Psalm 22:24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
Middle School should start at 4:30 !
Have a Blessed Day 🙌😇🙏
It was back in 2015 when Chris Graham and I were down in Greensboro, North Carolina, covering the Men’s Atlantic Coast Conference tournament for his online newspaper 📰, called the Augusta Free Press.
Now, when I get to finish my seventh and final book, people will read a great deal more about Crystal Graham because she is one of my pick – six. God placed six people in my life at various times that combined to carry me to the life I have lived.
Most people have short-term memories or something I like to call 📞 – What have you done for me lately folks. The series of events that involved Crystal took place two decades ago but will never be forgotten.
More about her later, though, because this story is about being overqualified for a job that nobody wants you to have anyway.
We had what felt a solid decade-long run and with 50 years of writing ✍️ stories, Chris Graham is still my first choice as an editor, without a doubt.
Now, back to that night in Greensboro, it was the first of two times that we made thar trip together, and both years were lifelong memories.
My motto has always been Duke, UVA, and wherever I stay. To translate, it is those two schools 🏫 and then you do everything you can to support the school closest to you.
Graham and I would share a laugh about the fact that we both treasure our University of Virginia degrees ! The one he earned and the one I bought, by sending the fifth of my five children to The Grounds.
We share our love ❤️ for the Hoos but have a slight difference of opinion on life down in Bull City.
Duke had just finished up a win over NC State in the QF when Chris asked me to pen 🖊 a column about the upcoming NCAA tournament for Coach K and his Blue Devils.
I have to stop and give credit to both Jimmy Buffett, who was my writing mentor, and the Greatful Dead for that line in a song 🎵. I never followed the Dead, but Jimmy did a great cover of the song.
Some people think there clever, I know that I am so there is that. It was a fun, fun piece to write back then.
What happened next….
I happened to be up there for the National Championship game, and I still have the Natty Ring 💍 from it.
I went from writing ✍️ that story and watching 👀 it play out over a three week span to trying hard to convince a local Junior Varsity Basketball coach that I’m qualified to be his beat writer.
Talk about a downhill career projectory…
Our paths don’t cross very often anymore because we are chasing very different things as we enter the last leg of our journey called life. I should say that I’m doing that anyway.
There is a great line about my sole baseball hero, Greg Maddux. It goes like this…. Greg Maddux won four straight Cy Young awards, but Cy Young couldn’t win four straight Greg Maddux awards.
Chris Graham is fighting a fight that you either love him for or hate him for, but I promise you that nobody else can be Chris Graham.
See, Chris is a Democrat and I have never voted 🗳 in my life, just declaring that my trust is in God. But my mission in life is not that different from his and his bride. They are searching for accountability while I’m searching for equality. It’s just not that different….
So, next time someone wants to question who I am or what I’m qualified to do, here’s my thought.
Let me know when you wrote a story that helped a legendary coach win his fifth and final Natty.
Crystal Graham, you are forever a part of my success story, and I love ❤️ you for that ! And always will.
Chris Graham, keep fighting for your beliefs !
Everytime that I hear that opening line in his post game presser, I smile 😃 and then I say, Thank You, Chris Graham !
https://augustafreepress.com/news/eight-is-enough-for-duke-to-run-the-table/
The Link to the original story….
Not only did they make sure everyone had the opportunity for food and beverages, but they also sold $400.00 worth of 20/20 tickets.
**** This is why, when it was time, I let everyone involved come center stage for the drawing !
The easy way to go would be to say, ” Thank you to the folks in the Concession Stand, but I never ever look for shortcuts when trying to say THANK YOU !”
As the dust was settling and most everyone was 30 – 45 minutes past ready to go home, I asked if someone would please 🙏 take five minutes and list every player and every adult that gave up their Sunday to make my life easier. Yes, they did raise money 💰 for their team, too, but the fact that they were so frickin pleasant about made my heart ❤️ skip a beat.
I asked for a second thing, could they give me one funny moment that happened during the day….
Amzie Lawson offered 🫴 this….
” Travis ate 18 Hot Dogs 🌭,” when Travis heard this, as quick as a whip, responded, ” Actually, it was 19.”
Ron Cochran will be story #3, but he ties to story #2 as well, as does long-time friend Dennis Cerrie.
Dennis and I go way, way back, and while I ran through the entire $250,000.00 earmarked for distribution, anytime money that I’m not counting on appears, I put it to the best use possible.
Dennis was paying me back for something a few years back, and the timing lined up perfectly.
The Bible Story about 5 loaves of Bread 🍞 and two fish 🐟 is one of my favorites so it begs to question, just how many people can you touch in one attempt ???
The middle picture 📸 is the Vickey Voucher, and the one on her way to Church Lady (Kristy Jones ) had my back by recovering them after Ron taped them to the front door 🚪 of his shop on his day off.
Half the money ended up going to The Church ⛪️ Lady and her Kiddo because they were the car assigned to the winning team.
The other half bought Lunch for all of our Special Olympics guests and put money 💰 in the account of some pretty neat young ladies and their head coach !
Maybe not a Feeding of the 5,000 but I’m not God or Jesus, just someone who believes !
‘Da Pain, Boss, ‘Da Pain 😢😭
Yesterday morning 🌄 , I prayed 🙏 for the strength 💪 to drive 🚗 the 25 minutes to The Hill, spend what turned out to be 11 hours, doing my absolute best to make every person that I crossed paths with felt welcomed.
The last decision to make was what shirt 👕 to pull out of the closet ???? Well, if you are praying 🙏 for what it takes to act like Tim Tebow and represent God at the same time, put on a shirt with Tebow’s name on your back.
Well, just to show you that is a cost of doing business, I type this with a fire 🔥 red ring around my neck. The good news is that I don’t have to appear in public until we host volleyball tomorrow night.
If you’re a fan of our ministry, say a prayer 🙏 for a speedy recovery. The flip side is if you’re not a fan, insert laughter 🤣 here, and then I will say a prayer for you.
There will be a story about the following, but each individually.
Ryan McCafferty
Kristi Jones & Company
Rick and Donna Nester
The Virginia Surge
Greg Bolen
Joi & Sam
Vickey Ritchie and Friends
Kevin Burress
Eddie and Dakota Walls
The Lady Cavaliers
CCHS Alumni Lady Cavaliers
Psalm 21:13 Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
Have a Blessed Day 🙌😇🙏
