My Hero

Recently, my son and I have been going to different colleges to work out for the baseball coach in hopes that he will see enough talent, in my son, nto warrant a scholarship. We are lucky because he has the grades and ACT scores to pay for his education at a state school without a baseball scholarship. It's almost like playing with someone else's money because if nothing works out, in sports, he can still go to school (he takes after his mom). At first, I would get tired while driving the long distances to these schools. But lately it dawned on me that this is some of the last quality time he and I will spend together before he leaves home. It hit me pretty hard too!! It seems like yesterday he was hitting whiffle balls in the front yard and laughing at me when he would hit me with a line drive or showing me how he could catch a fly ball. Now the time is near when I will have to turn him over to someone else and trust them to teach my son more about baseball and more about being a man. Am I scared? You know it!! More than anything I am excited for him because it wasn't that long ago that I was in his shoes. I remember thinking that nothing could be any better than playing college baseball and living, on my own, with my friends from high school. What a carefree time that was and it was almost too carefree because I eventually had to go back to get my degree after he was born. Hopefully we have instilled in him that this is a time for maturing as well as playing ball. Again, I hope he takes after his mom in that area. I know every parent has to go through times like these and I hope that I can enjoy it as much as possible. It hurts me, I guess because, he has always been my hero. I have always rejoiced so much more in his victories and hurt so much more in his defeats, than I ever did with my own. I know, Hero, is a strong word to use but he is. I knew there would be times that he would feel mistreated because he was a coaches son and there were many. I warned him of that way before he ever got to high school. He handled it better than I would have. When I saw the love for the game in his eyes I knew my job was close to being finished and my job now is to help get the team ready for the season. It will be hard knowing that each game will be a game of last's but with each last there will be a new beginning just down the road. I just pray that, his mother and I, have prepared him for whatever lies ahead. Something tells me that he will not let me down, or better yet, will not let himself down. He's my hero!!