The Show Must Go On

In my mind, The Christmas Season cannot possibly begin until I sit down for the annual Ward family evening Thanksgiving meal under dimly lit candles & Christmas music playing softly in the background. Then shortly after (within hours or days) we put up the tree. Stability & consistency are important with family & particularly young ones. But truth be known, I wasn't going to prepare the big meal this year as this lingering, wretched economy has forced us to cut back a great deal. Plus my wife's work hours are beyond grotesque. Just wasn't feeling up to the average 36 hours of meal planning, shopping & cooking that is required for such an event (& did I mention I have a really bad back?). But a gentle prompting from my oldest encouraged me to once again take the plunge. This Thanksgiving certainly wasn't without it's difficulties, frustrations, & fatigue, but just between us girls & the fence post, I'm glad I did it. Creating memories doesn't put money in your bank account or quiet your cynics, but in the end, those things won't matter anyway. Few remember personal accolades & material acquisitions after we're gone, but how we raise our children affects generations. -cW.

Mahna Mahna

Took the squeedunks to see the new Muppet flick over the holidays. Well worth it I might add. A joy to introduce Kermit, Miss Piggy & the gang to a whole new generation. One thing's for certain, when we left the theatre...my entire fam was humming this....

Musical Midlife Crisis

It all began this past August with an innocent mp3 album purchase & download from Amazon. Rarely do I shell out Benjamins for music anymore, but I wanted something fresh to take with me on the first ever Ward family vacation to The Land of Enchantment (New Mexico, to the layman ;0). The next thing I know, BAM!! It's 3 months later & my jaw is still on the floor. Haven't listened to much of anything else since (as my children can attest). Never in my life have I been so profoundly overcome by such a magnificent, musical body of work. There are no words. On second thought, perhaps there are. A.) Hiromi, like any other giant in their respective field, has without question raised the bar for all of us. B.) This album represents a turning point in my life, as it has drastically deepened my love for my craft (surprisingly more so than any other previous education or experiences I can recall to date...am I boring you?). C.) Most importantly, it has inspired me to higher heights & deeper seas. I find myself wanting to push the envelope all the further. And why shouldn't I? This life we lead is no dress rehearsal. If only we had the lifespan of those in Old Testament times I might be able to catch her with 15 hour practice days by age 798 (of course the idea of retiring at age 985 doesn't exactly sound appealing now that I think about it). So with new found inspiration, I press onward while reminded of the endearing words of the immortal Winston Churchill, when he boldly stated- "I am easily satisfied... with the very best!" Hear! Hear! ;0)

Sunday's On The Way

Why do endings always seem to surprise us? It's as if a part of our deeply embedded genetic makeup refuses to accept the inevitable. Perhaps it's because the end of the road always seems to arrive at a time we least prefer, accompanied by much pain & loss. This was the position I found myself in yesterday afternoon, while enjoying a hot cup of joe, playing a quiet game of Chess with my son, & watching a mounting Sooner victory unfolding on the overhead flat screen. And while I witnessed the injury occurring, it wasn't until the tears began flowing on the sidelines with a supporting team of medical staff nearby, that an indescribable sickness began to wash over me. That image will haunt me forever. Unfulfilled dreams are what is supposed happen to the other guy (kind of like minor surgery is what physicians perform on someone else). But there I was, like a stunned deer in headlights, watching Ryan Broyle's storied college career come to a most abrupt, & agonizing conclusion. What made this all the more personal, was having the privilege of conversing with Ryan (via the magic of Twitter) on a daily, if not hourly basis. He's commented on my son's baby pictures, endured my countless weak attempts at humor, & even has my family recipe for Santa Fe Soup. That being acknowledged, I take great comfort in knowing his off the field story & contributions will be his most enduring legacy, as his faith has not only turned his own life around, but pointed countless others to their Creator. And what an amazing platform he has been given to do it with. Without question, Oklahoma's loss is the NFL's gain. I will be anxiously waiting to see what God has in store for the next chapter of his life. Yes one way or another, Sunday's On The Way. Godspeed Ryan. The best is yet to be.