(Original Post: May 8, 2016)
As has been the trend today, this Mother’s Day, I’d like to stop and take a moment to say thanks to an older person who is very near and dear to my heart. Someone who taught me that even an underdog can triumph in the end if he works hard and doesn’t give up. Someone who taught me that it’s ok to be yourself, and to express how you feel, but that it’s also important to listen to and try to empathize with the feelings of those around you. Someone who inspired me, and inspired countless others to be the best that they could be. Someone who made me smile, made me cry, made me laugh, and, about this time two decades ago, on Wednesday, May 14, 1997, broke my heart and made me say goodbye. Before I get too emotional, let me just stop and say thanks to the person who always made me feel that, no matter where I go, no matter what I do with my life, I will always have a home back in a sleepy little university town in snowy Minnesota that loved a good game of football. Thank you, Craig T. Nelson, you will always have my respect. R.I.P. Coach Hayden Fox, 1989 – 1997 (9 Seasons). Your humor is still missed. I loved every minute of our precious time together. Except for Season Nine, because Season Nine was terrible. Yeah… the rest was really good, though