When it came time for our three children to decide what was next regarding their education, Ruth and I deferred to them. We spoke of college all the time but would have been ok if they took a pass. They didn’t.
David was first and he enrolled at Western Michigan University like me. He planned to study to become a teacher. Once he arrived, he missed being an athlete. He competed every season during his middle and high school years. He started playing on baseball and football teams prior to that when he was about five.
Another former Addison student was working as a manager with Western’s men’s basketball team. They needed a second, and David took the job. He had the opportunity to play in some of their practice sessions. Ruth drove to Kalamazoo several times to watch David pass out towels during the game. We went to a local bar a couple of times hoping to catch the game on TV. We didn’t care about who won, we just wanted to see our son pass out towels.
When he came home for Christmas break, he talked about changing schools to compete again. He’d been offered scholarships to run track, but he turned them down because he didn’t like running. Basketball was his real love.
The two of us visited Hillsdale, Siena Heights and Spring Arbor Colleges to see if they were still interested in him running. They were. During each of our visits we discussed the possibility that he play basketball and become a two-sport athlete. He had a dream, and I was doing whatever I could to help him make that dream come true. Ultimately, Spring Arbor College offered him a spot on both. There were no promises of playing time, just the chance to compete. The rest was up to him.
He ran track for two years and played basketball for four. He excelled at track and did well playing basketball. Ruth and I once took a three-hour drive, one-way, to Ohio to watch him run for 46 seconds.
We went to all but two of his college basketball games. It wasn’t unusual to drive for two or three hours after work to watch a game. The two games we missed took place over Elizabeth and Michael’s Christmas break when we spent a week in Pensacola, Florida. Ironically, we missed one of David’s best games.
After graduation, David landed his first teaching job in Brooklyn, Michigan. He coached the JV team for neighboring Clinton during that first year. His then girlfriend, Lindsay, came to most of the games and we talked about college. She too, was attending Western Michigan University. During our discussions I learned more about this beautiful girl. I could see she was special even though she changed her major more than anyone I’ve ever met. Over time she narrowed her focus, and her final move has turned out to be a great decision.
Shortly after coaching for Clinton, the same job opened in Brooklyn, so he coached for his home school for a few years. After a home basketball game on February 14, 2004, David joined Ruth, his brother, Michael, Lindsay, and me in the stands. We had the inside scoop on what was about to happen. David came into the stands to speak with us, and his team returned to the court with a large homemade sign that read, “Will you marry our coach?” Lindsay shook with excitement and when she turned to look at David, he presented her with a ring. The deal was done.
While he was still in middle school, David became a fan of Michael Jordan. By default, he became a fan of the North Carolina Tar Heels. His mom bought him posters of Michael and books about his basketball career, and when David had the chance, he took Michael’s number 23 for his basketball jersey. I never saw him play with his tongue hanging out like Michael, but he could have hustled with him. He always gave his all, even when all wasn’t enough.
David turned forty-nine yesterday. He was born on Easter Sunday in 1975. I learned about unconditional love that day. I also learned that love at first sight is a real thing. So did Ruth.
And if you’re not convinced of that, take a look at this year’s March Madness outfit that my oldest son is sporting. I’m not sure that this is his best look, and I’m very sure it’s not his best decision, but he’s his own man and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Neither would Ruth.
Snazzy! ❤️