Ball and Driveway

Whenever I would get bored as a kid, I knew exactly
what I was going to do.
Go to the garage, search for the dirt covered sphere and
head to the driveway. I would shoot and play for ever
during the summer. Most of the shots were ridiculous.
Behind the backboard. From behind the car. Shots way too
far out of my range. I loved making myself the hero out
on my driveway. Throw the ball towards the side of the driveway
and try to save it before it rolled down the hill. Picture myself
at the top of the key, 20 seconds left, counting down in my head,
holding the ball, waiting for the last shot. 3..2..1..entttt!!
The driveway, the ball and my mind could keep me
entertained for hours. I always thought about playing basketball
for college when I was a kid. But I never really worked hard
on the driveway. I just wanted to have fun. I still play to have
fun. Now when I shoot I do more of a serious workout. I still have fun
and shoot a few silly shots and a dunk here or there. But I truely miss
the imaginary hero days from the driveway

Hospitals

I've never been to the hospital much in my life. Some kids go reguraly because they have a family member who stays sick. Others go to get treatment for themselves. Me, I don't have many, or any medical problems that I know of. The only times I can remember going to the hospital are for my mom's heart surgery, my grandpa passing away, when Greg Lindsey had his accident and maybe a few other miscellaneous times. Every hospital visit for me has been painful or sad. Yesterday was the first time I experienced amazing happiness at a hospital. My baby nephew, Wyatt, was born. He was born at 5:53 P.M and when I got to the hospital at 6:15 he was already in the newborn baby viewing window. Looking in that window is exciting for anyone. Everytime I've been to the hospital I make it a point to go see the new babies. But words can't describe how great it felt to see my nephew in that window. I listened to my dad proudly make calls to friends and family proclaiming in every call, "8 pounds, 6 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long! He's a big one!!" Everything was great about September 3, 2009. It was so cool to finally be able to hold Wyatt. Nothing else mattered in the world to me at that moment. Immediately thoughts poured through my head of him growing up and me being the coolest uncle possible. If Wyatt wants to drink pops and eat candy all day when I'm watching him in a few years, thats fine with me. I'll teach him how to shoot and dribble a basketball! If he stays at my house on the weekends when he is a teenager I'll be the cool uncle who lets him stay out late. Completely strange thoughts like those just zipped through my head. I laughed aloud while thinking these thoughts and couldn't help but smile all night long. I can't wait to be a big part of his life. It is astonishing how different one trip is to the hospital than another. One, you're saying good byes to a loved one and another you're welcoming one into the world.