Friday, June 13, 2003
Friday, June 13, 2003 |
| Tales
of high school, football, driving cars and, of course, girls
By Rick Ryckeley Once upon a time there was a little boy, and his entire world the things most important to him were high school, football, driving cars and, of course, girls. Not necessarily in that order. At age 14, high school was new it seemed big and intimidating. The boy was unsure whether it was right for him or if he was right for it. While trying to "fit in and become part of a team" he went out for football. The first day, Coach put him on defense and told him to tackle the ball carrier. Years went by, during which the boy grew bigger and stronger. And all along, he looked up to his Dad for guidance and answers to the things that mattered most in his life: high school, football, driving cars and, of course, girls. Not necessarily in that order. In high school he grew academically, learning many new things. During math class he learned about quadratic equations, theories, statistics, and accounting principles all things the boy though he would never use and were a waste of his time. But later in life, those skills learned helped the boy to open and operate two business of his own. In history class he was told, "The reason why we must study history is so that we don't repeat it." He read about man's inhumanity to man and in doing so, he learned how to care. He took a foreign language for four years English. In class he was taught how verbs, adverbs, nouns and pronouns come together to form sentences. He learned how sentences came together to form paragraphs, and paragraphs came together to form stories a skill he though he would have no use for. Many years later the boy wishes he'd spent more time learning about English and less time arguing with the teacher. And all along, he looked up to his Dad for guidance and answers to things that mattered most in his life: high school, football, driving cars and, of course, girls. Not necessarily in that order. His football career started with the snap of a ball and his first tackle as an eight grader. It ended with his last tackle in the region finals as a senior. He followed in his older brother's footsteps, a star tackle for the team just one year ahead of him. Both of them found themselves chasing their Dad's shadow a star running back for his high school football team many years before. A knee injury his junior year and many long practices in the dust, humidity, and hot Georgia sun helped to temper the boy. He learned many of life's lessons on the football field that he has carried through out his adult life. Lessons like: "Never give up," "You can be down and still not be out," and "Life's not a spectator's sport - you play to win and you play till the end." And all along, he looked up to his dad for guidance and answers to things that mattered most in his life: high school, football, driving cars and of course, girls. Not necessarily in that order. He drove his dad around every Saturday for a year, learning the rules of the road and getting familiar with how to handle an automobile. Like many, he got his driver license at age 16, and like many, the boy got two tickets before he was 17. For each ticket received, he walked for three months and learned that with freedom comes responsibility. And all along, he looked up to his dad for guidance and answers to things that mattered most in his life: high school, football, driving cars and, of course girls. Not necessarily in that order. He only dated in his senior year, and then only for the homecoming dance. And all along, he looked up to his dad for guidance and answers to things that mattered most in his life: high school, football, driving cars and, of course girls. Not necessarily in that order. Once upon a time there is another little boy and his entire world the things most important to him, are high school, football, driving cars and, of course, girls. Not necessarily in that order. In about two years, his high school world will also end. That chapter in his life will be closed forever. When it does, he would have played four years of hard-nose high school football for one of the best teams in this county making many friends along the way. Upon graduation The Boy will have learned all about quadratic equations, theories, statistics, and accounting principles all valuable skills he can utilize one day to open a business of his own. At that time concerns about driving cars will long be a thing of the past, but I don't have the heart to tell him not to look up to his dad for guidance on that last one. For try as he might girls he'll never figure out. [Rick Ryckeley is employed by the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services. He can be reached at firemanr@bellsouth.net.]
|