As usual I am bit late to the party, but I appreciated getting to read some brilliant threads Tuesday. Unfortunately,my wife was sent to a job training in Asheville,her diabetes took a turn for the worse,and I have spent most of the past two and a half days driving over the mountain .May be something I should be thankful for....watched tributes for two hours Tuesday morning and it was getting emotionally overwhelming,so an excuse to leave the TV might not have been bad.A few thoughts I did want to share,however,fwiw:
1.It's been a tough week.My father began exhibiting signs of dementia about a year after Pat was diagnosed and the disease has progressed a lot this year.He quietly gave up his LV season tix when she retired,but at least has been able to follow the tributes on ESPN.
2.The only positive to be found about this awful disease is that you progress beyond the anger stage and learn to be thankful for what you did get to have with someone instead of regretting what might have been been . Five years ago,I was angry.Now,I remember that Dad and I took off on the spur of the moment in 1996 as football fans who had never been to a women's game .We drove to Charlotte,paid 25 dollars apiece for all three Final Four game tickets,and got to see what may have been the greatest game in college basketball history in a gym that was two thirds full .Four years later,tickets to see Pat and Geno square off were 400 apiece.I. never got to see Ali fight,Babe Ruth hit,or John Wooden coach ,but I can always tell my kids about that game,and about Peyton.Thanks Pat.
3. I had already thought of Pat a lot the week before the news hit. My reason ,of all things ,was because my wife had moved heaven and earth to get my seven year old daughter Dolly Parton tickets. I realize that Comparing Pat And Dolly opens the gate up for all sorts of juvenile humor and under different circumstances I might be participating. Both of them,however,transcended their profession and became iconic role models through sheer force of personality because they were above all genuine. I took classes in Appalachian Lit. As an undergrad.My professor once commented that rural Southern heroes -Nascar drivers ,Country music singers ,Sec players ,Have to be "one of us" more than any other cultures' heroes.I tthink now of every time I heard someone on the Thompson Boling call in show after a game ask Pat a stupid question which would have drawn a demeaning response from many coaches,and she invariably treated them like family.Pat was one of us.
4.I saw where another poster Tuesday expressed shame ,saying he was carrying on like he had lost a family member.I see no reason for shame;we did lose a family member.
5.Has there been a sadder year than this ?Was watching tributes to Ralph Stanley when I heard about Pat. Someone new every day.I am almost afraid to turn on TV.
6. One of my favorite quotes came from Bob Green when he referred to the Greatest Generation as a "safety net".Feel the same about Pat.
7. Usually I only wear a Tennessee cap when I am out of town...Don t want to have football conversation with every idiot out there.This week ,like the one at the beach,have had on orange from head to toe.Prouder than ever to be a Tennessean.THANKS ,PAT.
1.It's been a tough week.My father began exhibiting signs of dementia about a year after Pat was diagnosed and the disease has progressed a lot this year.He quietly gave up his LV season tix when she retired,but at least has been able to follow the tributes on ESPN.
2.The only positive to be found about this awful disease is that you progress beyond the anger stage and learn to be thankful for what you did get to have with someone instead of regretting what might have been been . Five years ago,I was angry.Now,I remember that Dad and I took off on the spur of the moment in 1996 as football fans who had never been to a women's game .We drove to Charlotte,paid 25 dollars apiece for all three Final Four game tickets,and got to see what may have been the greatest game in college basketball history in a gym that was two thirds full .Four years later,tickets to see Pat and Geno square off were 400 apiece.I. never got to see Ali fight,Babe Ruth hit,or John Wooden coach ,but I can always tell my kids about that game,and about Peyton.Thanks Pat.
3. I had already thought of Pat a lot the week before the news hit. My reason ,of all things ,was because my wife had moved heaven and earth to get my seven year old daughter Dolly Parton tickets. I realize that Comparing Pat And Dolly opens the gate up for all sorts of juvenile humor and under different circumstances I might be participating. Both of them,however,transcended their profession and became iconic role models through sheer force of personality because they were above all genuine. I took classes in Appalachian Lit. As an undergrad.My professor once commented that rural Southern heroes -Nascar drivers ,Country music singers ,Sec players ,Have to be "one of us" more than any other cultures' heroes.I tthink now of every time I heard someone on the Thompson Boling call in show after a game ask Pat a stupid question which would have drawn a demeaning response from many coaches,and she invariably treated them like family.Pat was one of us.
4.I saw where another poster Tuesday expressed shame ,saying he was carrying on like he had lost a family member.I see no reason for shame;we did lose a family member.
5.Has there been a sadder year than this ?Was watching tributes to Ralph Stanley when I heard about Pat. Someone new every day.I am almost afraid to turn on TV.
6. One of my favorite quotes came from Bob Green when he referred to the Greatest Generation as a "safety net".Feel the same about Pat.
7. Usually I only wear a Tennessee cap when I am out of town...Don t want to have football conversation with every idiot out there.This week ,like the one at the beach,have had on orange from head to toe.Prouder than ever to be a Tennessean.THANKS ,PAT.
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