Thoughts and Gratitude

I put a lot of thought into this... all year honestly.  I just decided to do this after reading Lotus' gratitude list yesterday.  There will be a gratitude list on the end of this.

It's always interested to reflect on the last 365.   A year ago, I knew I was doing this, but I had a romantic ideal of how smoothly this would go.  Clearly this was not to be the case!  It's been a little over a year since I was offered, and accepted, the position as the assistant volleyball coach at College of St. Mary here in O-town.  I knew I wanted to find a job here that would allow me to make volleyball my priority.  Did you know that if you don't have a job, it's very easy to work your schedule around coaching?  It is!

Oh, fun fact, I'm nearly through the year I get to be called 30.  I'm almost 31 years old.  It's interesting to be nearly 31 and not feel (at least in my head) any different than I did five, six, eight years ago. I guess it's probably not best, but I really don't know what the hell 30 is supposed to feel like.  I've joked people about my thinking that I am suddenly going to wake up and feel like a grown-up, but evidently, that's not about to happen.  It's okay, I don't think I need to feel grown-up so long as I act like a grown-up from time to time.

So, the question that's kinda in my head right now is this: "Does personal training truly combine my teaching experience and training with my recent turn toward health and fitness?"  I feel like it does, but maybe that's just a way for me to justify it...  That being said, I'm still super excited about starting this new chapter.

I didn't imagine when I lost my job at Fireside that I'd end up here.  Honestly, aside from David Day Harbaugh the Eye Vee, who among my CO people was less likely to move away from Colorado than I?  The funny thing is, I don't find myself home sick (though we'll see as we go through snowmobile seaso- I mean winter).  I do miss my people desperately though.  The best part is that the people I've met and known here have been amazing in helping make the transition easy.  Sadly, few of them are on here as fb friends, oddly.  And that sentence has too many adverbs, but I'm leaving it.  It's fine.

I am super happy I've done this.  While the volleyball season didn't go as I'd hoped that it would, I am gaining valuable experience and I hope that the career path I'm envisioning can work out.  Even if it doesn't, I finally did it.  I followed the dream.  While my dream of coaching college ball didn't involve a gym like CSM's, or being the bus driver (yeah, I have my commercial driver's license), there are so many aspects of it that blew away what I would have expected.  Getting to travel to a couple of places I'd never been, coaching at UNK (Even if we got MURDERED), and the whole recruiting process.  So amazing.  In addition to all of that, I really have enjoyed the state of Nebraska.  The people here are amazing.  I have to admit I haven't made a whole ton of friends, but I am finally starting work, and I am dating a pretty amazing girl. 

Actually, as I'm reflecting on all of this, I'm realising that I am feeling somewhat grown-up.  Weird.   

On to my Liist O'Gratitude:

  I have to start by being grateful to everyone who helped make this move possible.  First and foremost, Jake Nelson who gave up the first week of his summer to come to Colorado to help me pack up and move.  This is even more remarkable when you consider that he was 16 at the time.  He also spent the entire LAST WEEK of school at Hodgkins with me, working as a classroom volunteer.  He was incredible, and I just want him to know how much that meant.  Jake, you were amazing, and I am grateful for not only that, but the time we've gotten to hang here in O-town.  Oh, and I'm grateful for you BACKING INTO MY CAR!!!!  Wait, I mean washing my car that time.  

  Jeffro and Allie.  When you guys came over to help me pack up, it's clear that I wasn't even close to being ready.  The two of you were unspeakably helpful.  Your ongoing friendship means the world, even if I can't remember the joke, Jeff.

  Mike Fisher, my NASCAR and snowmobiling friend.  My move would have been nearly impossible if you hadn't not only loaned me your trailer, but then DROVE TO O-TOWN WITH ME!  You being here, playing golf, and drinking Coronas on my first night helped immensely and I am so grateful for your kindness.

  Dave and Linda Felber.  I am so deeply indebted to you I cannot ever, EVER repay you.  While I know it wasn't the situation any of us had hoped for, the two of you were WONDERFUL!  I fancy myself a wordsmith, but in reality, I can never put into words what your generosity has meant to me during this transition.  I am sorry that I haven't been great about staying in touch since I moved out.  I'll be better.

  Jenny, Scott, Alex and Reid Nelson.  Thank you for being my second homeless home!  I know it can be a bit of an inconvenience when I take up your basement, but I always felt welcome and at home.  I still do, and you've been super helpful in helping me settle in.

  I'd be remiss if I didn't mention to Dave, Linda and Jenny how grateful I am for the help moving and setting up the new place.  Dave's muscle was indispensible, and Jenny and Linda's eyes helped this place feel like a real grown-up lives here.

  Sam Hammond, thank you again for this opportunity.  While I know we weren't as successful as we wanted to be, it'll get better and we've got a great core of girls to build from.

  Amber Lotus Levene, thank you for posting gratitude lists, they inspired me to do the same.  Thank you for your long time friendship and ongoing friendship.  I'm sorry we missed each other when I was home last, but I'll see you whenever I make it back to Denver.

  RJ and Carrie De'Anor thank you SO much for swinging by O-town.  I had SO MUCH fun that night.  It's wonderful to have family swing by and lift ya up at just the right time.  Until that evening I had no idea how much I was missing you and I'm so glad that I was able to swing by when I was home for Mary and Brian's wedding.

Speaking of that wedding:

  Alana, thank you for your patience that night.  I know I was a bit of a handful, both at the beginning and end of the night, but there are few who I trust more than my sister to keep an eye on me.  I am so grateful that you have been a close friend for so many years, ans so glad that you humored me in my implusivity at the beginning of the evening.

  Mary and Brian, I'm just so grateful to have you as friends, and to be a part of your lives before and since you got together.  It was a wonderful, beautiful celebration, and I look forward to more great times with you both.

  Todd and Allyson, every time I am with you, and am struck by your kindness and positivity.  I am so grateful to be a part of your lives.

  Doug Haley, thanks for giving me a place to watch fireworks on the Fourth, and being a gracious host for Jamogars!  I am so glad to have you as a friend, even after everything went down at Fireside.  I hope you can find the time to come out at some point next summer so we can play golf and do the Jamogar thing.

 Navarrette, Redeker, Gregg, Marisa, and Courtney, it was wonderful to see you all at school, and going and grabbing a beer (even though I didn't have time...) was exactly what I needed after the way THAT day shaped up.  We had quite a hill to climb as colleagues together, and I am so glad that we have a lasting friendship to show for it, not to mention improving CSAP scores!  I am in awe of what you all do every day, and so grateful to have been a part of that, if only for a single school year.

  Fingers, it was really great to see you when I was at Hodgkins that day.  Thank you for everything you did for me that year there.

  Gould...  I can't put into words what it means to me that you took a chance... in spite of what my former boss said about me.  The community at Hodgkins felt SO good to be a part of.  I am proud as hell of what we accomplished at Hodgkins, and so grateful for the year that you helped me to have, along with the guidance and wisdom you gave me.

  BLATTER!  What else can I say to you?  Thank you for all the help you gave me, along with the friendship and sympathetic and supportive ear you always lent.

  Heather and Brian- You two are amazing.  I miss you two so much, and I am grateful for your friendship and love.  I miss you two and I hope that you will make the trip out here soon!

  Alex Sanders your friendship has meant so much to me through the years.  (Okay, I know we're not really friends, but let's keep the charade up! ;-) ).  I am sorry that your trip out here didn't work out, but I look forward to you coming out and seeing the place.  I am SO grateful that I mean enough to you that you want me to be a part of your marriage to Chris.  I've never seen you as content, happy, and completely yourself as you have been since the two of you started dating.  I am so happy for you, and grateful for your friendship!

  Jay and Whit.  Like so many on this list, the reasons I have to be grateful to/for you are innumerable and I just want you to know how much I love you both, and how grateful I am for your love and support.  We don't talk as often as we should, but every picture message I get with a picture of you or the girls brings a smile to my face, and makes me miss you again.

  Mom and Dad.  Mom and Dad...  I will never be able to tell you how much I love you and how much your love and support through the years has meant to me.  All the help and faith you have given me through the years has made me the man I am... even if it's not perfect!

  If I forgot to mention someone, I'm so sorry.  I know how long this note has gotten, and I know that many won't read the whole thing.  If I left you out, I'm sorry!