BALLS

The first “A” Team, Carmen, Colleen + Chris

The number 3. It’s followed me my whole life. My parents had three kids—Carmen, my sister, who was the Assistant Coach to the Head Coach, and my Mother. Chris is my “older” twin brother, by three minutes. He’s the point guard. Me, #33, well, I was most often in the center…as the center for the New York Mills Eagles Basketball team in the late 70s and early 80s. Then there was the backup Center, at the University of South Carolina, Gamecocks, on a full-ride scholarship. Back in the early days, I was the Center of Town with Carvinals, the Surrey Bike, and my whistle to round up more teammates, like Merry Jo, who lived across the street. We were four, and it was time to build a new team. Merry Jo became my first teammate, a rock, and now, as Assistant Head Coach (Mother was always the Head Coach in my life), Merry Jo became my strong forward. She led the way to fun in my first “Hood” in New York Mills, Minnesota, population then about 700. We dressed as if we were going dancing, grabbed the Surrey, and headed to Mandy’s grocery. Shopping locally was instilled in us from a young age. We were going for red licorice, a standard go-to treat.

Siblings launch you. They build you up and teach you how to play together. Only one rule: “Never have too much fun”. Always have manners and play fair by the rules, with no contact. Never end the day angry. Guiding us on how to get in and out of losing quicker. Mother's voice dancing in our heads, “Show me a good loser and I will show you a loser!” Said with the grace of teaching how to strive to get better in this balance of life.

We started with Baseball—Mother’s favorite sport. Then there were tennis balls. Chris took up tennis and found a new teammate. Me…it was the Ballroom. I loved to dance. Did it at every chance, mostly, with Elvis Presley blaring from the phonograph. He was my first love, not a teammate, but a soulmate.

Carmen was with Mother in the kitchen, rolling balls to make cookies for us to take a break with, a cold glass of milk waiting for us when the timer went off. Or, Mother would go outside to the kitchen porch and ring the bell to call us home.

Today, the three of us are a forever team. Calling on each other when the game of life is close at hand. We fight, fall, and go to the final inning in the game of life together. Finding a win from each temporary loss and making each other better to face another day.

So grab a ball, go outside, and look for a team to join. Mother said, “If you are looking for a teammate, find the best and see where your dreams will take you”. Eventually, I found a teammate back in middle school. Her name was Janet, and she was the best of the best. It took me into the world.

Today, I am the Head Coach and have built another team. Adam is my point guard, Chris is my wingman, and we are dancing every night at Frosty’s Spirits & Social Club! Be our guest! Join our team of Ambassadors and be a part of LIVING HISTORY!

#33 was made for me…and Larry, my first Bird!