SCW

It All Started With a Text

2025-09-22T19:01:00.013-05:00

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The Daughter I Never Knew

A story about family, time, and finding each other after thirty years.

On August 13, 2025, at 1:57 p.m., my phone buzzed with a message from Brooke.

She said she had been struggling with something her mom’s ex-husband had told her — that she should find out who her actual father is.

My heart jumped.

I told her I was super excited — that I figured she probably had questions, and I hopefully had some answers. After thirty years of wondering, I never expected that moment to arrive in a single line of text.

We started talking back and forth that afternoon. Messages turned into longer conversations, and pretty soon, what started as questions became connection. We both agreed to take a DNA test to find out the truth once and for all. Brooke got her test first; mine came a day later. We took them on a Wednesday night and mailed them off the next morning. Then came the waiting — checking the tracking number more times than I’d like to admit.

“When the results came in, the world shifted.”

When the results came in, the world shifted. I finally knew — Brooke was my daughter.

Part 2: The First Visit

After all those years apart, seeing her in person was surreal. When Brooke and her family came to visit, it felt like time folded in on itself. The nerves, the excitement, the laughter — it all blended together. We talked for hours, flipping through stories of the past and snapshots of who we’d become. Christie and the kids welcomed her like she’d always been there.

After all the phone calls and planning, the weekend we’d been waiting for finally arrived.

Brooke, her husband Breamon, and their kids — Jace, Oakland, and stepson Gabe — made the trip down. They came on Thursday to visit her nana, who lives about three hours from me.

Friday was the day — the day they were coming to see us. We all decided to meet at Strut’s for dinner. Christie, Meemaw and I arrived, Dawson, Aubree-Anna, Matt — all gathered to meet my thirty-year-old daughter and her family for the very first time since we found out.

When Brooke and her family arrived, it was one of those moments when time seems to slow down. There were hugs, smiles, and a few nervous laughs — that mix of joy and disbelief that this was really happening.

Dinner was filled with stories, laughter, and those wonderful little moments where everyone starts to feel like they’ve known each other longer than just a few hours.

Saturday — The Day the Sisters Met

Saturday morning started early. We met up with Brooke and her family and set out for Atlanta to spend the day at the Georgia Aquarium. But before we could get there, we had one very special stop to make.

Emily’s flight had landed at 5:30 a.m., and by 11:00 we were on our way to pick her up.

Watching that moment unfold was something I’ll never forget. There were smiles, a few tears, and that kind of quiet amazement that only comes when life brings things full circle.

Sunday — “See You Later”

Sunday morning came, and I kept my word. I grabbed my fishing equipment and headed back to the cabin. The boys were waiting and full of excitement, ready to go.

Swipe or scroll to see more memories from that morning.

We didn’t catch any fish that morning, but that didn’t matter. What we caught instead were moments — real ones. The kind that stick with you.

As Brooke, Breamon, and the boys headed back home, Christie, Emily, and I made our way back to ours — hearts full, tired, and grateful.

That weekend changed everything. It wasn’t just a visit; it was the start of a new chapter — one we’d all been unknowingly waiting for.

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From TSA to Schnitzel: My Washington Week with Emily

2025-08-16T11:05:00.020-05:00

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Arlington, Washington

August 9–16, 2025 • A week in the Pacific Northwest with Emily

✈ Atlanta to Seattle
📍 Pike Place Market
🌲 Arlington, Washington
🗼 Space Needle
🏔 Mount Baker
🦘 Outback Kangaroo Farm
🌉 Deception Pass
🎭 Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire

Saturday — The Flight to Seattle

Saturday morning started before the sun—2:30 a.m. early. I woke up, got ready, and Christie, being the wonderful wife she is, was up right alongside me. By 3:45 a.m., we were at Hartsfield International Airport for my 6:30 flight. After making it through TSA, I settled in at the gate until boarding began at 5:50. At 6:21 a.m., the plane rolled down the runway, lifting off for Seattle.

After a 4-hour, 57-minute flight, I landed. Emily was there waiting, and our first stop was Pike Place Market—a must-visit in Seattle. Between the famous Gum Wall, the flying fish at Pike Place Fish Market, and lunch at Ben Paris, it was a perfect start.

Later, we strolled through the Arlington Farmers Market and even popped into Arlington Hardware & Lumber. Arlington felt like a Hallmark movie set. Back at Emily’s, we put on Happy Gilmore 2—though we didn’t make it far before dozing off. That evening, after a Walmart run, we honored Jon Hyatt with dinner at Denny’s. Back at Emily’s, we wound down with TV before calling it a night.

“Arlington felt like a Hallmark movie set.”

Sunday — Church, the Trail, and a Simple Evening

We started the morning with church at LifeWay in Arlington, held in what used to be the Olympic Theater. The sermon, titled “Jesus Problems,” hit home, with the pastor joking about the heat like a Southern Baptist preacher—a line I could relate to. Afterward, Emily, her roommate Jo, and I had lunch at the Stilly Diner, a place filled with vintage photos of downtown Arlington. I ordered a club sandwich, of course.

That afternoon, we took Benny, my granddog, for a hike along the Centennial Trail, walking from Emily’s apartment to downtown Arlington. People stopped us to pet Benny, and after two and a half hours, we headed back. Later, after a Walmart run for ingredients, Emily and I cooked chicken parmesan and stayed up until midnight just talking. A simple evening, but one of the best.

Monday — Seattle and the Space Needle

Despite wanting to sleep in, I was up at 5, Emily by 7. We eased into the day with an episode of Big Brother, then headed for Seattle.

📍 Space Needle • Seattle, Washington

Our main stop: the Space Needle. After wandering the gift shop, we took the elevator up for breathtaking views—Mount Rainier, the skyline, even the Grey’s Anatomy hospital. The rotating glass floor on the lower deck was surreal.

Lunch was at The Bar at Chihuly Garden and Glass—wagyu sliders hit the spot. Then it was back to Pike Place for flowers, a visit to the Gum Wall, and finally, iced coffees from the original Starbucks.

Tuesday — Arlington and a Little Stress Relief

The morning started with Starbucks—pup cup for Benny, coffee for Emily and me. We planned an easy day, exploring Arlington. I picked up a giant chocolate chip M&M cookie and dirty soda at Hammond Bread Company. At Arlington Pickers, I tried their stress-relief game: $1 to smash a glass against a wall. Oddly satisfying.

Wednesday — Mount Baker and Artist Point

We set out for Mount Baker, stopping first in Burlington for my first-ever Carl’s Jr. At Artist Point, 5,100 feet up and 55°F, snow still dotted the trail. Emily and I hiked 3.2 miles, making TikToks along the way. Two hours later, we descended, stopping at Nooksack Falls before heading back.

🏔 Artist Point • Mount Baker

Later that night, I cooked schnitzel for the girls. With Emily’s help, we made schnitzel, broccoli, and corn. After dinner, we sat up swapping stories until about midnight—a perfect way to end the day.

Thursday — Outback Kangaroo Farm

A slower day. We started with brunch at the Stilly Diner, then took a short trip down the road from Emily’s apartment. After doing a little research, Emily found the Outback Kangaroo Farm, where we got to feed kangaroos, emus, and alpacas. That evening, we had dinner at Nutty’s Junkyard Grill—a quirky burger joint filled with automotive memorabilia.

Friday — Deception Pass in the Rain

Rain finally found us—classic Washington weather. We drove to Deception Pass on Whidbey Island and hiked 1.5 miles on Goose Rock Trail. Even in the rain, the views were incredible.

🌉 Deception Pass • Whidbey Island

Afterward, Emily showed me where she works on Whidbey Island Naval Station. That evening, we had hibachi in Burlington and closed the night with Kevin Hart’s Lift.

Saturday — Departure Day

Departure day. Bags packed, we squeezed in a last stop at Arlington Hardware and one more club sandwich at Stilly Diner. My nerves got the better of me—I could only eat half.

Before heading to the airport, we figured out how to transfer my tickets for the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire. Emily and I went Saturday, where she enjoyed the sights and I got to see Jacques Ze Whipper perform.

Back in Arlington, we took one last walk with Benny. With the air show flying overhead, we wandered to the airport, reminiscing about the week. Eventually, the drive south to Seattle came, and with it, goodbye. Emily hugged me tight before I headed into the terminal.

“The memories we made will stick with me, and I can’t wait to return.”

This trip was one of the best weeks of my life—definitely my best with Emily. The memories we made will stick with me, and I can’t wait to return, next time with Christie by my side to share it all.

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:🎓 A Trip to Remember: Emily’s Graduation in Pensacola

2025-07-06T20:59:00.025-05:00

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Emily’s Graduation Weekend

Pensacola, Florida • Family, Navy pride, BBQ, schnitzel, and one proud Dad moment

🎓 Emily’s graduation at Corry Station
✈ National Naval Aviation Museum
🐶 Meeting Benny Lane
🍖 Sonny’s BBQ tradition
🍳 Brunch at The Ruby Slipper
🌧 Rainy Pensacola rest day
❤️ A perfect family ending back in Alabama

The time had finally come—Emily was graduating! After a three-year tour in Spain with the U.S. Navy, she was now stationed at NAS Pensacola, and we couldn’t have been prouder. We had talked about heading down for her graduation, and when the big day came close, we knew we wouldn’t miss it.

The Early Drive

We hit the road bright and early Saturday morning. And by early, I mean 4 a.m. alarm, 5 a.m. wheels rolling. With a five-hour drive ahead of us, we aimed to meet Emily by 10 a.m. — and more importantly, meet her brand new puppy, Benny Lane.

Let me just say: Benny has the energy of a toddler who drank espresso. He was adorable, full of personality, and made an instant impression — mainly on our shoes and legs.

Museum Tour & BBQ Traditions

✈ National Naval Aviation Museum • Pensacola, Florida

Our first stop was the National Naval Aviation Museum — a must-see if you’re ever in Pensacola. After exploring aircraft displays, soaking up history, and possibly rescuing Benny if he was with us on the visit from chewing on a helicopter tire — don’t ask — we made our way to Sonny’s BBQ for lunch.

Museum memories and our traditional Sonny’s BBQ stop.

Sonny’s has become our Pensacola tradition, and Emily's favorite is their BBQ salad. Joining us were Mary, Emily’s grandparents, and Meemaw. Good food, good laughs, and that Southern BBQ charm — what more could you ask for?

Power Naps & Pizza

After lunch, we checked into our downtown Pensacola hotel. Running on fumes, we all agreed that a nap was non-negotiable. A few hours later, refreshed — sort of — we ordered a pizza, stayed in, and called it a night.

Take Two at the Museum

Sunday morning, we headed back to the Aviation Museum to finish what we started. This time, we were determined to eat at The Cubi Bar Café, which we almost managed the day before — missed it by just 30 minutes! But Sunday? Victory. And yes, it was worth the wait.

After lunch, we hung out at Emily’s place for a while before heading out to Bavaria Pensacola, a German restaurant Emily picked for her going-away dinner.

We were joined by her Navy friends Jo, Pink, and Eli — names we’d heard a lot about, but were meeting for the first time. They didn’t disappoint. By the end of the night, it felt like we’d known them for years. And yes, I ordered the schnitzel. Honestly, can you even go to a German place and not order schnitzel?

“Can you even go to a German place and not order schnitzel?”

Graduation Day

Monday morning brought the moment we’d been waiting for: Graduation Day.

This was actually our first time seeing Emily graduate in person. COVID had made her high school and boot camp graduations virtual, so this was incredibly special for all of us.

The ceremony was held at Corry Station Naval Base. We waited outside the gate for Emily, Pink, and Eli to escort us on base, and about 20 minutes later, we were in. The ceremony was short, formal, and filled with pride. Watching Emily and her classmates stand in formation and receive their certificates was a true proud Dad moment.

A proud Dad moment at Corry Station.

“A true proud Dad moment.”

Brunch, Goodbyes & Rainy Days

After graduation, we headed downtown for brunch at The Ruby Slipper. The food was great, the conversation even better. But eventually, it was time for goodbyes — to Emily, Pink, Eli, Mary, and the grandparents. It was bittersweet, but that’s how life works sometimes.

Emily headed back to Georgia, while we stayed one more night. Our original plan? A relaxing beach day. But Mother Nature had other plans — it rained all day long. So... what did we do? That’s right: another nap. When in doubt, sleep it out.

That evening, we ventured out to Crabs in Gulf Breeze for dinner. Rain or shine, the food didn’t disappoint. Full and content, we headed back to the hotel to pack for the trip home.

The Perfect Ending

Tuesday morning, we checked out and hit the road back to Alabama. But before we even made it home, Christie messaged Emily and asked if she wanted to grab dinner. That evening, we met up in Bremen with Emily, Dawson, Harlie, and our sweet granddaughter Lucy.

It was the perfect ending to a short but meaningful trip — filled with family, pride, laughter, and just the right amount of schnitzel.

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Father's Day Weekend: Pneumonia, Pulled Pork, and the Braves

2025-06-17T21:19:00.003-05:00

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Father’s Day 2025

Pneumonia, pulled pork, Braves baseball, and the kind of weekend that reminds you what really matters.

🏥 Friday started in urgent care
🍖 Saturday brought smoked Boston Butt and family time
⚾ Sunday at Truist Park for Braves baseball
🌭 Hot dogs, peanuts, shade, and ballpark memories
❤️ A weekend full of simple blessings

What a weekend.

Father’s Day 2025 didn’t exactly start the way I’d planned. On Friday, I found myself in urgent care — not how you want to kick things off. I hadn’t been feeling right, and after some tests, I was told I had pneumonia and was dehydrated. Honestly, I still don’t know how it happened. One day I felt fine, the next day I felt like I got hit by a truck. But, hey — life happens.

“One day I felt fine. The next day I felt like I got hit by a truck.”

Saturday — Smoke, Family & Recovery

Even with that rough start, I wasn’t going to let it ruin the weekend. Saturday rolled around, and we headed over to Aubree-Anna and Matt’s. Matt had a Boston Butt on the smoker, and just stepping into the backyard and smelling that thing working its magic made me feel 10% better on the spot.

Christie and Aubree-Anna took care of the sides, and together they made one seriously good meal. I’m talking the kind of food that makes you pause mid-bite and go, “Now this is living.”

🍖 Saturday’s unofficial medicine: smoked Boston Butt, good sides, family, and a little bit of fresh air.

Sunday — Braves Baseball

Sunday morning, we got up and made our way to Cobb County to watch the Braves take on the Colorado Rockies. We lucked out with seats under an awning — which meant we didn’t have to bake in the June sun. It made the whole experience even better.

There’s something so nostalgic and refreshing about being at a ballgame. The smell of peanuts and hot dogs, the sound of the crowd, the rhythm of the game — it never gets old.

Unfortunately, the Braves didn’t pull off the win. Still not sure how that happened — I mean… it was the Rockies — but it was a great time anyway.

Father’s Day at Truist Park watching the Braves take on the Rockies.

Game Day Moments

Cookouts, Family & Simple Blessings

After the game, we headed back to grab a bite at Aubree-Anna and Matt’s, then made our way over to Matt’s parents’ house for another cookout. Nothing fancy — just some good grilling, hanging out, and soaking up the time together. The kind of evening that doesn’t need a lot of planning to be special.

I did miss having all the kids around. I get it — life is busy, people are scattered, and not every gathering is going to be perfect. But I know those days are coming, and when they do, I’ll soak them in even more.

Even with pneumonia trying to hijack the weekend, I’m thankful. Thankful for family. Thankful for good food. Thankful for baseball and shade on a hot day. And thankful for a God who gives us these sweet, simple moments in the middle of it all.

“Sometimes the best Father’s Days aren’t the perfect ones. They’re the ones spent with the people you love.”

Until next year — I’ll take it.

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Our Garden: Dirt, Dreams, and (Hopefully) Vegetables

2025-05-24T09:03:00.005-05:00

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So... We Did a Thing

Our first garden, a lot of Alabama clay, and a whole lot of hope.

🌱 First garden planted
🚜 One week of digging and prep work
🌽 Corn, tomatoes, jalapeños, radishes, cucumbers, and squash
🐿️ Waiting on sprouts... and watching for squirrels

For a while now, I’ve been talking about starting a garden—probably longer than I care to admit. I had this grand vision of growing our own food, living off the land, and maybe even wearing a straw hat like I know what I’m doing.

After a solid week of clearing space, breaking up stubborn Alabama clay, and realizing just how many muscles I forgot I had, we finally did it—we planted our very first garden.

“After a week of digging Alabama clay, we finally planted our first garden.”

What We Planted

It’s small, but mighty—and I say that with hope in my heart. Right now we've got:

🌽 Corn
🍅 Tomatoes
🌶️ Jalapeños
🥗 Radishes
🥒 Cucumbers
🎃 Squash

Basically, if it’s crunchy or spicy, we’re trying to grow it.

The Waiting Game Begins

I won’t lie—when we dropped that last seed into the ground, I might have declared, “Let the farming begin!” Yes, like I was auditioning for Little House on the Prairie.

Now it’s time to water, wait, and hope that the neighborhood critters don’t think we opened a salad bar just for them.

“Now it’s time to water, wait, and hope the squirrels don’t beat us to the harvest.”

Looking Ahead

Even though this garden is small, we’re already dreaming about next year. Bigger space, more vegetables, and probably more ibuprofen. Gardening ain’t for the weak.

But for now, we’re thankful for this beginning. We’ve got dirt on our hands, sun on our backs, and faith in our hearts.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

— Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Stay tuned—our next update might include sprouts... or squirrels. Either way, it's going to be an adventure.

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Pensacola April 2025

2025-04-19T20:38:00.001-05:00

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Pensacola, Family & Florida Sunshine

Our first visit to see Emily in Pensacola — full of family, food, beaches, baseball, and Florida sunshine.

⚾ Auburn baseball at Plainsman Park
✈ Blue Angels practice attempt
🗼 Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
🏖 NAS Pensacola beach time
🍤 Seafood at Crabs in Gulf Breeze
⛳ Mini golf and Final Four basketball
❤️ A week of memories with Emily

The hum of the tires on the asphalt marked the beginning of our adventure.

On a Tuesday afternoon, Christie and I pointed the truck south and headed toward Auburn. The familiar roads felt like the opening chapter of a trip we had been looking forward to for weeks. Before making our way to Pensacola, we had one important stop to make — seeing Emily.

That evening, we met up with Sawyer and headed to Plainsman Park to watch Auburn take on UAB. The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and the atmosphere of an Auburn baseball game made for the perfect start to our trip. After the game, we settled into our hotel, excited for what the rest of the week would bring.

Chasing the Blue Angels

Wednesday started early.

Really early.

By 6:00 a.m., we were on the road toward Pensacola with one goal in mind: watching the Blue Angels practice.

Everything went smoothly until we reached Blue Angel Parkway. What should have been a short drive turned into an hour-and-a-half crawl through traffic. As it turned out, we were not the only people with plans to watch America's most famous flight demonstration team.

Eventually, we made it onto NAS Pensacola and parked at the National Naval Aviation Museum. Excitement filled the air as people made their way toward the viewing area.

Then came the announcement.

Low clouds and gusty winds had grounded the practice.

“Just like that, the anticipation faded into disappointment.”

Fortunately, it did not last long.

As we walked back to the truck, my phone reminded us that we were meeting Emily for lunch at Chick-fil-A. One look at her smiling face erased any frustration we had about the canceled show.

After lunch, Emily helped us get our base passes, and we spent the afternoon exploring her world. She took us to the Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, showed us the nearby beach, and gave us a tour around NAS Pensacola.

It was our first glimpse into the place she now calls home.

📍 NAS Pensacola • Pensacola Lighthouse • Base Beach

Seafood, Sunsets & Schnitzel

That evening, we crossed over to Gulf Breeze for dinner at Crabs.

The seafood was outstanding.

I ordered the Crab and Shrimp Linguine Alfredo while Christie and Emily both enjoyed the Crab and Shrimp Tacos. We started with calamari, and the appetizer alone could have fed a small family.

The next day brought another favorite: Sonny's BBQ.

Years ago, Sonny's locations were scattered around metro Atlanta, but most have disappeared. Sitting down to a tray of barbecue brought back memories of years gone by.

Later that afternoon, Christie and I spent time on the base beach.

I also learned an important lesson.

Florida sunshine does not care if it is cloudy.

Despite the overcast skies and cool breeze, I managed to earn myself a healthy sunburn that lasted for days.

That evening, we headed downtown to Bavaria Pensacola, where I enjoyed one of the best schnitzel dinners I have had in a long time.

“Sometimes the best travel memories happen around a dinner table.”

Local Favorites

Friday gave us more time with Emily.

For lunch, she introduced us to Captain Joey Patti's, a local Pensacola favorite that immediately earned a spot on our own list of recommendations. Christie and I love finding places that feel like hidden gems, and this one certainly fit the bill.

That evening, we watched The Chosen: The Last Supper, followed by a late-night stop at Rock N Roll Sushi.

Between seafood, barbecue, German food, and sushi, I am pretty sure we covered every major food group in Pensacola.

Mini Golf & Final Four Basketball

Saturday began with brunch at First Watch in Gulf Breeze.

Emily's boyfriend had recommended it, and he was absolutely right. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and worth the visit.

After brunch, we headed out for a round of mini golf.

After a hard-fought battle that surely involved skill and not luck whatsoever, I emerged victorious by exactly one point.

One point.

I am not saying I am a mini-golf champion, but the scorecard does not lie.

The rest of the afternoon was spent gathering ingredients for a homemade salad dinner back at our suite. Emily had been craving a home-cooked meal, and Christie delivered.

That evening, we watched Auburn play in the Final Four. The Tigers came up short, but sharing the game together made the outcome a little easier to accept.

Having Emily stay the night was the real win.

Heading Home

Sunday morning arrived too quickly.

As always, packing up and saying goodbye to Emily was the hardest part of the trip.

The drive back to Heflin gave us plenty of time to reflect on the week — the excitement of chasing the Blue Angels, the beaches, the restaurants, the laughs, and simply spending time together.

What started as a trip to visit our daughter became something much more.

It became a collection of memories.

The kind you will find yourself smiling about months later.

“The best adventures are often the ones spent with the people you love.”

Our first Pensacola trip was filled with family, food, Florida sunshine, and a reminder that the best adventures are often the ones spent with the people you love.

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Atlanta Race Weekend February 2025

2025-03-17T16:07:00.016-05:00

Atlanta Race Weekend

Cold weather, pit passes, great friends, and another unforgettable weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

🏁 Atlanta Motor Speedway
🎟 Renewed our 2026 season tickets
🏆 Austin Hill wins the Xfinity Race
🏎 Pit Road access with Marco
👀 Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Michael Waltrip & Rocko sightings
❤️ Another great NASCAR weekend with friends

The weekend started like a typical February race weekend in Atlanta—cold, windy, and full of anticipation.

Christie and I spent some time walking around the Fan Zone, checking out the displays and catching a few live shows before meeting up with our friend Marco. While we waited, we took care of one important piece of business and renewed our tickets for the 2026 season.

When we first started our NASCAR adventure, we made a commitment to attend both Atlanta races and both Talladega races every year. What started as a simple idea has grown into one of our favorite traditions.

“What started as a simple idea has become one of our favorite traditions.”

Saturday's Xfinity Race

Saturday's race didn't disappoint.

Our favorite Xfinity Series driver, Austin Hill, put on another great performance and took home the win. Watching him secure back-to-back victories at Atlanta made an already great day even better.

There is just something special about race weekends—the sights, the sounds, and the energy from thousands of fans all gathered for the same reason.

Pit Pass Sunday

Sunday morning brought the main event.

After meeting up with Marco, we picked up our Pit Passes and made our way down to Pit Road. Being that close to the cars gives you a whole new appreciation for the amount of work that goes into a race weekend.

We spent time checking out the cars, watching the crews prepare, and doing a little people-watching along the way.

Among the familiar faces we spotted were Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Michael Waltrip, and Dion "Rocko" Williams.

Another Great Day at AMS

After exploring Pit Road, we made our way back to our seats.

Once again, we had a fantastic view of the action and enjoyed spending time with friends throughout the afternoon.

Atlanta Motor Speedway never disappoints. Whether it's the racing, the atmosphere, or simply the memories made along the way, every trip seems to leave us looking forward to the next one.

As we packed up and headed home, one thing was already certain—we're counting down the days until the Atlanta Night Race in June.

“Atlanta Motor Speedway never disappoints.”

Race Weekend Video

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Talladega Fall Race Weekend

2024-10-09T16:28:00.004-05:00

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Talladega Race Weekend

Two races, pit passes, Ross Chastain, The Big One, and another unforgettable weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

🏁 Ag-Pro 300 Xfinity Race
🏆 Austin Hill leads before late-race heartbreak
🏎️ Garage Experience & Infield Access
🍉 Ross Chastain battles at the front
🔥 Ross crashes and walks away
💥 A 28-car "Big One"
🏆 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wins by 0.006 seconds

Talladega race weekend erupted in a storm of adrenaline.

Saturday began with a quick ticket purchase before Christie and I arrived at the legendary speedway around 1:30 in the afternoon. The atmosphere was already electric. The distant sound of engines echoed across the property, and thousands of race fans filled the grounds.

Because it was the Xfinity race, parking was closer than usual. We wandered through the merchandise haulers and made our way to the grandstands to claim our seats for Sunday's race while we waited for friends to arrive.

“The calm before the storm lasted about five minutes.”

Saturday's Xfinity Race

Stage 1 flew by with the cars screaming past us at nearly 190 miles per hour. The speed, the noise, and the energy reminded us exactly why we keep coming back.

By Stage 2 our friends had arrived and settled into their seats just in time to watch our favorite Xfinity driver, Austin Hill, dominate the field.

Everything looked perfect until disaster struck with only two laps remaining. Hill was caught in a wreck, sending his hopes of victory spinning away. Overtime followed, and Sammy Smith ultimately claimed the win.

Even though Austin didn't win, the final laps delivered exactly what Talladega is famous for—pure chaos.

The Garage Experience

Sunday morning brought the Yellawood 500 and our first experience with Garage Pass access.

We arrived around 10:15 a.m. and waited nearly an hour for the tram ride into the infield. Once inside, we explored the garage area and pit road.

The garages themselves were quieter than expected since the cars had already been staged, but seeing Dale Earnhardt's iconic No. 3 and getting close to pit road was still worth the trip.

After a quick visit with my cousin from Trackhouse Racing, we headed back to the grandstands.

The Yellawood 500

When the green flag dropped, the race immediately became a battle.

Two-wide racing quickly turned into three-wide and eventually four-wide packs charging through the corners. Every lap felt like a disaster waiting to happen.

Ross Chastain, driving the No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet, was right in the middle of the fight all afternoon.

“At Talladega, you're never comfortable until the checkered flag waves.”

Stage 2 brought heartbreak.

On the final lap of the stage, Ryan Blaney was turned by Alex Bowman, triggering a chain reaction. Ross slammed into the outside wall and his car burst into flames.

For a few tense moments, the entire crowd watched and waited.

Thankfully, Ross climbed from the car under his own power. Shaken, but okay.

The Big One

Then came the moment everyone fears—and secretly expects—at Talladega.

Lap 185.

A massive 28-car pileup exploded on the backstretch.

Cars slammed together. Smoke filled the air. Debris scattered across the racing surface. The red flag was displayed as crews worked for nearly 45 minutes to clear the wreckage.

It was one of the largest crashes we've ever witnessed in person.

A Talladega Finish

When racing resumed, the final laps became a sprint to the finish.

Brad Keselowski, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and William Byron traded positions in a furious battle for the win.

At the finish line, Stenhouse edged Keselowski by just 0.006 seconds.

Another classic Talladega finish.

As the sun began to set, we made our way back to the truck with hearts still racing. Talladega had once again delivered everything we came for—speed, drama, excitement, and memories we'll never forget.

“Talladega doesn't just host races. It creates stories.”

Race Weekend Videos

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Birthday Week: A Journey of Joy and Reconnection

2024-09-15T07:52:00.280-05:00

A Birthday Week to Remember

Braves baseball, NASCAR, Daytona Beach, family time, and a few unexpected reunions along the way.

⚾ Friday Night at Truist Park

It all began on Friday night, the kickoff to what would become a week full of laughter, reunions, and cherished moments. Christie, Aubree-Anna, Matt, and I headed to Truist Park to watch the Atlanta Braves take on the Blue Jays.

There’s nothing like the energy of a baseball game, and the Braves didn’t disappoint, pulling out a 3-1 win. The crowd roared as the final out was called, and it felt like the perfect start to my birthday week.

🏁 Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Saturday morning, we made our way down to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Xfinity race. The heat was relentless, but there’s something about being at the track that makes everything else fade away.

Christie was by my side as we watched Austin Hill take the checkered flag in the Focused Health 250. It was also a special year for Bennett Transportation as they celebrated their 50th anniversary, and it felt like we were part of the celebration.

🌟 Sunday’s Unexpected VIP Experience

Sunday was another race day, but this time we left the Blackstone behind and grabbed sandwiches from Subway. We ate in the reserved parking area before heading to the Fan Zone.

After a quick stop at the Trackhouse merchandise hauler, fate stepped in. We ran into my old co-worker, Marco, who surprised us with pit passes and an invitation to sit in the O’Reilly’s Suite. We didn’t hesitate. It was a rare opportunity, and we were all in.

Walking along pit road, I kept an eye out for my cousin, though we never crossed paths. We did bump into comedian John Crist, which was unexpected and pretty funny. While in the suite, I also reconnected with an old friend from my firefighting days who was working at the track.

🍔 Monday: Family, Friends & A Spontaneous Decision

Monday was a little more laid-back. We spent the day with Aubree-Anna, Matt, and our granddog Lenny. That evening, we met up with Brian, Christy, and my best bud Matthew at LaBamba’s for dinner.

As the night went on, Christie and I made an impromptu decision. We would leave early Tuesday morning for a beach getaway to Daytona. It was the kind of spontaneous plan that sets the tone for a perfect vacation.

🌊 Daytona Beach Bound

At 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the alarm went off and our seven-hour journey south began. By the time we arrived at the resort in Daytona Beach around 1 p.m., we were ready to relax.

After checking in, we grabbed lunch at Racing’s North Turn, a restaurant full of NASCAR history. The spot marked the North Turn of the old beach racetrack used in the 1940s and 50s, and it was the perfect pit stop for race fans like us.

🏖 Beach Days, Big Waves & Good Food

Afterward, we strolled along the beach, letting the ocean waves wash away any remaining tension. Though the sky was overcast, it didn’t dampen our spirits.

Wednesday was spent much the same way — soaking up beach vibes, playing in the water, and battling the big waves. The waves won more often than not, but we didn’t mind. That night, we ventured out for dinner at The Dill and tried schnitzel. It didn’t disappoint.

🚀 A SpaceX Launch Before Sunrise

Thursday began with an unforgettable experience. I had set my alarm to catch the SpaceX rocket launch early that morning. By 4:45 a.m., I was the only person on the beach, watching the sky light up as the rocket carried satellites into space.

One man. One beach. One rocket launch. One memory that will last forever.

The rest of the day was spent at the beach and by the pool, making the most of our time by the ocean. That evening, we dined at Crabby’s Oceanside, enjoying one last seafood meal before we had to leave paradise.

🌅 Saint Simons Island & Family Time

On Friday, we reluctantly checked out of the resort after watching the sunrise and headed north toward Brunswick, a town full of memories for me. We spent most of the day on Saint Simons Island, reminiscing about the time I had lived there.

That evening, we had dinner with Dawson, Harlie, and Lucy Ray. Seeing them, especially Lucy, was a highlight of the day. She’s a big fan of Gordon Ramsey and might just have a future in cooking.

🏝 Coastal Memories

🤝 A Reunion Nearly 30 Years Later

Friday night, we stayed in Blackshear, and Saturday morning brought one final surprise. As we headed down for breakfast, I saw a man stepping off the elevator who looked oddly familiar.

I walked up to him and asked, “What’s your name?” He responded, “James.” In that instant, I knew — it had been nearly 30 years since I’d last seen him. He was the father of a friend from my Brunswick days.

We caught up for a solid thirty minutes before even making it to breakfast. Soon after, his wife Pam joined us, and it was as if no time had passed.

❤️ Final Thoughts

Later that day, we visited Christi’s store, DownSouth Living, where a vendor event was taking place. It was a great way to end the trip — surrounded by good people and memories of the past.

As we made our way back home, I couldn’t help but feel that this week was exactly what I needed: a perfect balance of relaxation, reconnection, and spontaneous fun.

I’m already looking forward to next year’s beach trip, but for now, I’m content and filled with gratitude for the week that was.

🎥 Videos From the Week

Braves Night

Atlanta Motor Speedway

SpaceX Launch

The First NASCAR Race Weekend

2024-02-20T07:20:00.084-06:00

🏁 A Valentine’s Daytona 500 Adventure

Our first race of the 2024 NASCAR season

Probably one of the best Valentine’s Day gifts we have ever had was heading to our first race of the year — the Daytona 500.

We arrived in Orlando on Thursday and checked into Westgate Resort. That evening, we attended a VIP party where we received our Daytona 500 tickets. It was the perfect way to kick off race weekend.

🍽️ Disney Springs & The Boathouse

We were excited about this race. It was the first race of the season and a fresh start for the 2024 NASCAR schedule.

On Friday, we made our way to Disney Springs. Christie had mentioned that she wished we had eaten seafood when we were there in October, so this time we made sure to stop at The Boathouse.

We enjoyed seafood, walked around Disney Springs, listened to a concert, and Christie got to enjoy a churro. It was a great night and a fun way to enjoy Orlando before race weekend really got started.

☔ A Rainy Saturday in Orlando

Saturday was kind of a wet day. It was just enough rain to make you not want to do too much, but also just enough to still want to get out and explore.

We drove around Orlando and made our way to Icon Park, where we ate at Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips. Afterward, we walked around Icon Park, visited one of the many outlet malls in Orlando, and then made our way back to Disney Springs.

🎬 A Postponed Daytona 500

Sunday ended up being a long day, but not in the way we expected. The Daytona 500 was postponed because of the rain, so we decided to stay in the room and watch movies.

It was disappointing to wait another day, but sometimes the best memories come from the unexpected parts of a trip too.

🏁 Finally — Daytona 500 Day

Monday morning, we woke up and got ready to head to Daytona for the first race of the season. Even though it was a day later, it was definitely worth the wait.

Once we got to Daytona, we parked at Volusia Mall and broke out the Blackstone. After eating, we made our way to the track and walked around to check out everything going on before heading inside.

Daytona International Speedway is not like any other track we have been to. They even have escalators that take you up to the concourse. For free seats, we had a really good view. We sat in the 400 section coming out of Turn 4.

Only six laps into the race, the first wreck of the season happened right in front of us. Along with all the sights and sounds of being at the racetrack, it made the day even more memorable.

You do not always realize the good times you can have with your spouse, or how magical those moments can be, until you are right there living them. Do not ever take them for granted.

This trip gave us:
🏁 Our first race of the 2024 season
❤️ A Valentine’s getaway
🍽️ Disney Springs and seafood
☔ A rainy Orlando adventure
🏎️ A postponed but unforgettable Daytona 500
💙 Another memory for our bucket list

❤️ Final Thoughts

These are the moments Christie and I have made for our bucket list. The trips, the races, the laughs, the unexpected delays, and the time spent together — those are the things I will always cherish.

The Daytona 500 may have been delayed by rain, but it was worth every minute of the wait.

Fifty Years in the Making: Christie's First Disney World Trip

2023-10-16T04:22:00.003-05:00

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✨ Christie’s First Trip to Disney World

A surprise 50th birthday adventure, a Savannah memory, and a magical week we’ll never forget.

🎂 Christie’s 50th Birthday Trip
🏰 Her First Time Ever at Walt Disney World
❤️ A Surprise Months in the Making

It all started back in March 2023. It was time to start planning Christie’s 50th birthday, and I wanted it to be something special. Something she had always wanted to do.

So I called a friend of mine at Adventure Dreams Travel to help me put everything together. Christie had never been to Disney World, so I thought, why not book a vacation to Orlando?

As we made plans for our October getaway, Christie had no idea what was going on. Everyone knew about the trip except her.

Then one day in September, a welcome packet from Disney arrived in the mail. Not knowing what else might be sent, I decided it was time to tell her. The look on her face when I handed her that packet is something I will never forget.

“We’re going to Disney!”

💍 The Long Way Through Savannah

Sixteen years earlier, Christie and I were in Savannah and bought our wedding bands. Since then, my band had broken and was stolen earlier that year.

Christie decided that if we were heading to Orlando, we should take the long way and stop in Savannah to go back to the same place where our ring story began.

We left on Friday and drove to Savannah. After checking in, we made our way to River Street and stopped at Cassandra’s Jewelry. We told the staff our story about buying our original rings there and how we needed a new set.

They were very helpful, and after choosing our rings, we walked along River Street, watched barges coming and going from the port, and enjoyed dinner in Savannah.

Sixteen years after buying our wedding bands in Savannah, we returned to the same city to begin a brand-new adventure.

🍊 Welcome to Florida

The next morning we got ready to head out for Orlando. I’m not sure who was more excited — Christie or me.

We made our way down I-95 through Brunswick and Waverly. When we reached the Florida state line, Christie remembered stopping at the Welcome Center as a child for a free cup of orange juice.

So we stopped and relived that memory.

After our free cup of Florida orange juice, we kept going through Jacksonville and made a quick stop at Buc-ee’s in St. Augustine. Then we finally made it to Walt Disney World.

🏨 Pop Century & Disney Springs

We checked into our room at Pop Century Resort and made our way to Disney Springs to officially kick off Christie’s birthday week.

We walked around Disney Springs and had dinner at Raglan Road Irish Pub. The trip had officially begun.

🦁 Animal Kingdom & A Magic Kingdom Surprise

The next morning started our Disney adventure with Animal Kingdom.

My first stop was Starbucks. Somebody needed coffee, and I needed a cinnamon roll.

After breakfast, we made our way to Kilimanjaro Safaris to visit our animal friends. We saw some shows, walked around the park, and enjoyed the sights.

It was October 9th, and Christie would turn 50 the next day. Since we had Park Hopper passes, I wanted her to experience Magic Kingdom before she officially turned 50.

We timed it perfectly. As soon as we got there, a parade was about to start.

We watched the parade on Main Street U.S.A. and made our way down to Cinderella Castle. Then we headed over to Tomorrowland and rode the PeopleMover.

I also wanted Christie to experience the Monorail, so we left Magic Kingdom and rode it over to EPCOT. My plan was to take the Skyliner back to Pop Century, but I didn’t realize the Monorail and Skyliner were on opposite sides of EPCOT.

So we walked through EPCOT, got a couple of pictures, made our way to the Skyliner, and then headed back to Pop Century to relax.

🌐 EPCOT, Germany & Guardians of the Galaxy

The next day, we made our way back to EPCOT and spent the day there.

We rode Spaceship Earth, went to The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and spent some time with Crush. At 1 o’clock, I got the Virtual Queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Unfortunately, we had to wait until almost 8 p.m. to ride.

While walking through the World Showcase, we stopped in Germany. Before getting bratwurst, I noticed a sign that said Würzburg.

For those who don’t know, Würzburg is one of the cities I lived in as a kid. It was the first time I had seen that name since 1989.

We also went to the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival. On the way in, we noticed Mickey and Minnie taking pictures with guests, so of course we got a picture with them.

Later, we headed toward Test Track, built our car, and got to test drive it.

Finally, around 7:30, we got the notification for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. After waiting almost six hours, we got to the ride and were told it was down and we would have to wait about thirty more minutes.

We grabbed something to eat, came back, and finally rode it. I will say this: it is by far the best ride I have ever been on.

🏰 Magic Kingdom Birthday Magic

Wednesday was our full day at Magic Kingdom, and it felt like everyone else had the same idea.

At 7 a.m., I got on the Virtual Queue for TRON and landed Group 6, which meant we had to get to the park quickly. We made rope drop and headed straight to TRON. There was hardly any wait, and the ride was great.

After TRON, we made our way to Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean. Then Christie looked at me and said, “I’m exhausted. Can we go back to the room?”

I had no problem with that plan. We went back to the resort and took a much-needed nap.

Around 5 p.m., we made our way back to Magic Kingdom to get ready for Happily Ever After fireworks. It started raining, but we made the best of it. The best part was that it stopped before the fireworks began.

🎬 Hollywood Studios

Thursday was our last park day, and Hollywood Studios was the park we chose.

We watched the Indiana Jones Stunt Show, rode the Star Wars rides, and rode Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster. It was a long four days, but I couldn’t have thought of a better way to spend Christie’s 50th birthday.

I know there is a lot we missed, but that just gives us an excuse to go back.

🏁 Daytona & St. Augustine Bonus Adventure

Friday morning came, and we loaded up the truck to head home. Christie mentioned she had never been to St. Augustine, which gave me an idea.

We were now going to visit St. Augustine.

As we headed up I-4, I had to make one little stop at Daytona International Speedway. We toured the track and then continued north to St. Augustine.

After checking in, we grabbed something to eat at Osteen’s.

After dinner, we walked St. George Street and enjoyed the historic town. The next morning, we toured Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, walked the streets of St. Augustine, and visited the Fountain of Youth before heading home.

❤️ Final Thoughts

This trip was more than a birthday celebration.

It was Christie’s first visit to Disney World. It was a return to Savannah, where part of our wedding story began. It was reliving childhood memories at the Florida Welcome Center. It was finding a piece of my past in EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion. It was rides, fireworks, rain, laughter, walking until we were worn out, and making memories together.

This trip gave us:
💍 A return to Savannah for new wedding bands
🍊 A Florida Welcome Center memory
🏰 Christie’s first time at Disney World
🎂 A 50th birthday celebration
🌐 EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios
🚀 TRON and Guardians of the Galaxy
🏁 Daytona International Speedway
🏰 A bonus trip to St. Augustine

Christie and I had not been on a “real” vacation in a while, but this trip reminded us that we need to do it more often.

The best gifts are not always things. Sometimes they are experiences, surprises, road trips, and moments you get to share with the person you love.

View All Disney Trip Photos

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AMS Summer Night Race

2023-07-07T12:14:00.008-05:00

🌙 Under the Lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Quaker State 400 Weekend | July 2023

The weekend had finally arrived for the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

This race was going to be a little different for us. We had been to Atlanta Motor Speedway before, but never for a night race. We were really looking forward to it, and it was definitely going to be a lot warmer than the last time we were in Atlanta for a race.

🏁 Xfinity Series Saturday

The race weekend was great from the start. Two of my cousins came up from South Georgia, and we had the weekend all planned out, beginning with the Alsco Uniforms 250 Xfinity race.

We were pulling for the #21 car driven by Austin Hill. The racing was great all night long, and Austin was doing well. With only three laps left, Parker Kligerman spun Austin, ending his chance at a three-peat at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Sometimes racing can be cruel. Three laps can change everything.

🍤 Our First AMS Tailgate

Sunday we got to the track around 12:30 PM and set up what will hopefully become our annual tailgate at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

We got the tent set up, then the grill and chairs. After that, we walked around the Fan Zone and got to see Corey LaJoie signing autographs. Christie and I also got tickets to either Daytona or Las Vegas.

After heading back to the truck, we decided it was time to start cooking.

Tent ✔️
Chairs ✔️
Blackstone ✔️
Friends and family ✔️
Steak and fresh shrimp ✔️

Noel opened the tote and quickly realized he had left the foil and seasoning for the steaks in his truck, which was still parked back at the hotel.

We asked security in reserved parking if we could leave and come back because someone had made a party foul. The security lady was super sweet and allowed us to leave so we could make a backup run to Walmart in Lovejoy.

After getting back to the track, we were ready to cook. Noel brought shrimp that had been in the ocean on Thursday and on the griddle by Sunday. Along with the shrimp, we had steak.

🎶 Pre-Race Moments

After eating, we headed into the track. The pre-race concert featured Andy Grammer, and then came driver introductions.

Before the National Anthem, three skydivers came out of the clouds. One carried a Forever Harvick flag, one carried a Georgia flag, and one carried the American flag.

The Forever Harvick skydiver landed first, then the Georgia flag, and finally the American flag landed during the National Anthem. It was an incredible sight.

🏆 The Kevin Harvick Tribute

The command to start engines was given by Richard Childress, who was sitting in the #29 car that Kevin Harvick drove in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 on March 11, 2001 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

That was the race where Harvick won just weeks after Dale Earnhardt was tragically killed in the Daytona 500.

Richard Childress led the pace laps while Harvick, in the #4 car, pulled up beside him. The two cars drove side by side around the track.

I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a dry eye at the track during that moment.

⚡ A Rain-Shortened Finish

The race began, and the drivers battled hard all the way until the end of the rain-shortened race.

Ross Chastain got involved in a wreck on Lap 123, which pretty much ended his day. Daniel Suárez finished second and had a good run most of the night.

Then lightning struck, and Atlanta Motor Speedway asked everyone to leave the stands. As we were heading down, the race was officially called with William Byron as the winner.

This weekend gave us:
🌙 Our first night race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
🏁 Xfinity Series racing
🍤 Fresh shrimp and steak on the Blackstone
🤦 A forgotten seasoning party foul
🇺🇸 Skydivers during pre-race
🏆 A powerful Kevin Harvick tribute
⚡ A rain-shortened finish
🚗 Another NASCAR memory with family

❤️ Final Thoughts

All in all, it was a great weekend.

It had racing, family, tailgating, good food, a little chaos, a lot of laughs, and one unforgettable Kevin Harvick tribute.

Now we wait for September and head to Bristol.

The Beginning of the Bucket List in Atlanta

2023-03-18T06:13:00.007-05:00

**This post will be updated throughout the weekend.

-(7am 3/18/23) The Bucket lishas officially started. Today we start with the FR208 Nascar Craftsman Truck series followed by the Raptor 250 Xfinity series race. It's gonna be cold. The high today is 52 degrees, we'll reach that at 5pm this afternoon. Looking forward sto see the races from the stands. Usually when we are at AMS we are working security or shooting off fireworks. This is the first year that Christie and I will be actual fans.

Saturday at AMS! 🏁

9 a.m. - Fan Zone Opens

11 a.m. - Gates Open

11:35 a.m. - Cup Series Qualifying

1:30 p.m. - Fr8208 Driver Intros

2:00 p.m. - Fr8208 Green Flag

4:30 p.m. - RAPTOR250 Driver Intros

5:00 p.m. - RAPTOR250 Green Flag

8:00 p.m. - Peach Pit Party

Saturday Driver Appearances ⬇️

https://llo.to/t/LbPup

-(11pm 3/18/23) The racing was great. Very cold out when the sun was behind the clouds. Our seats were perfect. Here are some Pictures from Truck and Xfinity race . The first race was the FR8 208 Nascar Craftsman Truck series. The winner of that race was Christian Eckes #19. After that was the Xfinity series RAPTOR KING OF TOUGH 250. Austin Hill from Winston, Ga was the winner of that.

3/19/2023. IT’S #AMBETTER400 RACEDAY! 🏁

9 a.m. - Fan Zone Opens

11 a.m. - Gates Open

11:30 a.m. - Pre-Race Access Opens

1:15 p.m. - Parmalee Pre-Race Concert

2:30 p.m. - Driver Introductions

3 p.m. - Ambetter Health 400 Green Flag

Sunday Driver Appearances

https://llo.to/t/XDIJV

10am (3/19/23) Very cold this morning. We arrived at the track and walked around the Fan Zone. Ross Chastain and his brother Chad were at the Georgia Highway Safety tent. We met up with Susan Chastain (Ross's Mom) and had a nice little talk with her while Ross & Chad were singing autographs.

1230 (3 /19/23) We headed into the track to our seats and got ready for the pre race concert with Parmalee.

3pm (3/19/23) After driver intros the race got underway and 10 laps in Bubba Wallace spun out on the backstretch. Stage one came to an end with 22 Lagono getting the stage points. Stage two went green for all 100 laps. Stage 3 also 100 laps was the final of 260 laps with Lagono coming to the checked flag. The race itself was awesome. Not a big fan of the new pitroad entrance. Now we wait a month and a few days from now we I'll be at 'Dega. Looking forward to seeing some fast racing.

Wreaths Across America 2022

2022-12-24T14:29:00.001-06:00

Christie & I began volunteering with Wreaths Across America in 2019. Let's back track a little on how we got started. On December 15, 2018 my father attended the opening ceremony at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. After the hour-long ceremony my father made his way to Pineview Memorial Gardens where he is in charge of the wreath laying at that cemetery. As they began the laying of the wreaths my father reached over his trailer and collapsed. He was having a heart attack. Other members of the American Legion Post 71 North Augusta were also on site. They saw my dad collapse and sprung into action beginning CPR until Aiken County EMS arrived. My dad died seven times on the way to the hospital brought back every time. You can read more about his story here. He was in a medically induced coma for a week. When he came out of the coma I made a promise to him that I would be at every Wreaths Across America event with him from here on out.

2022 was our third year involved with this event. We left our house on Thursday night and drove half way. On Friday morning we arrived at my parents house at 11:30am and quickly jumped into my dad's truck and headed to Wade Hampton Veterans Memorial Park.

This will be the beginning of our weekend. The event at Wade Hampton Veterans Memorial Park was a short event. Post 71 laid a Wreath for all the military branches. After the ceremony we went to Monterreys Mexican Restaurant with my parents and the Wreaths Across America director for North Augusta Tony and his wife. After eating we talked telling old stories about past wreath layings and other things. I found out why Tony got involved with Wreaths Across America and it was because of his son. I don't know before this if Tony had any children or not but being retired military I figured he did, and I was right. Tony's son Anthony died while in Afghanistan. Hearing Tony tell his son's story made me understand even more of why I drive 210 miles to my parents every third week of December.

Saturday morning while we were at the opening ceremony at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Tony said something in his speech that stuck with me. "When you lay a wreath remember the name, go home and Google it. That person has a story." After the ceremony at Sunset Memorial, Christie, Dad, and myself headed over to Pineview Memorial Gardens. We laid out wreaths on the fallen veterans headstones, said their names out loud, and thanked them for their service. The sad part of the whole event, which is funded by donations,is that we don't have enough wreaths for all the headstones of fallen veterans. After we finished up at Pineview we went to Sunset Hill Cemetery where my mom is in charge of that location for laying out wreaths. There is so much time invested in this event and so many volunteers every year.

While planning my visit to South Carolina this year, I asked my parents if it would be possible to visit Ft. Jackson while on my visit. Before going onto the actual base my mom wanted to visit Ft Jackson National Cemetery to view all the wreaths that had been laid out the day before.

It's such a beautiful view with all the wreaths laid out. Just knowing that these men and women are the reason for our freedom.

I haven't been to Ft Jackson since 2000. This is my first visit in twenty-two years. First time in thirty-six years I've been on this base with my parents. So many memories jumped into my mind. This is the first time that I get to show Christie one of the places where I grew up. Naturally things have changed a little since the last time I was here. The house I lived in, the elementary school, and the baseball field I played on have all been torn down.

Even though all those places are torn down, the memories will always be there. Just walking on the baseball field where as a kid I was one of the top players in Columbia,SC. I could hear the parents cheering us on, I could see all my teammates in the dugout, I could hear the bats hitting the ball. It's just a great moment for me to be able to share this with my wife.

Down Syndrome

2022-11-28T05:25:00.003-06:00

I've never met anybody with more love for people than a person with Down Syndrome, I believe the first person I met with Downs was when I lived in Germany. His name was Ben. I remember him with his three wheeled bike. He would ride in the parking lot of the Skyline Housing Area in Würzburg, Germany. Ben always had a smile on his face, I don't think I ever saw him upset. Years after I moved back to the states I heard Ben passed away.

Fast forward to 2003, I met a guy who was a year younger than me. His name was Jon. He was a funny guy, always trying to make you laugh. To him, he didn't have an extra chromosome, to him he was just like you. Little did I know at the time, but he was going to change my life forever. He was going to be my brother-in-law. I added the in-law, but he was really more of a brother to me. Jon and I would do everything together. We participated in Special Olympics Bowling and Golf. We bowled in a league on Wednesday nights for years. We went on vacations together. We would take our Saturday's and drive around and go different places. To Jon, he was hanging out with his best bud. We enjoyed spending so much time together. November of 2020, we started to notice Jon was becoming forgetful. Which to us was very strange. He began to forget where he was, what his name was, what our names were. Things just didn't seem right. To us, that was strange because Jon used to be able to tell us when a certain TV show would be coming on and what channel. You could give Jon a number of a NASCAR car and he could tell you the driver's name. Jon wasn't dumb, he was very smart. That's where people don't know. They figure since he looks different and is slower than a "normal" person that they are dumb….WRONG! Back to November 2020, things weren't right, so Christie left her job and began to be his caretaker. Hoping and praying things would get better. Maybe it's just a phase. Well, it wasn't. Things continued to deteriorate. Jon wasn't getting better. I'd take him on rides around town and he didn't know where we were. He would talk about playing golf and look at me and ask if I played golf. He wouldn't remember us playing. It was sad to watch. Things just kept getting worse. In November 2021 Jon had his first ever seizure. He was taken to RMC and released four days later. They didn't do anything to help him because we didn't want to put him in a nursing home 30 minutes away from our house when we have one directly across from where we live. Three days after he was released from RMC, he had an episode and this time we took him to Tanner. I never knew that two hospitals could be so different. The staff at Tanner was so much more helpful and caring. Jon stayed in the hospital for a week. We got him approved to become a resident in the nursing home across from us. He went back to Tanner two more times. His mind wasn't getting better,, but it was definitely getting worse. On August 9, 2022, Jon passed away, and that's when I had a hole placed in my heart. Jon is in Heaven and not in any pain anymore. I miss him daily and think of him all the time. Down Syndrome is just a thing that someone has. It has become a part of my life.

Christie and I have friends named Christy and Brian. They have a son named Matthew. Yep, you guessed it, Matthew has Downs. I met Matthew in 2012. We have been friends ever since. Matthew was nonverbal for a long time and his only way of communicating was signing. When we would visit, I always had to have Matthew sign to his mom and have her translate for me. Today Matthew speaks and sometimes I struggle to understand what it is he is saying, but he will spell it out by signing to me. We visited Brian, Christy and Matthew quite a bit. Usually when we go to a festival or event Christie, Brian,Christy walk around and Matthew and I do our own thing. Matthew always tries to joke with me. One thing he does is he will look at me and say, "Steve, watch." He will lean over to Christie and kiss her on the cheek. He then goes into a big laugh and I stare him down and say to him, "You kissing on my girl?" His reply is "Yeah." It's little things like that that make me love all these guys. You see, downs may be an extra chromosome but that extra chromosome is an unconditional love chromosome.

More Coming Soon!

2022-11-26T11:31:00.003-06:00

I've realized that I haven't done much on here. When I have down time I have these thoughts. Instead of having these thoughts and forgetting them about thirty minutes later I guess I need to write them down. I'll be adding them to the site as time progress. I will try to go thru the stuff I did this summer and put it on here.

The First Eight Years

2016-09-23T23:27:00.001-05:00

It all happened a little over 10 years ago. I met this women at a fireworks show. At the time I never thought that 2 years after we met that I would be her husand and she would be my wife. She has taught me so much, more than I could ever imagine. We have traveled to many places that she probably would have never thought that she would have seen.

One day I woke up and got ready for work. I told Christie that I would be getting off work early so we could go get our marriage license at the courthouse. She did her famous move of 'Holding her Breathe'. About 12:30 that afternoon I called her and said wear something nice we are getting married today. I got to the house picked her up and we headed over to the courthouse. When we got to the courthouse we went in and got our license. Then I asked how can we make this official. They told us that their weren't any judges that could perform the service. All the ladies in the office started making phone calls to see if they could find a judge. They told us to go up to the 3rd floor and a judge was having court and she could do it after the court sessions. We headed up to the 3rd floor and sat outside of the courtroom. She saw us sitting outside and said come on in her last case was late and there wasn't any since in us having to wait for the case to start. The judge then married us. And that is how our marriage started.

Here is a little video I put together

Day at the Cabin

2016-05-15T20:20:00.002-05:00

Days like today are awesome. We spent the day at the cabin for the Hyatt reunion. Not a lot of people there but still a good time and plenty of food.
Tyler and I spent most of the day fishing and trying to find that damn snapping turtle. We didn't catch anything, well I caught some weeds and sun. We have a lot of great memories at the cabin. One in particular is when I took the oars away from Tyler & Jon were in the boat that had not motor and Tyler ended up kicking his way back to the shore.

What's in the works?

2016-05-09T21:54:00.002-05:00

I'm having this brain fart about trying to start some creative writing. Since this page has been around since 2014 and I have done nothing with it I figured that this will be the page that I will be posting on. Just coming up with ideas and time on what to write.
Hopefully most of the post will be longer than this.

Welcome to yet another Blog

2014-05-03T23:42:00.001-05:00

Let's see what I can do with this one.