This is my first blog post in a long time but I have to share this.....enjoy.
You may have seen the shows on TV, you know, the ones about buying storage lockers at auctions..yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup! Well, I've been hooked on those shows for quite some time now and told Gina that I was gonna go to an auction and buy some treasures!
You got it, I did just that! The first auction was a bust, I didn't bid on anything, mainly because I was still in the early stages of recovery from my surgery and partially because it looked like junk. The second auction I went to was much better. I bid on the first locker and lost, only because I set a limit. The second locker, well lets just say that even though I wanted it, it surpassed my budget before I could even raise my hand. Then, the third auction......yuuuuuuuuuuuuuup! I won that sucker, old tires and all!
Wow! Now the fun would begin! Billy, my good friend came to the auction as well. He and I flipped that door open just like on the show and started to dig in! "HOLY CRAP MAN, LOOK AT THIS!" I couldn't wait to see what Billy was talking about and there they were...two...old...chests. Just like the shows on TV, I had just bought something that you couldn't see, something buried, just like a treasure chest in the sand! We tossed stuff out of the way and stood staring at them like two little kids watching fireworks. The first chest we opened contained a lifetime of family pictures, all with names, descriptions and dates written on the back. I just bought someones family history, ironic really, considering I am still learning my family history since my discovery in 2010.
Well, they are JUST pictures, so we moved on. Billy is from the area and has been his whole life. As we dug through more boxes Billy says he knows one of the persons whose contents were in the locker. Just so happens his sister is married into this family.
I sat in my garage with Ethan, my auction hunter buddy, digging through our new found treasures. We weren't going to become rich off this locker, but we were going to make enough to cover our costs and buy another one! Anyway, as I sat there watching the excitement on Ethan's face, I couldn't help but think about those pictures, that family, their history. As we loaded our trailer with the trash, I thought to myself, "You will be throwing away someones life if you throw those pictures out." So I loaded those pictures into two big boxes and called Billy to come pick them up and he dropped them off at his sisters house.
Last night I got a phone call. "Hey Mark, I just wanted to thank you for giving Billy those pictures to drop off, just two weeks ago I asked my cousin Mike if he knew where all of Grandma's pictures had gone and then two days ago they show up on my doorstep. I can't thank you enough for not throwing those pictures out." Wow, I know how this guy feels because in 2010 I felt similar feelings as I found my long lost family.
I almost threw away someones history. I believe it was meant for me to buy that locker that day. I believe it was meant that Billy was there to make the discovery. I believe this was my opportunity to pay back for finding my family.
Don't underestimate the worth of your photos, family, history. Don't let someone else throw away your life, protect it, preserve it, enjoy it..........
Mark
Sorry it's been awhile since I made a blog entry. Getting back to work has been, well, challenging to say the least. But here I go again!
Recently I accepted a position on a board of directors with the thought that in doing so, I could involve my mind in something other than work and continue to be involved with youth sports. How quickly I have realized that it is just another job with it's own stress.
My personal goal as my kids grow up is to be active in the things they enjoy doing so that I can enjoy every growing year. I remember when I was younger, people telling me, "enjoy your kids while they are young, because they grow up so fast". I would just laugh and move on.... Oh boy! Those crazy people were 100% correct!
I have realized how quickly that people forget the reason why we volunteer for different roles in youth sports. Personally, my goal has always been to volunteer so that I can stay connected with my boys in their activities and maybe make a difference in the development of somebody else's young athlete. I've never felt that being a coach made me more of man. What I feel is a sense of accomplishment when I see those young athletes smile, laugh, win and lose. What do we learn from losing? It builds character! Can't win 'em all! I do believe in trying to win though. I think it was Vince Lombardi that said "If winning isn't important, why do they keep score?" Correct me if I misquoted that one.
Besides a little rambling on there, where am I going with this?
I believe it's important that we as adults conduct ourselves in a manner that we would expect our children to resemble. Our kids become who we are, it's important to remember that. I have seen some actions lately that make me feel sorry for the children that are witnessing it and can only hope that those people will change for their kids sake.
Remember, your kids watch what you do....do you want them to replicate your actions? Your kids listen to what you say...do you want them to repeat it?
It's all about the kids...don't forget that.
@markbolin
2010 wasn't so bad, as there were many great things that happened in my life. I had to the opportunity to coach baseball and that turned out to be very successful. Yeah, we won trophy's and had some fun, but the best part of it was getting to spend time with my boys and meet a ton great people along the way that I now call my friends.
2010 also began our oldest son's academic football career. We have been involved in the local youth football league for the previous 4 years, but this is a whole new level. The boys showed how much they have learned over the previous years and went undefeated in their first year! They worked hard, had fun and it all paid off in the end. Just how it should be!
2010 brought some more new family members into my life as well; you probably read about it in past blog posts. What a great addition to my life these people are and I can't wait for the future with them. They are all such great people and I know we will hold them very closely so we will not disconnect again.
2010 brought on another knee surgery for me; a blessing in disguise really as it allowed me some time off to do some soul searching. Ok, the fact that my knee is in the condition of the average out of shape 70 year old sucks, but I'm thankful that I have a great surgeon that has fixed me up again!
I did not make a New Years Resolution because all you do is set yourself up to fail..LOL! How many times you see these resolutions made and they don't make it a week! The owner of our fitness place benefits from it though. He said it's the busiest 8 weeks of the year! That should tell you something!
Finally, I just want to tell all my family and friends out there to make the most of 2011. You control your destiny if you believe in it. If you find yourself challenged with a tough decision, I'm pretty confident you should go with your gut feeling and always remember, if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is!
2010 was a great year all in all and I can't help but wonder: "What will 2011 bring?"
@markbolin
Yesterday I had a conversation with someone, who I will just call Pat for this blog entry. During this conversation I learned just how self centered Pat was. It just bewilders me as to how some people can sleep at night, knowing that the words flowing from their lips are generally just a bunch of BS.
All I ask from people is to just be honest with me and resist the urge to blow smoke up my rear because you don't want to man up and just tell the truth. I don't believe I was asking that much of Pat, but apparently that's not the case. Ok, it would benefit me in big way and have an impact on my home life, but I wasn't asking Pat to be crucified or anything like that.
Instead of just owning up to the ultimate truth, Pat decided to hide behind someone else. Seriously? It's time to be a big boy and start telling the truth; isn't that what you would expect? Well at least I know where I sit with Pat. It didn't feel really good during or after our conversation, but I will get over it eventually. I do feel a sense of relief knowing I have one less person to help out if need be.
Did you see it? Yeah, that was the weight being lifted off my shoulders.....
Thanks for listening to my rant....
@markbolin
I've doing some thinking and no it didn't hurt! I try to get through tough days with humor and sarcasm and think I may have gotten a bit of a reputation for being a smarta$$; I'll take that! If I can bring a smile or make you laugh, I've done my job.
One thing I have found is that there are some people that cannot handle sarcasm and are far from understanding humor. Is life that crappy for you that you can't crack a smile occasionally? It seems like you notice these people more during the holidays, especially Christmas, the one holiday that is supposed to be fun and a celebration of the birth of Jesus! I get a bit of a chuckle reading the stories of people that were Black Friday shopping, cutting in line, stealing doorbuster items from other peoples shopping carts and running, and in some cases just all out fighting! Honestly, I wish I would have been there, that's entertainment at its finest!
I believe Santa in pretty much done shopping for our house, my bank account agrees! If we stop now, we can buy a smaller tree! I really like that we have gone back to getting a real tree. What a great time going to the tree farm and picking out that perfect tree. I have found that each one of us has a different opinion of what is the perfect tree. Maybe it has to do with the height of the individual looking at the tree...hehe, they all look bigger to Ethan! For me, the perfect tree is the one that we all agree on, but most importantly, a tree that will hold all the ornaments! This year I will turn over the saw to Brandon and let him do the ceremonial cutting, a task that the boys always want to do, but I was a little selfish. Maybe getting the tree will put me in the Christmas spirit!
One question I do have: What is the perfect age to break the news of Santa myth to your kids? Ok, I know you're wondering, no, Brandon knows the truth! I do remember when we told him though, it kinda broke my heart, but made me laugh at the same time. Brandon found an unlocked door to the room we were storing the gifts in, so we decided it was time to tell him. I can't remember what age he was, but when we told him, he just broke down crying! Holy crap Batman, did we just destroy our kid? He recovered nicely and has done a great job of keeping the secret for his little brother...but...I think Ethan may be on the bubble. Why do I think this? Well, most of his friends are a year older than him or more and I can't believe someone hasn't told him yet. He did make reference to Santa having EVERYTHING that he wants, but I can't help but think there is that doubt.
So what's the perfect age? Do we let him figure it out on his own? Will his buddies tell him? Help me out people, I don't want to have the same reaction as we did the first go around! It does leave a great story though....:)
Remember what the season is about and share some humor with the Grinches that are out there!
@markbolin
Thanksgiving always brings the "I'm Thankful For.." words out of people. That's great, but you know what, I have a lot to be thankful for every day.
I have a great family that I'm thankful for. You may think your spouse is the best, but I would argue with that because I'm confident that my wife is the best. Live with me for one week and you will understand why I say that! I am also thankful for my two boys God has blessed us with, because they keep me on my toes. I am also thankful that they look a lot like me because then I didn't have to spend any money on a paternity test!
I could go on forever with all the things I'm thankful for, but I will avoid sounding cliche'. What I will say is that I am thankful for the life I have with my family; everyday.
Have a great Thanksgiving and don't stop being thankful everyday, because today could be your last.
@markbolin
