On a positive note:

Once again, a priceless post by man with vast amounts of knowledge.

I am thankful for Coach May creating this fine list.  Outstanding.

 

 

Wow!!! once again amazing post. I will add a few

 

My wife who pretends to love baseball because all her boys do

His GF who loves him and supports him for many years even though she could care less about baseball but still comes to watch

My parents who come so regularly to his games

Son's siblings who gave up much (like vacations other than his baseball tournaments) so he could continue to play and still support him

Son's HS pitching coach who was an amazing reference for him both as a person and as a player

The community we live in who supported him thru HS and then continue to come out and support him while in college

His HS teammates (a good majority will be lifelong friends) who cheered him on when he was doing good things and picked him up when he didn't 

The host family of his first summer college ball experience (only one to date and still going on). They brought him into their family and treated him like a son

 

 

I've witnessed parents ranting, raving and stressed from kiddie ball through the college recruiting process. Baseball, or any other sport was always an experience in stress. Coach May has the right perspective. The glass isn't half full or half empty. It's so full it's overflowing. My kids athletic endeavors have been as much fun as anything I've done in life. I remember the exact moment my daughter "got it" as an athlete. I remember telling my wife about our son, "He's going to be more athletic than both of us." There were a few minor aggravations a along the way. But in the words of my kids, "Get over it. I did."

For all the friends I met along the way.

Baseball has brought many people into my life that I would have not met otherwise. 

OK, so that was pretty fliping awesome! +1 Coach May! Thanks for reminding me that there is so much to be grateful for.

For the car rides at 13-16 when he was forced to spend an hour or more with his dad...and talk about baseball, school, growing up and what the future may hold for him and us!! That time and those conversations made every dollar spent worthwhile!!

For the cage time where he learned to really feel his swing and found it to be his happy place where he could go to unwind or if needed have a talk on his terms!!

 

We had the conversation about leaving local ball and moving to the travel circuit in that cage over 3 or 4 hitting sessions...he made the move on his own after lots of conversation about it.

I remember when I finally "got it." My youngest son's soph year I decided at "my wife's request" to take our team to the Ronald McDonald House in Durham. My wife has worked at the Cancer Center at Duke Hospital for over 30 years. She told me about the families of her patients that stay there and how this would be a great experience for the boys. She told me about how some parents had to quit their jobs because they couldn't travel to Durham everyday for their kids treatments and they stayed there full time with their kids. The stories were heart breaking. I really didn't want to do it because I didn't want to have to face those kids and parents.

 

I finally gave in at her request and we loaded up the bus and took the short trip to the Ronald McDonald House. The plan was for us to spend the day just hanging out with the kids. Play video games, ping pong, other games and just hang out. Many of the players didn't want to go. Heck I really didn't but not for the same reasons many of players didn't want to go. It was a Saturday and the boys had the usual plans that kids this age have on a Saturday.

 

We arrived and met the staff who were great folks. They introduced us to the kids and the parents and it was amazing. The kids were so happy to see the players. They thought they were Major Leaguers. The guys were playing video games, ping pong, watching TV and talking. I was hanging out with several of the parents. The parents started telling me their stories. Brian has brain cancer. He is 9 years old. They told us right now they can only help with the pain. We are hoping for a miracle. But right now we have been told he only has a few months. Kahlin has inoperable cancer. He woke up one day and was dizzy. We took him to the Dr and they said he needed to see someone at Duke. In a matter of days everything in our lives changed. We are praying for a miracle. He loved playing baseball. Thank you so much for having your boys come over here and spend time with them. What do you say to that?

 

I watched my guys playing with those boys and girls. I thought about my own children. I thought about my priorities in life. What was really important to me? What I had to be thankful for. How blessed I was and my players were. When it was time to go that night several of the young kids were hugging my players. Telling them to come back. But the fact was they wouldn't be around long enough for us to come back. Many would be gone. And the fact was I was later told every single one of the kids had a terminal illness.

 

Once we were on the bus it was dead silence. Several of us were in tears. It changed my life. Your going to worry about a pop time and some parent has a Brian? Your worried about a showcase and they have a kid 9 years old with a brain tumor? It put some things into perspective for me. It didn't quench my desire to work hard and compete. If anything it strengthened it. But it definitely put some things into perspective. So as RJ said much better than I can. "I got it." I hope you do as well.

 

We are blessed man. We are truly blessed. Each day is a gift. Our children what can I say. Be thankful. Because we have so much to be thankful for. Sorry for the long post.

For all the friends he's made along the way and the ones still yet to come. They truly are friendships for a lifetime.

For all the other competitors on the field who gave it their all each and every game. Good competition and sportsmanship lead to improvement for all around.

Thanks again Coach May for another wonderful post and for helping us all take a moment to count our blessings.

Thanks to my divorce attorney who got me away from the ex-wife who wouldn't support my coaching involvement and my son's love for the game...what too soon??

 

Golden Thread nomination!

 

Thank you, Coach! 

Thanks Coach May - You are one of the many people on this sight who I "go to" because you "get it" and that has helped me "get it."  Reading yours and others posts have helped my son to "get it" too.

 

Thank you again.