Sitting here on Thanksgiving morning and thinking about what I am thankful for. I cannot forget what led me here today and this picture of me running in the Alabama State Championship at Troy State University set me on the path to be a part of MileSplit.
I am thankful for my family even though I lost my son in his battle with his health. I am thankful for the 41 years we had with him when they said he only had a 10 percent of surviving his initial tumor at eight years old. Yes he did run one year of cross country while we were stationed in Germany.
I am thankful for Barbara Clair Mathews my wife of 50 years who had put up with constant moves while in the U.S. Air Force and long days waiting for me to get home from cross country and track meets.
I am thankful for my daughter Paula Jill Mathews who gave me Hannah, Colleen and Alison my super grand daughters. Yes my daughter and Colleen ran at least one season of cross country and Alison has competed in track as a high jumper.
I am thankful for all the athletes I covered this last season in Cross Country as they represented themselves and their school. It was an exciting season as more girls run under 20 minutes that ever before in Mississippi. I am looking forward to trips to Birmingham, Alabama to cover Mississippi athletes as they compete indoors. Then comes outdoor season and all the track meets I get to watch/video and shoot pictures of athletes as they give their best in their events.
I am thankful for all the Trojans that I coached at Northeast Lauderdale High School. I love it when they greet me around Meridian and still call me Coach.
I am thankful for my fellow veterans that served our great country. I truly wish those that are serving now especialy those in foreign lands going in harms way for this country.
Most of all, I am thankful just to wake up on the green side of the grass this morning with the rest of the day being icing on the cake.