This morning as I was getting Victoria off to school the phone rang. "Hi Momma! I just got fitted for a Golden Helmet!" As I have written before, my son Steve is a sophomore at Notre Dame. It has been his dream since he was a small boy to attend ND AND to play football there. He "walked on" for football tryouts in January and has been getting up at 4:30 in the morning to workout with the team trainers before his day of classes begin. He has been happy but exhausted. The possibility of being "cut" hangs over his head everyday. He told me yesterday that this has been his hardest week in college up to this point. He had a philosophy paper due and three mid-term exams this week along with football practice every morning at 5:30. The sheer joy in his voice at 7am this morning let me know it was all worth it.
Steve starts Spring Break today. He and his father are leaving this afternoon for a short weekend in Miami before another week of training three times a day. When Steve returns to campus in 10 days, he will have a locker in the team locker room. Inside will be his jersey and all of the paraphenalia required to play football. But most importantly, when he opens his locker for the first time, his own Fighting Irish "Golden helmet" will be sitting on the shelf. He still has a ways to go. After spring ball, another "cut" will be made. But right now he is still there. Dreaming his dream and working as hard as he can to make it happen. We are so very proud of him. He inspires me to be the best I can be. How cool is that???
That is so great! I have been following your blog for awhile and remember you talking about his dream. Congratulations to him and your family! That is so inspiring to see someone reach their goal which may have seemed impossible. :)
Posted by: amy | March 06, 2009 at 09:46 AM
I love hearing about your family! And your love & support of them...How exciting!
Posted by: Cyndee Greene | March 06, 2009 at 09:59 AM
Hi Kathy...there is an award at my blog for you. I won't be so flaky on the follow thru this time...you SO deserve this!
Posted by: Cyndee Greene | March 06, 2009 at 03:41 PM
I AM SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!! He is meant to play @ Notre Dame Kathy... it's his destiny, right? I've already thought if there is one extra ticket for any home game that you attend, I will get up at 3AM on a Saturday morning and meet you there... SERIOUSLY!!! How much fun would you and I have there with all those college kids?
I continue to send all the positive energy I can muster up for Stevie... I know he and I have never met, but please let him know that a certain friend in Wisconsin couldn't be more proud to know how hard he's been working to fulfill his dream.
Congrats in getting this far for BOTH of you Kathy... I'll talk to you soon... got your email and I will bounce that back on Saturday.
Posted by: Jennifer White | March 07, 2009 at 02:15 AM
All the best to Steve, a modern-day Rudy. Cheers!
Posted by: Al | March 08, 2009 at 08:20 PM