much more important to me to see that little lady through her first two weeks. There is no telling when or if you will actually read this, but it felt right to put some thoughts down before you even arrive. If nothing else, maybe it will help guide me as a father in the future.
All parents should want what is best for their child. Your mother and I will live by that philosophy. We will love you unconditionally. We will praise you when you do great things. We will encourage the growth of your self-confidence. We will steer you in the direction we think is best while you are young, and then watch you make your own decisions when you are older. Always be mindful there are consequences for every decision made in life. Those can be positive or negative. You will make mistakes. We all do. Just try your best to determine what is right and wrong. Hopefully your mother and I will assist you with this while you are growing up. Always respect yourself. You will learn this at a young age. Your mother, grandmothers and aunts are strong willed and highly intelligent women. Respect them, and then expect that same respect from others throughout your life. There is nothing more precious on this earth than a woman. You will have to earn respect of your elders, your bosses and sometimes even your peers, but always demand respect from boys. You and all other women deserve this. Appreciate friendship. While family will always be there for you, strong friendships will also never leave. Your mother and I have several friends we depend on for guidance. Sometimes they are sounding boards, other times they offer advice. True friendship has been a large part of our lives, and we hope it is with you. Your family will always love you. We know you are not perfect, none of us are. However, we will push you. We will encourage you. We will answer your questions. When we think you are wrong, we will address it and educate you on why we think so. While we will push you, we will also respect your opinions as you continue to grow. Appreciate individualism. You will grow to have your own personality, your own thoughts and your own goals. Always remember these are your qualities which will make you outstanding and unique. Other people around you may not share the same. That is ok. Always strive to do what you think is best. Have a kind heart. There is always someone in worse position. Remember that and find time to help those people. Volunteer, give to charity, listen to someone’s plight. There are countless ways you can show you have a kind heart. Many people struggle with life just to find a place of comfort. Others have it all and throw it away. Be aware of your fortunes and not money. Your true fortunes are far deeper than a pocket. Competition is good. It drives the world. There will be times in your life where you feel threatened by someone. That is okay. It is natural. You will learn to respond to competition the best way you know how. It may mean working harder or leaning on others for guidance. Regardless, do not shy away from competition. You are our baby girl. We hope to provide you a sibling someday, but you will always be our baby girl. We want everything in the world that is best for you. You will grow up in a house that values education. Always take time to learn inside the classroom and outside. Many great lessons are taught in schools, but some of the best lessons are learned in life. I look forward to all of your “firsts,” well minus your first date. I cannot wait to hold you for the first time, to tell you I am your father. You will grow into a beautiful, talented and intelligent young woman, and I always get to be your dad. I know I will provide you more advice than you will ever really want, but know that your mother and I will always love you madly. Sometimes you just feel content. Happy. Thriving on life. Tonight is one of those times. With Courtney napping on the couch, a cup of Jittery Joe's and the Blue Jays on my tv, it is the start to a damn fine weekend. Life has been hectic but fun the past several weeks. There was the trip to the SEC tournament in Atlanta, followed by a quick trip to Charlotte and the first round of the NCAA tournament. Quick because the Dawgs fell to the Washington Huskies, but a great trip nonetheless. Fortunately mom and dad were able to drive over and watch the NCAA game with me, as the Tar Heels just happened to be playing in Charlotte that night as well. Some things you take for granted, and I am sure I took many things for granted growing up. Having the opportunity to watch NCAA hoops with my parents was a blast and something I will remember for a long time. Hopefully the Dawgs can make the NCAA appearance a regular thing. As a development officer, the road is your friend. You need to be out seeing people. Of course there are times where you must be in the office, but true work is accomplished visiting your donors. I've been on the road more the past few weeks, and I cannot say enough good things about it. Meeting people, answering questions, thanking people and talking about our initiatives reminds me why I made this change from operations to development and also why I love working in college athletics. Wednesday evening while sitting down at dinner, Court and I were joking about how our baby was lazy. It hadn't kicked her yet, and we were wondering when that would happen. Court went to bed earlier than I did, but when I got into bed I placed my hand on her stomach and voila, the kid started kicking. Like crazy. Even though Court had to get up at 5am, I woke her up. So either this baby does not want to let us down or tried to spite us. Either way, I'm glad this little thing is moving. Watching the Jays crush the Twins (10-0, top of the 7th) is just the beginning to a great weekend. After insane amounts of rain this past week I can finally get out in the yard tomorrow morning and do some work. Late afternoon we will get to relax and watch the Final Four. Tomorrow evening we are expecting the arrival of two good friends, Thomas and Brandon. Their respective wives are putting them on loan as about eight of us will venture to the Georgia Dome, Sunday, for: Long, long ago on this blog I wrote this piece on being a professional wrestling fan. Around the same time the WWF changed to the WWE, and frankly I do find it to be appropriate. It is entertainment. It is not for everyone, and I get that. It is something I've enjoyed for many years now, and with Wrestlemania being in our "backyard" this year, it only made sense to go.
We have the hotel rooms, the tickets, the cooler for tailgating. Now we just need sunny weather. So yeah, life is certainly good this weekend. Tuesday we will find out if we have a little boy or girl, and we have a trip to Charleston coming up as well. Life is good. |
the lowe down
The life and times of Jay Lowe, a 30-something university employee, music lover, husband, sports enthusiast and most importantly, dad. current enjoymentsemail suggestions to jay@jaylowe.com
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September 2017
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