Jacob Voges, Clay Greene, Cody Fee, - Future "Thanks-Giving"

I am confident that by now you know or understand I have a strong attachment to the theme of “Thanks-Giving”. There are so many things about the season and this time of the year that I just love. Having the opportunity to reflect and think back about this year and my lifetime, the experiences I have had, the people I have met, the places I’ve been and the books I have read are always good for me, and I hope you have enjoyed my thoughts of “Thanks-Giving” 2013. One of the things I really like about life is meeting people. I enjoy sharing stories and applying the “Six Degrees of Separation” theory is also a lot of fun for me. My final “Thanks-Giving” of 2013 is all about a single moment of “Six Degrees of Separation” involving three juniors from Middlesboro High School in Bell County, Kentucky. They are: Jacob Voges; Clay Green; and Cody Fee; These three are all juniors and are all straight ‘A’ students too. The setting is a crazy one, and I learned a long time ago the best thing to do with life is make the best of it, wherever you are. I was on top of a mountain, with thousands of 4-wheelers riding around, and folks from everywhere. I should mention there was a lot of dust and me, I was selling hotdogs! I saw friends from Laurel County, Harlan, Whitley, Rockcastle,and cousins from Knox County. Folks were from Claiborne County, Tennessee, and I met people I didn’t know from Indiana, Georgia and even Michigan. They had gathered for a “Hollor Crawler” event or it was called something like that and we were all on Mountain Drive off of U.S. 119 in Bell County. It was here that I met Jacob, Clay and Cody. After standing on feet, on gravels, I discovered a need to make this task of selling hotdogs fun and I had started speaking and even singing a little jingle I had made up. “Hot Dogs, Chips and a Soda $5., best deal on the hill and I will even squirt the mustard”. Most folks would listen, laugh & smile, and yes, I did sold a lot of mountain specials too. It was my way of having fun, and I considered it a challenge to get the attention of some folks and to see if I could get them to smile. It was during my routine that I spotted these three, Jacob, Clay and Cody. The skinniest of the three (I would later learn to be Jacob) responded to my little jingle with “man I would love a hotdog but I am broke, I don’t have any money”. It was then my Christian compassion set in and thinking he and his friends might starve to death I said ok, come on over and I will pay for it. The conversation was free flowing then, we were smiling and laughing and I was having a blast, and I’m pretty sure they were too. It was then, the theory of “Six Degrees of Separation” kicked in. We older folks know what the first questions we ask of a young person, “Who is your parents”? “Where are you from”. I am pretty sure most teenagers understand and immediately are sizing us up as old and outdated. Such as maybe the case, nevertheless I was going to use this moment of fun to meet three new folks in this big world and this journey called life, and I am glad I did. I am including them as a part of my “Thanks-Giving” because of the experience. Now when I write that Jacob was the skinny one, he is. Later when I met his father I said do you all feed this kid at home, looks like he’s starving. You should know we were laughing at great levels of fun knowing I was pretty sure he was being fed at home but was just a bean pole in size. I should share that my impression was that he was a smart bean pole and was keeping up with conversation, questions, and we were having a lot of fun. In the rapid fire conversation we were connecting on all kinds of fronts. From his German background to his parents work, and even on food, it was connection time. Clay Green was not excluded from the conversation. He was laughing and he has a great sense of humor and love for good fun too. You know how we are here in the mountains. When you discover that you have connections for distant cousins, you claim kin. I did with Clay, naming him my new found cousin because of the Green Family and a connection with cousins of mine. I connected with Cody Fee because of my love for a Route 44 Limeade from Sonic! It could be that Cody is the smartest one out of the three since he had a job, was working and had cash. I’ll leave that debate for these three to hammer out later. Jacob, Clay and Cody make my list of “Thanks-Giving” because they represent the best of young people. They are bright, intelligent, fun, can carry on a conversation, have opinions, can debate and they too were seizing a single moment of life, making the best of it. That was impressive to me. I haven’t seen them sense, and may never see them again, but I hope not. I look forward to writing 20 years from now about their successes and when I met them on a mountain top. Until then.

"Thankg-Giving" Nate Zettler-Union College; Keith Banford Hill-Campbellsville University;

There are a few things I can guarantee. I know that you should never say never, and you should never guarantee unless you really can, but I've got this. If you are reading this newspaper column then you are a the son or daughter of someone I can guarantee that. Growing up whether you were raised by your parents, grandparents, foster parents, aunts or uncles, I am confident that you were encouraged to be involved in things throughout your life. If your influences were in sports, then it was athletics; Music-join the band, choir, jazz band; Writing-Journalism Club, Year Book Staff, Editor of your school newspaper; Academic Teams-scholastic events; Miranda Lambert sings in her award winning song "All Kinds of Kinds", that is it takes all kinds, and it does. I played sports growing up in elementary and high school, but my parents never encouraged my siblings or me to do so. My mother wanted us to do anything beside play football. Being involved in activities, in a club, or on a team, teach a lot of lessons that are valuable for life. It truly takes all kinds of kinds and each of us represent our kind. In high school when I wasn't playing football I served as the public address announcer for my high school basketball team. Somewhere between introduction of the starting five for each team I was also calling 'play by play' for WANO Radio 1230AM. My involvement in sports grew to include serving as an official with the Ky High School Athletic Association, then I went on to officiating junior college basketball, NAIA basketball all the way to being a "ref" in the NCAA. In time, I went from officiating to serving as a sports chaplain, ministering to teams, sharing motivational messages and encouragements as a Christian and public speaker. This being my season of "Thanks-Giving" I cannot help by mention the blessings of opportunities because of sports. Nate Zettler from Hamilton, Ohio was recently conducted into the Union College Hall of Fame. During his acceptance speech he mention my work and ministry sharing about his struggle when he was a freshman in college and how he had become homesick and was ready to go back to Ohio. When he signed his professional baseball contract with the Kansas City Royals he called then to say thanks, reminding me of our times together. One of his favorite stories to tell about "preacher" is when I would drive behind him in the college van playing his favorite music loudly out the windows to motivate him as he ran. (If only we had MP players back then) Serving others I have discovered really makes a difference. It maybe years that pass before you know the impact but we should never discredit the effort of helping others. Banford Keith Hill played baseball at Campbellsville University. A friendship that began because of sports when I would umpire his college baseball games. Our friendship includes witnessing him graduate from the Lexington Metro Police Department, to the opportunity of serving as his wedding officiant for he and wife Nancy, to now the celebration of the birth of their son James Banford. Who would have imagined? I didn't but I am grateful for each year we've shared together. So many friendships, to many to mention, but this year Nate represents Union College and Keith represents Campbellsville University. Hundreds of "Thanks-Givings" made through sports and each year until I type no more I will honor these unique friendships that have become so valuable and cherished. The opportunities we each have are special, each in their own kind of way. It takes all kinds of kinds and I am thankful this year to acknowledge the difference Nate, Keith and their families have made in my life. "Thanks-Giving". Until then