Good Children

One of the positives of my current situation is I am able to take my son to his pre-school and pick him and his sister up after their school day is complete. My daughter came with me to pick my son up from his pre-school today and it is so wonderful to speak with her about her school day. She is 7 1/2 years old and she is really turning into a little lady. When I picked my son up I spoke with one of his teachers and she told me what wonderful boy he is. I know it is only the fourth day of school but it is so glad to hear this. She went on to say he is so nice, respectful and listens to all of the teachers.

The children take naps from noon to two and my son was very concerned with taking a nap at school because last night when I was putting him to bed he expressed his concerns. I told him he doesn't have to take a nap at school but he has to lay down and not disturb the other children. I think I said this three or four times because he was very concerned with nap time. Today his teacher told me he didn't sleep at nap time but he laid down for the entire time and didn't bother any of the other children. Wow; he listened to what I said!!

My children are wonderful and I am so happy to see them grow and mature. I know in the not so distant future I may not have this luxury because of what I have done so I am enjoying each and every moment. They are such good children and obviously I am biased but it is so nice to have these feelings validated by people outside of my immediate family. My wife has done a wonderful job with our two children and she will continue no matter what happens to me. This is probably getting repetitive but I am truly blessed and I love my family so very much.

Another one of the positives of my situation is I got to watch the finish of the PGA Golf Championship. I know most people don't like watching golf but for some reason this is the only sport I have watched in the last six months. I enjoy watching golf and I especially enjoy watching the major championships like the one today. I must admit I always root for Tiger Woods. I know most non-golf people know this name and to me he is a special person much like Michael Jordan. (I am going to digress into some sports talk and for those non-sports fans I apologize.) I always liked to watch Michael Jordan play basketball because he did things no other human could do. I wasn't necessarily a fan of his team but I was a fan of him. I like watching Tiger Woods for the same reason I liked watching Michael Jordan. Tiger Woods can do things no other human can and to me it is wonderful to watch.

I was rooting for Tiger Woods but I knew he had no chance to win but I enjoyed watching Phil Mickelson play his final four holes. Usually I don't like to watch Phil Mickelson but two things made me root for him to win today. Number one; I saw how much he was enjoying himself and how the fans were rooting for him to win; he was really having a good time while he was playing and he never got down on himself. Number two; he and his wife took 1000 children to a San Diego Wal-Mart and bought all of the children new clothes for the coming school year. We always hear about the negative things athletes and entertainers and well just about everyone else does but the positives things usually get pushed aside. This is a positive that should be emphasized. Some one of Phil Mickelson's stature does not have to do these kinds of things but he and his wife did it because they wanted to. They wanted to give back to the community not for publicity or notoriety. They did this because to them it was the right thing to do. I commend them for this and I have a new found respect for Phil Mickelson and his family.

This brings to mind a story about a friend of mine who went to the same high school with Phil Mickelson. He played on the high school golf team with Phil Mickelson. My friend (incidentally I may never speak with this friend again but I am so glad to have known him for the short period of time that I did much like most of the people that have come and gone in my life.) was a senior in high school and Phil Mickelson was a freshmen. They played a golf match at Phil Mickelson's father country club and my friend actually beat him; however; the respect my friend has for Phil is enormous. I remember when Phil Mickelson won the Masters (another golf tournament) last year and how genuinely excited my friend was. The tournament was played on Easter Sunday and my friend was at his fiancé’s parents house and he kept going in and out of the family room so he could see the end of the golf tournament. No one else at the party seemed interested but this didn't stop my friend from watching and basking in the glory when the final putt dropped. I know these are little things and most likely insignificant things in the grand scope of my life but I really appreciate these moments more than ever.

It is amazing how much clearer my mind has become since I stopped all the lying, cheating and stealing caused by my compulsive gambling. Life has a new found meaning and even little things mean a lot. I read something awhile ago and it really didn't hit me until a few days ago. The article was talking about life and how some people have a big picture approach. Life isn't lived in the big picture it is lived in small doses (I call this one day at a time.) and those small doses make up the big picture. Sometimes all our great plans go astray but the little moments can lead to big fulfilling moments so I intend to enjoy all the little moments one day at a time.

Happy birthday to my brother-in-law Rob!!!!