Age ain't nothing but a number

OK, so Tom Watson fell just a little short. Holding a 1-stroke lead heading into the 72nd--and final hole, the 59 year, 317 day old young man's adrenaline was pumping like a 17-year old's, and he hit an 8-iron about 200 yards, pure and solid--but just past the hole and over the green. From there he drew a less-than-favorable lie, putted it within about 8 feet, but left the par putt that would have won the British Open just a little short.

A 4-hole playoff with Stewart Cink saw time finally catch up with Mr. Watson, and a runner-up, rather than a championship, was his final fate.

But that ought to tell us all that age ain't nothing but a number. If a 60-year old man, one who had his hip replaced in October, can go to one of the toughest places in all of professional golf to not only compete--not only make the cut, but challenge for, and actually tie for the title--then how much is left in all of us as we age?

Next year I'll be hitting one of those "milestone" numbers. While plodding along just fine at age 49, you gotta peek ahead just a little. Thanks, Tom, for letting me know it's all good up ahead.

The thunder rolls

Raining in Birmingham this morning, or more accurately, enduring a thunderstorm in the vicinity. Thunder here truly "rolls" between the "mountains," and makes it very loud and hard to sleep. We were up late last night attempting to see what we could do with the rest of the summer, and I had planned on sleeping in a little--ha! 6:30 rolled around far too quickly today, but couldn't be helped with the gentle rain accompanied by the all-too-loud thunder.

So last night's activities are still fresh on my mind--having given up on a vacation due to this commitment or that commitment, the task is now placing kids in what camps or activities may be remaining. And even that's hard.

Took a large "desk calendar" from Office Depot yesterday, and filled it with remaining commitments the rest of the summer. There were blocks for days where there is literally no space left--between plays, rehearsals, Jr. Miss pageants (Sarah), golf (Andrew and Collin now), work (Sarah), college visits, trips to/from Tuscaloosa (Caitlin), doctor's appointments, social engagements (kids, not parents), school (Sarah), and the like, it made everything near-impossible.

For Rachel, who has been very busy 4 or so nights a week with play rehearsal (Leeds "Beauty and the Beast" opens this week--go see it!), just trying to find her an art workshop or camp. We missed out early this summer on a couple of opportunities, and it seems there aren't many opportunities remaining. But we're still looking.

For Collin, trying to balance soccer, basketball and golf. For golf, there are a couple of short clinics we're signing him up for, and that might be all we do. The best soccer camp we can find for what he needs overlaps with what our favorite basketball camp may be. So one of them may have to give, unless something else pops up.

But enough of a brief distraction from getting a few things done. Doing a little publicity for Beauty and the Beast this morning, as well as for Our Lady of the Valley, and need to get that accomplished before leaving to teach a class at 10. So back to it! The rain and the thunder isn't nearly so bad once you decide just to get up out of bed, by the way. I didn't feel that way around 6:15 this morning, though!

Happy Fourth of July

No real theme to this post, so wishing everyone a Happy Fourth of July seems as good as any, considering the date.

Been busy as usual. Trying to balance personal and business is always a tightrope walk with the wind gushing and operating without a net, it seems.

I guess the big story going on now is college visits. We have been to Auburn, Vanderbilt and Birmingham-Southern, and really liked two of the three. We had high hopes for all three and were disappointed with one. Next week we stay close, and visit Alabama on Tuesday and UAB on Thursday. Considering I teach a class on Monday and Wednesday, and considering that each week I pick up Caitlin from Tuscaloosa on Wednesday or Thursday and return her on Sunday, and considering Rachel is in play rehearsals four or five nights a week now--well, you can see how the tightrope act balances, can't you?

I've still been "tweeting," but most of it has been for Kentucky Sports Report, a quasi-business function, I guess. I have CartLaw and AlabamaLawyers, as well as DarrellKSR that I also "tweet from" on separate Twitter accounts, so those, plus this Blog, mean it's spread a little thin. Wish I could say the same for my waistline.

Was also volunteered to help Leeds with publicity for "Beauty and the Beast," the play that Rachel is in, and I'm glad to help. I like the director, Cliff Keen, and it has two of Rachel's schoolmates in it, as well as her school's drama director, Mike Bridges. Really doesn't take that much to help publicize an event like this, so I'm glad to do it. But adding that to the rest--well, I don't think I have reached that "straw that broke" but I can always see it nearer and nearer.

Went bike-shopping with Andrew yesterday. He's getting a more serious bike for his birthday. He enjoys bike-riding, and will no doubt take one with him to campus whereever he goes to school, so a good one is almost a college necessity for him. Saw a couple of bikes yesterday that cost more than a couple of cars I have bought. We're nowhere in that vicinity, but well over the low-end "Huffy" type bikes I'm used to buying.

Too much to do today to blog long, so I'll close. Here's wishing everyone has a happy, and safe, 4th of July holiday.