Chicago. The epicenter of the Midwest. It would be a fun to get out of the airport and stroll around. Today, however, is not a day for strolling. Today is a day for a journey. It is a journey I have dreamed of and hoped for and prayed to receive, but I honestly had my doubts if today’s journey would ever come.
It began about a month ago. I was in Runnemede, NJ when I got the call. It was Jeremy, a former player of mine from Camden County College. He is Australian. After his CCC experience he moved back home and started an athletic apparel company. For the last 5 years we have kept in touch. A few times we had spoken about me getting involved with the company, but nothing ever materialized.
By the time I was back in Richwood, my head was spinning. Jeremy had invited me to coach a team of Australians traveling to China for 3 weeks in May. My brain was racing. Could I really do it? Could I get all that time off from work? Could I afford to pass on a lot of overtime and take unpaid leave? Could Peach Country let me go during the busiest time of the year? Before I knew the answer to any of those questions, I agreed to coach the team. I hung up the phone and immediately realized I had a problem.
It wasn’t Peach Country. Steve gave me an incredible opportunity 5 years ago and has been understanding and supportive every day since. It wasn’t Joan. She is an amazing person. Every day of my life, I thank God for putting her with me. She would support me all the way. Nope, my support network was strong. My problem was the timing. I really have not had anything on my schedule for 5 years. I was not accustomed to planning things more than a week away. So I knew a month in the future would be wide open. NOT.
My son, Kevin, is getting married May 19th. Oh no. So, two minutes after excitedly accepting, I call Jeremy back and tell him I may need to cancel if arrangements could not be made to accommodate the wedding. Jeremy tells me he will get back to me. As I await his call, I speak with Steve and Joan and Kevin about the trip and its impact. Everyone agrees it sounds like a great opportunity and I should go for it. Jeremy calls back with the good news, things can be worked out.
I am all in. I don’t really know much detail, but I am all in. My mind is racing with possibilities. Details of the trip are painfully slow. I find out we begin in Shanghai and end in Beijing. Several days, maybe a week goes by and I find out the players are older guys, 22-28 years old. My first chance to coach pro level players. This past weekend, I received a 3 hotel itinerary. Yesterday, I learned we will be playing teams from around the world, not just Chinese teams. I have a partial listing of player’s names and I have seen a not-so-flattering video from a recreation center game where some of the players were involved. The video is about 35 seconds long and I received no indication which players were which.
In the meantime, I had not realized how out of the loop I was. My dress shirts were clean, but incredibly wrinkled. I have not pressed much in the last 5 years, but the iron felt like lunch with and old friend. I did not own a suitcase. My traveling was confined to family trips in the van. Picking out luggage was incredibly stressful. It needed to be affordable, but I wanted it to make a statement when this group of Aussies saw me for the first time. Confident. Capable. Coordinated. The Lord put exactly the right set directly in my path at Burlington Coat Factory. There was just one like .I wheeled it around the store like a puppy before finally committing. Finding scouting pads, marker boards, playbooks, practice schedules, soft chalk, etc. was a nightly routine. New dress socks, cell phone arrangements and stealing Joan’s IPAD were the final touches. I was ready to go to China.
I read the Original Chicago Hot Dog Company sign with a twinge of excitement. It was 8:30 in the morning so I thought it best to pass. Businessmen, families, endless security and airline personnel make the airport an interesting place to people watch. I always find travel an adventure and today was no different. Except it was completely different. I am not traveling with my wife and kids. I am not traveling with the team. We are all meeting at the Shanghai airport in 14 hours. An athletic adventure I face alone with more questions than answers.
As I stand in line to check in, a young guy catches my eye. Tall, thin, baggy shorts and sport flops. Thinking of the guys in the video I wonder to myself what that guy is doing for the next three weeks.
Let the adventure begin.
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