“50 years & 100 Memories…” (continued)

* (7) (8+6+3)+200 = HOPE – the ages of 3 little boys and the length of the bus ride from Bowling Green, VA to the Philly bus station on Filbert Street = the hope-filled embrace of my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop!

* (8) A place to DREAM Big! - Preston Playground becomes my classroom with no walls from the age of 6 y/o til my early 20s. Many of my life lessons are learned at our neighborhood gathering place. My “teachers” were an eclectic group of coaches, social deviants, upstanding citizens, manual labor professionals and libation laureates.

* (9) “I have a dream…” speech – 5 y/o at my grandparent’s house on the day MLK, Jr. delivers his memorable speech; being told to sit down on the floor and watch the B&W TV not really understanding the significance of of the moment but, noting how emotional a moment it is for my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop.

* (10) FOUR deaths + an early dismissal – I remember that all daily activity seemed to completely stop on the day in 1963, when JFK was assassinated; in 1965, a lot of the old-heads on our block were even more leery of the “man” after Malcolm X’s death and rampant rhetoric of distrust could be heard on our block; on the day that MLK, Jr. was assassinated in 1968, we were told about the assassination at school and dismissed early. I remember how eerily quiet the streets seemed on the ride home; Robert Kennedy’s death in 1968, put adults at their collective wits-end. U.S. citizens were fed up and the nation’s collective vulnerability was palpable.

* (11) Black Power - I can remember the evening news showing the riots that erupted in Watts (1965), Detroit(1967) and in Philly (1968). James Brown’s song, “Say it Loud…” was blaring on radios in the late summer of 1968 at Preston playground as we played ball.

* (12) Slobberknocked! – 5th grade and my first football practice at Coopertown Elementary School and doing “the Pit” drill vs. Lon Claney a 6th grader. He drilled me! The lesson – the difference between being “hurt” (temporary) & injured (can’t continue). I was told that I was ONLY hurt!

* (13) My first TD – 5th grade game vs Oakmont ES; memorable play: Quick pitch/Right; Scampered to the end zone untouched and ran “scared” the whole way – remembered my Lon Claney moment the whole play! (note: I had to wear jersey #55 the whole season to honor an injured player on the 6th grade team. I had to give up my coveted #22 jersey that I wore to emulate the Dallas Cowboys Bob Hayes’)

* (14) Balsawood Airplanes – I loved these planes and I got my very first one at Preston Playground.

* (15) Taking the early bus to elementary school to make certain that I ate the free breakfast meal. Having to use free lunch tickets was a source of embarrassment as I got older in school.

* (16) My first pair of bell bottom pants – they had light orange & gold stripes. I knew looked sharp! (NOTE: it was around this time that my Auntie Ro-Ro gave me the nickname “MillionDollars” – she was such a wonderfully, eccentric spirit that I loved to be around.)

* (17) “Get a Switch!” – three foreboding words that would ultimately precede a moment of pain. My grandparents had hedges that surrounded their house. When our behavior wasn’t appropriate, we were given a bit of “motivation” to behave better - a switch. Adding indignity to our indiscretion was the ritual of having to select the switch that would be used to spank/whup our behinds! Mom-Mom’s Switch Rule: the switch better be strong and flexible enough to last for 3 butts or we would have to endure retrieve another one and get an additional whupin’! Lots of arguments occurred in the backyard between me + my two brothers about the durability of the tool that would dole out our corporal punishment. Those arguments/debates were hilarious!

* (18) My first Navy Pea Coat – my grandfather made special arrangements for us to be a part of a holiday party for underprivileged kids and one of the gifts was a beautifully wrapped box with a huge red bow on it. It contained a Navy Pea Coat. Man, that coat was soooo beautiful to me!

* (19) Coals + Switches – the threat that loomed over any child that misbehaved during Christmas. Instead of gifts, you would receive coals + switches in your stocking. My Mom-Mom taught me a BIG lesson that Christmas when I was 8. After some “behavior modification training” from my Grandmother, I got my gifts after the New Year. My Mom-Mom and I were really close and I believe that I get my entrepreneur spirit from her. The next Christmas my Mom-Mom wasn’t there – she died earlier that year.

* (20) PB&J sandwiches – in 1967, a fight at the playground with the new kid, Norman Lane. The peace offering was an invitation to come over to Norman’s house for a PB&J sandwich. Meeting his parents, especially his, Mom, Mrs. Lane (affectionately called, Miz Lane), would be a life-altering moment for me. Note: I’ve had a key to the Lane’s home since I was nine.

* (21) Russ Herman – my first coach and sports encourager. He ran the summer sports/rec program at the playground and was a school teacher. He was really a good man.

* (22) Norman, Tommy + Jeffrey – my 3 closest friends growing up. Norman (Miz Lane’s son) + Tommy would be tragically killed in car accident at the age of 26.

* (23) WHY NOT?! – two words of permission and empowerment that Miz Lane introduced me to and proved to be valuable in my education of how to take a risk and how to turn a dream into a reality.

* (24) Coaches, coaches + more coaches – I played so many sports and had many, many coaches but these are memorable ones from my formative sport’s years… Mr. Scmidt (5th and 6th grade football), Mr. Belini (Jr, High School football), Mr. DeCampli + Mr. Ritts (Jr. High School track)

Coach Bush + Coach Keyser (High School Soccer)

* (25) Summer Orchestra – 4th grade intro to the cello and 4 summers of participation in the school district’s year-round orchestra program. NOTE: I didn’t let many people know that I played the cello for fear of being teased. Miz Lane + my grandfather were my main encouragers.

* (26) The SHACK – a recreational destination in nearby Ardmore where the black teens from the Main Line congregated for parties. A lot of great memories of parties there and games played at Ardmore playground.

* (27) “Skitzies” – teenage lunacy moment. In the winter after a good snowfall, we would go outside and try to grab onto the back bumper of a car and have the driver drag us along, in our boots, down ice and snow covered streets ‘til we couldn’t hold on anymore or you fell off the back of the car. Madness!

* (28) Philly Delicacies – Cheesesteaks, Tastykakes, Soft Pretzels and Water Ice(Philly pronunciation – Wudder). Mmmmmm!

* (29) Got Game?! – to satisfy my passion to get better at a sport, I was constantly finding clever ways to sneak into sports facilities to play and practice (especially in the winter time). The main places that I frequently performed my athletic B&E exploits were The Haverford School and Haverford College.

* (30) Moonlight is enough – I spent a lot of time honing my hoops skills via moonlight because there weren’t any lights on the basketball court at Preston playground. But that wasn’t a big enough deterrent to keep me from workin’ on my game.

* (31) That’s HAVERFORD… – whenever we went to a big relay event for track, our school had a national reputation. While I was at Haverford Junior High, we had a dual meet win streak of 88 straight W’s. Sports Illustrated Magazine recognized our streak in an issue. I remember racing at a very big meet that had 70+ schools competing, the Ardmore Relays, and hearing the whispers from the other schools acknowledging our presence as we circled the track for a team warm-up lap. It was a big deal to make the team.

* (32) All-Gates experience – my high school had a very unique opportunity to attend this college prep program that mimicked a college environment. It was quite an achievement for me to be a part of this my senior year.
* (33) Another Bus Ride – this time it was for a good reason…in August of 1977, I was headed to college at Tennessee Wesleyan College. I accepted a partial scholarship to play soccer for the newly formed team.

* (34) Deadly Bees! – at my summer job where I worked for a school district maintenance department, I chopped into a ground hornet nest and was stung 17 times. I woke up in the hospital and was told how luck I was not to be dead. I’ve been deathly afraid of bees ever since.

* (35) Moonshine – who knew…there’s actually real moonshine stills in the Smoky Mountains. Just don’t make the unfortunate mistake of stumbling upon one unannounced. My college roommate & I were “escorted” out of the illegal distillery area by the bootleggers after the ascertained that we weren’t “revenuers”. PHEW!

* (36) GO Navy! – my brother, Donnie joins the Navy to turn his life around. It works!

* (37) It’s a BOY! – the birth of my 1st son, Kevin Jamal, occurs on March 19, 1979. I miss the blessed event because I’m heading home from college. My life changes dramatically after his birth.

* (38) FULL MOON (aka Choices & Consequences) – due to a moment of poor judgment and conduct detrimental to the team, I withdraw from school, in the Fall semester of my Junior year, before any other action can be levied against me for my stupid conduct. It was a team prank that I stood up and admitted to doing it but, no one else came forward. So, I was the “example” for others to heed.  A HUGE lesson learned.

* (39) LIAR, LIAR – Miz Lane’s cautionary conversation with me about knowing who I am and realizing that deceit is not my forte. Miz Lane’s PB&J wisdom: “be true & honest always, Kevin.”

* (40) Kiddie City – I get a job at the local toy department store and within a month of working there, I realize that being a stock boy isn’t the career position I was destined to have!

*(41) 69th Street – I decide to enlist in the Air Force and get up early and take the trolley to the recruiting station at 69th Street in Philly. The recruiter is like a used car salesman trying to convince me what would be the best process for me. I tell him that I just want to leave ASAP and ask what job can get me stationed in Germany. He sells me on Security Police – BIG mistake on my part!

* (42) Do the RIGHT thing…– there’s one hitch to me getting outta town quickly…my son. A regulation required that I be married of denounce my son. I chose to get married after my Grandfather told me to “do the right thing.” A request from a phone booth and a shotgun wedding within a week, I was on an airplane (for the very first time in my life at the age of 21) and gone in 10 days.

* (43) 3708 BMTS – Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB was absolutely cool. It was there that SSGT Spear( first row, center w/drill instructor hat- I’m standing next to him on the left) gave me my first chance to lead a group and I realized that I had the ability to be a leader. He taught the importance of a leader has the authority to delegate duties but, not the responsibility of the outcome and the importance of leading by example.

* (44) From House-Mouse to Dorm Chief – my 1st leadership experience.

* (45) REALLY?! – that was my reaction when I was told that I my orders were getting changed and I would be going to language school in Monterey, CA (Defense Language Institute/DLI). I truly didn’t think I had the aptitude for languages especially after my very brief effort in HS with Spanish (after only 5 minutes in the class, I dropped the course). The AF got it right. I spent 10 years in the military intelligence area as a language translator and learned 5 languages!

* (46) Better Choices – when I worked at the National Security Agency (NSA), I learned a great deal about the “true” ramifications of the work we did in the intelligence field.

* (47) Farewell…Tito (not Jackson), Hello Germany! – with the death of former Yugoslavia’s leader, Josip Broz Tito, I got an opportunity to attend DLI again and study Czech. I was assigned to Hahn AB, Germany for a 3 year tour and lots of soccer! My 2nd major leadership experience occurred here. My 2nd son is born in Germany in the fall of 1983.

* (48) Where’s your soccer field? – that was the first thing I asked of our host in Germany. I carried my cleats in my carry-on bags and I went to the local team’s practice, FC Büchenbeuren, the first evening I was in country. I also played for the AF team and one year later I played for another local soccer team, FC Rhaunen. I suffer a major knee injury in an AF game and that injury would redirect my life after 1985.

* (49) Norman & Tommy’s death – a really difficult and emotional loss in my life. Miz Lane, Mr. Lane and Mel (Norman’s sister) do their best to cope. Miz Lane shares an amazing eulogy at the funeral that truly embodies Norman’s spirit.

* (50) Back-to-School – after my knee injury and the death of my two friends I decide to get back to my college studies via the extended learning program offered thru the University of Maryland – it was a GREAT decision.

* (51) The Donut & Burrito Hut – in the tiny, West Texas town of San Angelo, Goodfellow AFB can be found along with Angelo State University (and the fine dining establishment known as the Donut & Burrito Hut on Knickerbocker Rd.). After Germany, my next duty assignment was Goodfellow and I continued my studies at Angelo State and was a member of the athletic training internship program at the university. Randell Gene Matthews was the head athletic trainer and he provided a Miz Lane moment when he agreed to allow me to be a part of the program. in Randy’s words, “I’m not gonna tell you NO!” He now loves to recall that moment and take credit for being the “one that saw my potential” – LOL! Note: in 1986-1988, I got to work at the Houston Oilers training camp that was conducted at Angelo State. I learned how to tape ankles using the tape scraps from used rolls of tape I picked up off the floor of the athletic training room.

* (52) Whatever it takes – in order to go to college and work in the athletic training internship program, I had to get approval to fulfill my AF duties (teaching Czech) on the late shift from 2300hrs - 0700hrs for nearly two years. Then I received a coveted Bootstrap scholarship from the Air Force that allowed me to attend the university fulltime for my final year of studies. 

* (53) Houston or BUST – after completing my studies under the direction of Randell Gene and fulfilling the required number of internship hours, I go to Houston in 1988 to take my licensure test to become licensed to practice athletic training in the state of Texas. I PASS!

* (54) Next stop COLORADO - I travel to the Denver suburb of Aurora in the spring of 1989 and take the National Athletic Trainers Association/NATA certification exam. I PASS! NOTE: at this time, I’m the only nationally certified athletic trainer in any branch of the armed forces. As a result, I get to participate in the Armed Forces Sports program, travel around the world as the athletic trainer for many of the world championship competitions.

* (55) Thunderfoot - My 2nd son, Keith, shows an unexpected ability to do somersaults and kick a soccer ball in mid-air (aka a bicycle kick). He wows the families at his older brother’s soccer games and is rewarded with extra snacks at the end of the game from admiring parents (Capri Suns + orange slices).

* (56) 3241 Glenmore Drive – the Texas locale for my failing marriage.

* (57) The HOLT mobile – I bought a car from Pierce Holt who played football at Angelo State and was a standout player in the NFL for the SF 49ers. The car was Pierce’s first car and was pretty beat up with dents (Pierce was legally blind in one eye and that side of the car took a bit of a pounding). Pierce sold the car to me for $500.00. After he was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1988 NFL draft he unexpectedly gave me the $500.00 dollars back because he felt like it was the “right” thing to do. He was always a class act!

* (58) The long and winding road – packed into my ‘87 Toyota Tercel, I drove my family to Philadelphia and returned alone. My marriage was over in 1989. When I returned, 3241 Glenmore Drive was a really lonely place to live.

* (59) I’m OUT! – I receive an early release from my enlistment obligation to the Air Force in 1990. I submitted a Congressional Inquiry after not being granted the option to be transferred to the Air Force Academy to serve as an athletic trainer. The Commander at Goodfellow AFB wasn’t happy about the inquiry and stated to me that, “ You’re going to wish you stayed in the AF.” I politely told him that the AF provided with all the tools I needed to be successful in the “real” world and I said in a bravado-like tone, “look for me on TV, Sir!”

* (60) Jersey Boy – my very first athletic training job was in Marlton, NJ at the Temple Sports Medicine clinic. The famed Philadelphia Eagles’ athletic trainer, Otho Davis, was instrumental in securing my first gig. I traveled to NJ every day in the summer of 1990 for work in my Tercel and then would swing by to see my sons on the return trip thru SW Philly. I learned a great deal about the profession of athletic training there.

* (61) SWP – Southwest Philly has always been a grimy place with its share of deviant behavior and illicit activities. In 1990, my sons were spending a lot of time at their grandmother’s house in the heart of SWP. On this weekday evening, I had just arrived from Jersey and was sitting on the stoop with others from the block and we start to hear someone screaming for HELP up the street. It was a young teen stumbling down the block and continuing to yell out for assistance. Out of instinct as a care-giver, I ran up the street to his aide. What I saw was completely unexpected and not something that I encounter in a game situation – he had been shot multiple times and was bleeding profusely! I tried to assess his condition, look for life-threatening wounds, and tried to calm him down. As I was doing me best to tend to him, an undercover police van came speeding around the corner and two officers cam leaping out the van, screaming at me to get away from the young man. They grab him forcefully, toss him into the van, and speed away in the vehicle – it seemed like it all happened in seconds. I looked down at my hands and clothes and I was covered in blood. I walked back down the street and the block was abuzz with speculative talk about what had just happened. Their voices sounded like garbled noise. I was noticeably shaken by the experience and I just made my way into the house to clean myself up. It turned out that the young man was involved in a drug deal gone bad and had been left to die. The cops were looking for him to provide evidence and he had stumbled away from the scene. Just another day around-the-way…

* (62) It’s finally OVER! – the divorce is final in 1992 (shared custody at this point) and it would not have happened if it wasn’t for the assistance of Joe Hopkins. He was my son Kevin’s soccer coach and an attorney in Philly. He was one of my guardian angels and really provided a great deal of guidance for me.

* (63) Wait ‘til they get a look at me… – The Haverford School/THS (an historical, exclusive, all-boys, private school in suburban Philly) interview with Coach Mac + Sheila Maginn. Apparently, the athletic department staff expected a young, white man of Irish descent to arrive for the interview…then I arrived! Coach Mac is impressed (especially after he hears my story of sneaking into the school’s gym in my chilidhood) and he wants to make history – even in 1990, THS never had a person of color on the faculty. I got the GIG!

* (64) 754 – I lived with Mr. & Miz Lane temporarily when I returned from the Air Force and was looking for an athletic training position in 1990. The arrangement proved to mutually beneficial for all of us – it was an emotionally symbiotic realationship.

* (65) FSI – for extra income, I worked at Cathy Rush’s (famed hoops coach of Immaculata College) Future Stars International summer basketball camp in the summer months of ‘91. She gave me my first public speaking opportunity – albeit it was less than an ideal situation/scenario.

* (66) PIZZA…PIZZA and more PIZZA! – the first apartment I rented in the Philly suburb area was above a pizza shop in ‘90. My sons thought it was the coolest place to live because we could get their favorite food in the whole world – PIZZA!

* (67) EA – my next position in ’91 was at the rival school of THS, Episcopal Academy (a co-ed, historical, private school in Suburban Philly). It was fantastic because my sons could attend the school at no cost to me. I could see them every day!

* (68) E-A-G-L-E-S…EAGLES! – because of my friendship with Otho Davis, I got the opportunity to work the Eagles’ summer training camp and a few regular season games from ’90-’92. I learned a great deal from the staff members – two would go on to be NFL head athletic trainers/David Price + John Melody.

* (69) The HAWK will NEVER DIE! – I get an unexpected job offer from St. Joe’s University/SJU in Philly in the late summer of ’92. It comes with some unwanted litigious ramifications. I learn quickly how to deal with difficult situations and this moment proves to be another one that shaped my leadership style.

* (70) I GOT PEOPLE too! – Otho & Randy provide some much needed guidance to navigate thru the professional challenge that I faced in my first year at SJU. They were incredibly supportive and insightful.

* (71) The FIELDHOUSE – Alumni Fieldhouse on the campus of SJU was an amazing place for my sons to be able to spend time and grow. They had many “teachers”: student-athletes (Rap + Bass), staff (Geoff, Phil, Coach Griffin), and the Sixers staff (Al, Scotty, Mike) who used the historical hoops venue as the NBA team’s practice facility for several years.

* (72) LOVE the one you’re with – WRONG! I learn some BIG lessons of the heart while living in Philly from ’90-’97. 

* (73) “I need a new athletic trainer…” – the words that the head coach of the 76ers, Coach John Lucas, said to me so matter-of-factly in my office early in the morning. 100s of applicant. The interview process was a bit unusual because it lasted for more than a month and it all happened at SJU Fieldhouse.  I GOT the J-O-B! (Jerry Stackhouse, AI, Mo Cheeks, Len Elmore)

* (74) Trenton Makes the World Takes… - I’m asked to participate in a Nike youth event (Believe to Achieve) being held in Trento, NJ. It’s here that I meet Howard “H” White (and shared the stage with Spike Lee!). After I shared 5 minutes of inspirational thoughts, Howard told me, “you’re gonna be at Nike one day!” “H”’s statement proved to be prophetic.

* (75) Turbulent Hoops – from ’95-’97 I spend two tumultuous, turbulent, topsy-turvy and lesson-filled years with the Sixers organization. (A HUGE growth period for me!)

* (76) BIG COMMITMENT – at this point I have full custody of my two sons via an “agreement” with my ex-wife. It won’t be easy but, I truly know it’s the right thing to do for my sons. I made a promise to not repeat my father’s choices and I will be present for my sons.

* (77) It takes TWO to make a thing go right… – Elandra Farrior + Gina Hackett (two SJU students) split the duties of watching my sons when I’m traveling with the Sixers. They do an amazing job and really allow me to be at my best in my work.

* (78) I don’t get it… - because of Howard White’s support and belief in my talent, I was invited to attend a gathering on the Nike campus in Beaverton, OR to discuss design and performance of Nike’s hoop products. I happened to raise my hand to share my p.o.v. about one of the products (kinda like Tom Hanks’ character in the movie BIG) and questioned the performance benefit of the design. Healthy discussion followed my remarks and then I was approached by lead Nike exec for basketball, Peter Ruppe. He asks me a very interesting Q: “what’s your ideal job and position?” My response: “…a place that honors my gifts, talents and treats me accordingly.”

* (79) The OFFER(s) – Peter presents an unusual opportunity for me to join Nike and create my own role within the organization. I accept and give the Sixers my notice – Pat Croce is the Prez and he offers great encouragement to me. I “offer” my heart to my special someone and think it’s the true moment – she accepts but, it’s short-lived. I receive the engagement ring a few months later in the mail and a note that simply said – I’m Sorry.

* (80) Guarded – I become really guarded emotionally and pour myself into my sons and my work. Work is amazing & I’m flourishing at Nike! My oldest son is struggling with the cross-country move but, my younger son, is thriving in PDX. Kevin, now 18 y/o, decides to return to Philly at Christmas break and never returns. Keith and I press on together in PDX. After more than a year at Nike, I get into another relationship but, I’m truly guarded. I find myself recreating the same pattern in my personal life of pursuing women that are lacking emotional strength. I realize that if I’m ever going to break my pattern of being involved in bad/poor relationships, I gotta get some help to better understand ME.

* (81) Lonely work – I meet a fantastic mentor, Dr. Peterson, who assists me with working on my personal development and gaining greater clarity about ME. I’m truly a work-in-progress and I know that I will always be growing and evolving.

* (82) WHS & Choices – Wilson HS is where my son Keith is attending now and he will have a stellar HS sports career. I have so much fun going to his games and I take pride in the way that he conducts himself on the soccer field and on the basketball court – he’s got a really high athletic IQ! I will continue to follow Keith’s play into college at Monmoth College, IL. He had better collegiate choices/opportunities but, I had to let him own this part of his life – now he’s nearly 25 and he wishes he had been a bit more proactive about his college choice.

* (83) Life at the SWOOSH – is fantastic! From the time I started at Nike in ’97 til the time I left in ’04 my time at Nike was phenomenal. It was my sports nirvana! Highlight: spending time with Bill & Barbara Bowerman and gaining favor with Phil Knight.

* (84) If it doesn’t work out…- I hear this statement from one woman (Karen) regarding the relationship I’m in at the time. I learn later that another woman (Trudy) is saying the same thing to Kim Kief. If the relationship that I’m presently in happens to NOT to work out, there’s someone you’ve got to meet. Little did I know…

* (85) GIRLS. GIRLS, GIRLS… - In April 2000, Nike held it’s Take Our Daughters To Work Day and had many programs for all the young ladies that came to the campus that day. I conducted one of the sessions in the Nike Design Library and one of the attendees was quite impressed by my message. So much so that she went home and told her Mother all about it over dinner – it would be the stuff of a made-for-tv-movie lore. Enter: 9 y/o Kavina Kief + her mother Kim

* (86) Another BIG Heart lesson is learned! See memory #79 to get the gist of this relationship moment. All broke up again over a relationship gone wrong!

* (87) Why can’t WE be friends?! – the courtship of KC via Kavina. Kim + I become friends thru our shared experiences as single-parents. We were unaware that Kavina had BIGGER plans as she began to devise and execute her parent-trap plan.

* (88) COFFEE?! – “you should take us both out for coffee”, said Kavina, “Mom won’t say NO!” Two coffee dates and very distinct conversations with the two new ladies in my life – WHO KNEW?!

* (89) Mary J. Blige – she put it best, “REAL LOVE…I’m looking for a real love!” Well, I found it with these two ladies. Unconditional and TRUE!

* (90) Proposal + a frown – I propose to Kim in June of ’03 and it’s really a great moment for both of us. But, Kavina was a bit sour about the idea because she thinks our marriage will change the relationship that she has developed with me. Kim + her Nana assure Kavina that it will be even better. She relents and…

* (91) AUGUST 15TH , 2003 - PRICELESS! (our wedding day)

* (92) TOUGH LUV – more lessons for me on being a parent to adult-children. Some confusing moments…more confusion…more clarity…more confusion…an “loving” ultimatum…realization that more than enough has been done.

* (93) Life-long Learner – thanks to my Grace + Kavina + the boys + Miz Lane+ friends + experiences, I understand my responsibility to constantly seek growth moments.

* (94) Grandkids – what am I supposed to do?! I’m learning about this role. Never really thought about being one and now I am x 4. Can you say life-long learner opportunity?!

* (95) Life After Nike/L.A.N. - Author – WHO KNEW?! Miz Lane is behind this new venture/career

* (97) L.A.N. - Speaker – WHO KNEW?! An article in the Oregonian created this new direction.

* (98) L.A.N. - Agent for Social Change – WHO KNEW?! Global travel with Nike presents the clarity of the role and importance that play can have on a life and a community. I’m proof of the concept! I decide to take on the role of serving the world as a human catalyst in 2004.

* (99) Life, LOVE & Living with Grace – literally and figuratively! My life partnership with Grace + the wonders of having a HEART-mate.

* (100) I’ve still got many more things to DO and experience and I’m sure I have… many more MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP…

I’m so grateful for the loving support of my family and friends.  And I appreciate the life that I’ve been given.  My hope is to be of even greater service to people, and to continue to be an agent of social change.