{"id":2725,"date":"2017-08-24T23:44:13","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T23:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/speaktherights.com\/?p=2725"},"modified":"2017-08-25T01:44:22","modified_gmt":"2017-08-25T01:44:22","slug":"on-the-back-porch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/midwestfootballwriter.com\/?p=2725","title":{"rendered":"On the Back Porch"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is August 24, 2017 in Southern Indiana<\/strong>, good people, and there is a cool breeze under this table I am typing on at 6:55 PM and it feels unreal. \u00a0The sky is clear and the humidity is nowhere to be found. \u00a0Can I get an Amen? \u00a0Amen!<\/p>\n

I cherish these moments. \u00a0Look, my pipes don’t belong in Southern Indiana. \u00a0I know I have made mention of that before. \u00a0When my dear wife, Carrie, and I go to the Northeast in the summer, and to the North Carolina shore we frequent multiple times a year, I am a happy man to find a different climate. \u00a0Don’t talk to me about Colorado. \u00a0Want some clean, thin air? \u00a0Air found places in my lungs that I didn’t know existed in the two trips I have made to Denver. \u00a0So yes, I cherish this weather. \u00a0And I hope and pray the hurricane brewing in the Texas Gulf does not bring the rain totals I heard some chap quoting on the \u00a0TV-news a while ago. 30 inches? \u00a0I hope he misread his teleprompter. \u00a0I have read one. \u00a0It would not be hard to do.<\/p>\n

The North Harrison Cougars head to Scottsburg tomorrow night.<\/strong> \u00a0Though I will not make kickoff, I do plan on getting there. \u00a0The last time the Cougars played the Warriors in Scottsburg was 1982. \u00a0I was there too. \u00a0NH has a solid team. \u00a0They are a well disciplined team. \u00a0The Lee Corso mantra of team discipline in the 1970s when he was coaching Indiana was to not beat yourself. \u00a0No penalties. \u00a0No turnovers. \u00a0Keep the field position. \u00a0NH is doing a good job of these things. \u00a0Before I get to the game tomorrow night, I hope I can roll in a few putts.<\/p>\n

My dear wife, Carrie, is learning.<\/strong> \u00a0She just came in from grocery shopping and told me she had a present for me. \u00a0She held up a package of four steaks that had been marked down and needed to be sold. \u00a0I know what I will be doing on Saturday…grilling. \u00a0Amen again.<\/p>\n

Pastor Duke.<\/strong> \u00a0My good friend Pastor Duke Lackey got reassigned from Faith Harbor United Methodist Church in Surf City, North Carolina \u00a0to the North Raleigh United Methodist Church in, well, Raleigh, North Carolina. \u00a0Pastor Duke and I went back and forth via email today. \u00a0When Carrie and I were at the service at Faith Harbor in March during Spring Break, we did not know it would be one of his last messages there. \u00a0I love the man.<\/p>\n

Today I thought about him long and hard. \u00a0He is such a wonderful speaker and a great guy. \u00a0I sent him a message. \u00a0We have gone back and forth with each other for many years. \u00a0Carrie and I attend Faith Harbor every time we are in town. \u00a0We will be there in October.<\/p>\n

Here is what Pastor Duke sent me today:<\/p>\n

Hello Dan,<\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Thank you so much for your kind words and I’m so thankful that our paths have crossed. \u00a0One of the joys of serving Faith Harbor was being able to worship with people that visited the Island on a regular basis. \u00a0I appreciate your support and kindness over the years.<\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
North Raleigh is a very different world than Faith Harbor and I’m surrounded by some very good people. \u00a0This is an exciting new adventure and challenge and I am thankful for the opportunity. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Enjoy the beach and enjoy Faith Harbor, a beautiful place to be! \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Peace,<\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n
Duke\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
We need more Pastor Dukes.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Tonight Bob Seger plays in Toledo, Ohio<\/strong> to start what has been speculated as his last concert tour. \u00a0This will be the first show of the tour. \u00a0Right now the last scheduled show is set for November 4th at the Los Angeles Forum. \u00a0Included is a stop next Saturday, September 2nd, at the Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville. \u00a0Most of us still call the place Deer Creek. \u00a0Carrie and I will be there. \u00a0We saw Bob Seger in Louisville in 2006 and 2011. \u00a0And, when I thought we would never see him again, we went to see him in his own\u00a0back yard in 2013 at The Palace at Auburn Hills outside Detroit, Michigan. \u00a0That was amazing. \u00a0The Palace venue is anything but. \u00a0Maybe when Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars were pushing fast breaks it was a Palace…but it was not in 2013. \u00a0The show…was royalty. \u00a0Joe Walsh was the opening act. \u00a0He walked out onstage and most of the house lights were still on. \u00a0He meandered onstage…plugged in…looked at the crowd and asked \u00a0“Well…are you ready?” \u00a0And then broke into the most soulful version of “Walk Away” that you could ask for. \u00a0He was amazing…then came Bob Seger. \u00a0At Deer Creek next weekend Grand Funk Railroad is scheduled to open to Seger. \u00a0Turn the page, I say.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I am having a hard time turning the page tonight.<\/strong> \u00a0I am a bit numb. \u00a0That may be the reason for this potpourri of a post tonight. \u00a0I stopped being an employee of Medora Schools in the Spring of 2015. \u00a0I have not stopped being friends with many of the co-workers I have forged close bonds with over the years and that will not stop any time soon. \u00a0I was given some bad news about us losing a couple of souls we knew well. \u00a0One was in the senior class of 2015, my last one there.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I want to think about so many other things. \u00a0But I keep going back to the Medora gym. That is the place this old football player will always relate to the most, ironically, and for good reason.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Tell someone you love tonight that you love them.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It makes a difference.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Speaking the rights…<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Danny Johnson<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is August 24, 2017 in Southern Indiana, good people, and there is a cool breeze under this table I am typing on at 6:55 PM and it feels unreal. \u00a0The sky is clear and the humidity is nowhere to be found. \u00a0Can I get an Amen? \u00a0Amen! 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