Thousand of Miles

A couple thousand miles-not sure how far exactly, but it's very far today. Distance can grow or shrink I've found, depending on life's circumstances. Always been like that. The World Games keeps a coach away for two weeks everytime there is that commitment to take on the job. It's the same for athletes, but maybe not with as much “real world” consequences as with the coaching staff.

A call from back home reveled good and not so good news. A new grandson would be arriving to this world by the end of the week-not so long overdue, but for daughter Tenley, (and her doctor) it was time. Grant would be welcomed into our lives by Saturday. I'd hoped that he would be born before I left for LA so I could meet that little bugger, but he was in no rush and happy apparently where he was. I resigned myself to see pictures of him until I get back in another week and half. He will be a joy and his big brother will wonder what just happened to his happy 3 person family, now four.

The sad news from all those miles away, was that my mother in law Janet had made a turn for the worse in Hospice. I think it surprised everyone how quickly her health deteriorated. Just a few days ago, we had been busy moving her things from one apartment to her room and cleaning out her home. I felt terrible. Friends and family were told to maybe come visit as soon as they could. My family needed support and I was a long way away and could do nothing to help. We don't choose the timing of these things, the precious or the disheartning, they just happen.

I'm here in California, with a great team under my direction-they are performing well in training and getting their World Games legs under them before Opening Ceremonies. For us, we need to be at a high level of energy at all times-so much to do seemingly every second of the day. The air was taken out of my sail by this sad news. I called back home as often as I can to just talk, to see how everyone was doing and offer my thoughts and prayers-about all I can really do. Circle of life thoughts went through my mind constantly-so much joy on one hand and concern on the other.

It's been a couple days since that call and things have remained the same on both fronts, still no new baby and mom has not improved. We just have hope day by day. The athletics team has been great, assistant coaches have stepped in when I have been less that energetic and offer their help in anyway. We have so much to do everyday and maybe being so busy helps me in some way.

The World Games will go on no matter what happens to each of us on the team or anyone from the 170 countries here about to walk on stage to the official start. There will be great achievements and disappointments, tears of joy and sadness. That is how it is in Special Olympics. This is how it is in life as well, no matter how we wish it were different or no matter how many miles there are between us.