Congratulations to Ashlee DePhillippo! Ashlee, you have a seat at the FATJEF on Saturday, March 3, 2012, in Rancho Cucamonga, at the Goldy S. Lewis Center
paradox [ˈpærəˌdɒks] n.
A person or thing exhibiting apparently contradictory characteristics.
So…
Seattle…
the week of January 16th.
“Clean Out My Brother’s Belongings Week”…
more aptly titled…
“Snowmaggedon.”
I can’t remember when…
I’ve both dreaded and subconsciously feared…
anything more.
Armed with Sons #3-#5…
the four of us left at an insanely early hour…
in order to make our 2:00 p.m. commitment.
We landed to see this.
It’s a good thing the words were spelled out clearly here!
While the surroundings were quite familiar…
(comforting, even…)
for a moment…
I thought we took a wrong turn!
Huge, white flakes were voraciously descending…
from a dense and totally-socked-in-sky.
It.was.freezing!
When we got to the rental car building…
Son #3 came through in the clutch.
“Please, for the love…
of everything moral and decent…
do not tell me…
that the guy driving up…
is in our rig.”
Two words: Mini-Van.
I digress in order to say…
that I simply love, love…
love it when my children exhibit trust!
We weren’t even to the counter yet.
The atmosphere in line…
was somewhere just below…
full blown panic…
and I marveled at how well…
I could relate…
given the emotional build up…
to the events I was facing.
Sons #4-#5…
were practically wearing…
“Yes, we’ve grown up…
in the Sunshine State” badges…
as they frolicked out front…
throwing snowballs at one another…
while possibly inadvertently pegging…
a few innocent bystanders.
If you were one and reading…
I truly am sorry.
Truth be known…
I had been mulling over…
the possibilities of being stuck.
I just piled this…
on top of the rest of my totally…
unsubstantiated worries!
I settled on a steed…
(Suburban)
that was now clipping along…
at a rather brisk pace…
in order to meet the deadline…
of arriving at the University of Washington…
Hec Edmundson Pavilion…
for a presentation…
honoring my brother, Tim.
There are very few things…
that I can think back upon…
in the life of my brother…
that were easily executed.
Therefore, the present circumstances…
should’ve come as no surprise.
Oh, he made it look that way…
over and over again…
but my,my…
can’t looks be deceiving?
If the shoe were on the other foot…
he would most definitely chime in here…
and state that my attendance…
at his sporting events…
was the part…
that was anything but easy.
Ron Bollinger and Tim…
coached basketball together for years.
Lots of them.
Inclement weather…
snow, sleet, nor hail…
would keep us…
and our dear friends, the Browns…
from this auspicious occasion.
Ron is a part of Friends of Hoop…
and every year they host a huge…
tournament over the weekend in America…
that honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Some of the games are even televised.
While I grew up in Seattle…
I left there many years ago…
for Southern California…
where we were going to live for one year.
That was 28 years ago.
Hec Ed was where I graduated.
I love this landmark.
That day…
it took on even more significant meaning.
We were ushered inside…
to the VIP section…
where we watched a game.
Loved it.
A beautiful honor and privilege.
The building is immense…
the game was exciting…
the crowd enthusiastic.
Mostly because there were…
even more games to come!
Except for the part…
where I know…
beyond the shadow of a doubt…
my brother was rolling his eyes…
and heaving a huge sigh.
Yes…
there was a rather large box of M & Ms…
that perhaps in an exciting moment…
got jostled from my purse…
and bounced…
VERY LOUDLY…
down every.single.step…
into each and every section…
below me.
It got very quiet.
Mostly…
because the sound resembled…
gun fire, I think.
Son #3…
“You couldn’t have gotten DOTS?!”
Between games…
they honored my brother…
by bringing Ron and myself…
center court…
while they showed this…
and read some humbling…
yet incredible things.
Interesting that my brother was also both.
And surrounded himself daily…
with equally great individuals.
In Western Civilization…
we laud this type of recognition.
It certainly is both a privilege and an honor.
But we can tend to take it way too far…
by attributing it to success.
My brother was insanely successful…
but the paradox will hopefully…
not only surprise you…
but also make you think.
I know I certainly have…
and will continue to do so.
That, my friends…
becomes significant legacy.
So very grateful that my kids got to live it.
Can’t wait to share more,
Wow! What a blessing for you guys!
[Reply]
Teri Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
It was, indeed. XO, ;0)
[Reply]
Beautiful!!! What a tribute!!!
[Reply]
Teri Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
XO, ;0)
[Reply]
What a great experience that must have been to see Tim honored. I love – love to see people honored for being good people or for having accomplished something of substance. Not just for being well known (read celebrity, politicians, etc.) which I think is way overboard in our society. I’m sure that seeing him honored as a great man was so very inspiring to his students who knew, loved and walked with him.
I can’t help but also notice that I won the drawing. I’m very excited. Thank – you!
[Reply]
Teri Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
Ashlee,
It was a thrill to see my brother honored in this way. And yes he was very deserving. I, too, am thrilled that someone as wonderful as yourself won the prize! XO, ;0)
[Reply]