Getting to spend time yesterday afternoon with Lawrence Nesselrodt and Joe Goddard was a true blessing 🙏. Right up until it was time to head out for the trip home 🏡.

Lawrence, like Alan Knight, is a ball Coach that I’ve been working with for nearly 20 years now. Joe Goddard is someone that has been a part of my life for roughly half that time and being around him is an inspiration.

Pretty neat that if you Google Joe Goddard, three of the Photos 📷 are ones that I have taken for stories where I have written about him.

Yesterday was a typical day during the “off” season of College Baseball ⚾️ as our 52 players were divided up over a number of efforts. One portion (12) of them were making the drive over to Huntington for a fund raiser, providing assistance with a Concert. Another group was involved with helping Coach in a nearby Youth Baseball tournament. There’s never a dull moment in the World of Golden Bears 🐻 Baseball ⚾️. It was a tremendous day but I feel fortunate that I don’t have to be a functional Adult for a few hours.

Tonight (October 30th) has been circled on my calendar 📅 for a couple of months and the event of the Day will take place over in Ferrum. Eastern Mennonite University will be coming South to face the home team Ferrum in a Volleyball 🏐 match that will include Madison Stockner (EMU) and Kalee Bunn (Ferrum). Stockner and Bunn were teammates at Carroll County High School under the guidance of Long Time Coach Cindy Edwards.

While that I have written about Miss Stockner, both in our Basketball 🏀 book 📖 and on our site, I have never had the privilege of meeting her.

Bunn and her family 👪 were such a pleasure to meet last month when I wondered over to Ferrum for a match with Averett. Looking forward to seeing them again here in a few hours!

Bonus news is that Allen Worrell is good with running 🏃‍♂️ a story on the night 🌙!

Double Bonus News – Coach Edwards is offering to bring any of her current players along for the scenic drive 🚗 over to the 🏡 of the Panthers.

Round 3 of the Lady 👩 Cavalier versus the Lady 👩 Cavalier – The College Years ! Should be a fun night 🌙, just need to truly wake ⏰ up and get back to just feeling old. Speaking of which, anyone out there remember Uncle Joe and Petticoat Junction ?

Swartz Hall and first serve is set for 6pm !!!!

Polly Beamer Middle School District Champion. Girls second place team finish. Grant Reed fifth place. Email all results later.

The long wait is almost over for the Ervin family 👪 as Alyssa Ervin is set to make her College debut. The season does not officially begin until Monday November 4th but Kris Richardson tells me that the Phoenix will be holding a scrimmage Friday night.

Looking forward to following the efforts of this “Driven” young Lady 👩as she starts the next chapter of her story.

I have to chuckle a bit at the 5’11 height listed because she’s closing in on the point where I will physically have to look up to her.

Hoping for nothing but the Best for #3, starting 🙏 Friday night 🌙.

Dropped Linda off at Raleigh Durham Airport and made it three of the four hours in route to Alleghany High School. Not sure if that level of effort will wake me up or make a nap more desirable ???.

I wanted to say Thank You to Mr Thompson for his willingness to allow my efforts over the past four years.

The only reason that I have an understanding of what is required from a Principal is that my oldest Brother fought that fight for many, many years. As I was trying hard to raise my Kiddos I was often explaining to them that its not job to be their friend, its my job to protect them and try to teach them right from wrong. Add in trying to lay out the best path for them to succeed as adults to the list. Even today, I’m not sure how much my Children (Ages early 30’s to 44) like me?

But I do know that combined to earn six College degrees, have wonderful jobs / careers and collectively have 9 Kiddos of their own. I don’t see any of them as much as I would like but you can’t have everything. So, So Proud of how they all turned out.

It’s not Mr. Thompsons (‘) job to get people to like him, nor should it be. The man 👨 is responsible for everyone who walks 🚶‍♂️ through the doors 🚪 there on The Hill. Students, Teachers, Administration and Staff across the Board. Whole Lotta tough decisions to make every day and like the rest of the World 🌎, 50% of the people out there are locked and loaded to tell you that you’re wrong.

It strange to me, like getting on a Flight ✈️ and pulling against the Pilot???

Please know that I respect and appreciate 🙏 EVERYTHING about Principal Thompson. When I showed up four years ago, with no ties whatsoever to Carroll County, it was his responsibility to protect his space.

Truth is, I would have been disappointed in him if he hadn’t. Once he realized that I wasn’t trying to sell him a Condo in Boca Raton (Casey Burcham bought the last two), Mr Thompson did his best to tolerate an outsider that just wanted to do the same thing he is tasked in doing – watch out for EVERY student that attends the School.

The beauty in having my own space to shower people with support and encouragement is this, if you’re opinion is different than mine I still control the narrative. Want to spit hate or disrespect at people, you can do that on Social Media but not here.

Wouldn’t it be crazy to think about a site that does nothing but encourage and support the Locals ? I hope 🙏 people realize that was the goal and I’m at peace with my efforts.

Time to wrap it up now before I take my Nap in the Gym. Let’s end it with a Top Ten list of reasons how Mr. Thompson and I are similar….

Drum Roll Please :

10. We have both been through a life of Medical 🚑 challenges and are still here by the Grace of God.

9. We both want what’s best for as many children as we can influence.

8. At our Banquet last year we both spoke praise towards people we have mutual ❤ Love and Respect for.

7. We both like Mr. Kevin DeHaven and are trying to support him in every way possible.

6. We both understand that the School Superintendent has more responsibilities than most folks can fathom.

5. Macie Adkins and Emma Leath.

4. The amount of Appreciation that we have for Rick and Donna Nester.

3. Card carrying members of the We Love Tammy Quesenberry Fan Club.

2. Our Love 💘 for Duke University, medical 🚑 and otherwise.

#1 – Kris Richardson. He’s my Friend and Mr Thompson has a Home for him to share his Love for the game of Basketball 🏀 with our Youth.

Thank You David Letterman for making the Top Ten List such a part of my repertoire !

That last hour isn’t going to drive itself…..