Surprises for the New Year

A few years ago fireworks in Hawaii were banned on New Year’s Eve, leaving the night quiet and pretty dull even for those of us who don’t like the loud bang of firecrackers. We didn’t need fireworks this year. Max provided the night’s excitement with his proposal and engagement to Christine! He popped the question, and we popped the champagne!

We can hardly wait to welcome Christine to the family, and we are happy for all the wedding planning excitement for the kids.

Max was calm and collected on the outside so I didn’t sense the proposal coming, but he said he was sure nervous on the inside.

I awaited the kids’ visit home for the holidays with a different kind of anticipation.

Six months ago when Chuck was home for a visit, he showed me the steps to learn how to dribble between my legs, a skill I had tried many times before in my life with dismal results and so a goal of mine since surgery.

The spirit was willing, but the talent was weak. Right before the kids were coming home there was still no progress. Hal took a video of me trying to dribble a brand new purple basketball Max had given me to hone my skills like the Wildcats, and I realized how lame my efforts looked. Surely I could do better than this.

I threw away all my excuses, forgot about the parts I could not do, tried not to over think it and just dropped the ball behind one leg with my left hand then guided it forward with my right. It worked!

On Christmas morning I was like a little kid waiting with anticipation to surprise dribble master Chuck with my success. It was a wonderful moment, and I’m sure Max thought I was John Shurna.

I remain amazed each day when I do my ball handling exercises that I can still do this. It was the culmination of building the strength and stamina to execute the move, as well as dribbling away my apprehension.

Life changes in ways we never know, and we can do things we never thought possible.