My son Jordan, at age 5 got me into cycling. He had just learned how to ride without his training wheels and he wanted to take to the open road. We turned out of Paddock Circle, made a right and a left, and found ourselves on Liberty Road heading north. The open road and Jordan were just ahead of me. My boy.
We rode for about 1/2 a mile and came across a dirt path. I yelled from the back, right turn. Side by side we rode to the east across an open field of green, brown, and yellow. We rode alongside a row of trees that suddenly cleared about a mile in. A big brick house was going up in the clearing. We had come into a new neighborhood that was just going up called Sherborne Mews. Sherborne, little did we know, would become our home in ten short years. We turned to the right and rode our way back home through the Retreat and another new development called The Chase. Funny, huh.
Twenty one years ago, my son Jordan rekindled my LOVE of the bike and set in motion my extended affair of the heart with the open road. I simply LOVE being outside and picking a new road, turning down a lane with no idea, and exploring my way back to the barn.
Fast forward to today. My son Jordan, this past week at HMB, rekindled my LOVE of the game of golf. I had mostly lost interest in the game over the many years of playing competitively and recreationally. My game had slipped and I didn’t have the energy to mess with it. I just didn’t.
Last week, however, watching him smile between shots, feeling the club meet the ball in the sweet spot on occasion, smelling the ocean, the green grass, and simply being with my son, I was transported to my early years playing the game. I didn’t care then and I don’t care now what was my score. I simply wanted to be outside and with my friends. I simply wanted to hit the ball, go find it, and hit it again.
Last week, the same. All I wanted to do was hit the ball, watch Jordan do the same, and do it again. I even ran in between shots just like back in the day with my Dad. Every time I ran, I thought of him. I could have been back at the Elks C.C. in Salina. My mind saw him, saw the course, and I realized that this is a game to be shared with those that you LOVE. It just is.
Jordan and I are going to be golfing together. We just are. He rekindled my LOVE of the bike and now, the ball. Soon, he and I will be visiting a place we don’t know. I’m going to bring my bike and ball and my best buddy, Jordan. He is no longer a boy, and yet no matter how big, he’ll always be my son. Together we’ll take in some new roads and some new courses. We’ll create more moments of memories. We’ll share a pint or two after it all and we’ll laugh about the day and the deed. Some day Andrew and Taylor will too. Some day…
My life just acquired another physical dream. I can already imagine the moments that lie ahead. I just can.
Dream AND do, my friend.
Dream AND do…
BUILT TO LEAD 