Connection Point Opens Window To Hero

So Zachary is having the absolute time of his life at Brian Urlacher's football camp. He has gotten to converse several times with Brian though at age eight, saying "Hi" constitutes big conversation. He got to nudge up against the big guy and have his picture taken which is hard to say who was more thrilled kid or dad. He also has met a number of football notables including Dallas Cowboy DeMarcus Ware and a coach from all the way back in Austin who seems to have taken a real shine to Zachary. Funny how small this world is traveling all the way from Austin to Albuquerque to meet someone from Austin.

But the biggest news of football camp was Zachary meeting Colt McCoy the starting superstar quarterback of our beloved University of Texas Longhorns. Colt was a special guest of today's session and although throughout the day he came close to Zachary the opportunity never really arose for him to have his in-depth conversations like he has with Brian (again a conversation of "hi" and "hi" back).

As we were leaving camp I spotted Colt bolting for the parking lot. I quickly grabbed Zach as he walked off the field and away we went. There was a Longhorn that needed to be lassoed. We busted through the gate but no Colt. Zach's little face bright with anticipation quickly grayed and I thought our opportunity had been lost. Then I spotted a man that I thought looked a whole lot like Colt's dad.

I grabbed Zach by the shirt and headed that way. I figured if we couldn't meet Colt we could at least meet the man that made Colt. I walked up to the man as he was about to get into an SUV and asked him if he was Colt's dad to which he replied he was. I explained we were both from Austin and that Zach (and I will admit it....I said I was as well) a big fan of his son's. I told him we were from Austin (THERE'S THAT CONNECTION POINT MY FELLOW RIPPLERS) and that was all it took! Instantly this man warmed to us both and shook both of our hands. I told him that Zach had hoped to meet Colt today but that it never worked out. He said "well hold on a minute....let me get him to roll the window down and say hello."

To say that Zach wasn't completely blown away at that moment would be an understatement. That handshake from Colt McCoy likely was worth ten times what we paid for this camp and is destined to be worth a boat load of street cred with his little buddies back home and most certainly a lifelong memory for us both.

Thanks Mr. McCoy for taking the time to talk to some good old boys from Austin....and for asking Colt to give a kid the thrill of his life. This will be a Ripple that will last for a long, long time I can assure you!!!

Hook 'Em!

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper

Ripple Connection Question of the Week

Given that I am back home in Albuquerque I figured it was appropriate to focus on a Ripple Connection Question that is relevant to what I am experiencing this week.

What is one of your

fondest memories of

your childhood home?

For me it was the underground fort. My best friend Kevin Massis and I built a fort that was awesome! We had escape hatches, a common war room and our own personal rooms and "king" seating. It was the coolest thing ever! We had many adventures and of course the infamous FORT WARS! Yes we engaged in hand to hand genuine dirt clod bombings of other kid's forts. Of course we also had to protect our Taj Majal fort from falling victim to some enemy attack. Oh those were the days and coming home this week and standing on the sacred spot that our fort had been on really brings me back.

So what's your answer to the question? Just how much might you discover about someone you want to know better by asking them this question.

Ripple On!!!

Steve

Sandias

My apologies for the apparent formatting issues. I am using
my Dad's computer which apparently doesn't like my format
for some weird reason.

I am in Albuquerque this week as Zachary is participating in Brian Urlacher's football camp. Many don't know that the great Chicago Bear's Star was once a University of New Mexico Lobo (UNM). I of course am a big fan of Brian as a tried and true Lobo at heart having attended UNM on scholarship before moving to Texas.

Well with family in tow we drove from Austin to Albuquerque yesterday. As I sat outside my parent's house last night I found my eyes being drawn to the Sandia Mountains and their pinkish red vibrant color as the sun set. The mountains were named the Sandias because in Spanish it means watermelon and that's exactly what they look like.

Having those mountains welcome me back with such a beautiful showing of color last night told me I was really home. I can't tell you how many times growing up those mountains became my constant friend, companion and confidant. They were always there watching me grow and become what I was destined to become. There are a lot of my hopes, dreams, tears buried up there in those yonder hills.

I believe the older I get the more important it is to take stock in the things that mean something to you. I guess until last night the power of the mountain and what it has really meant to me in my 36 years finally hit me. I felt an amazing realization of peace and understanding wash over me and I just know this is going to be a good trip home.

More from ABQ this week.

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper