All In the Family
In all walks of life, we often refer to the three most important
F’s” in order: Faith, Family and Friends. Of the three mentioned, family is the only one that you can’t choose. Naturally, it depends on the “family” we are talking about.
All of us have our “blood family” which is in our DNA. Parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, uncles, aunts and cousins. Most of these we claim. Others, we kid and say we wish they would stay hidden under a rock.
In the South, we not only claim our family, but we often dress them up and sit them on the front porch for all the civilized world to see. A few should receive an allowance for being crazier than a sprayed roach. Some of us chuckle at old stories about keeping the loco cousin locked in the cellar or sliding his supper under the door.
Have you ever paused and thought about our different families that we choose? The groups are limitless.
We have our “work family” which we often see more than our actual biological family. When you work side by side with others, you get closer than siblings, whether you like it or not. You finish each other’s sentences and usually work toward a common goal knowing the ones you can depend upon and those who go by the nickname of “Blister,” they show up AFTER the work is done.
Athletic teams often talk about the family atmosphere. It is never more evident than inside the confines of a football complex, especially with the female staffers. These ladies serve as gatekeepers, little sisters and confidants in addition to their work as secretaries. Many of these stick around after coaching changes take place.
A good example is Denise Murphy at the University of Louisville football complex. When we were on staff, Coach Schnellenberger hired Denise as a student secretary. That was more than 35 years ago. She has been an integral part of the football family as the head coach’s secretary all this time, including working now with Jeff Brohm.
When I was the recruiting coordinator at Alabama, my secretary was Linda Knowles who was the best example of class and loyalty. She epitomized the Alabama Family. She was Coach Bear Bryant’s secretary for years, long before computers when she had to type each personal letter for Paul Bryant’s signature. Linda had the task of waking Coach Bryant up from his daily nap before practice and told many of us about the eeriness she felt, going into Bryant’s office and praying he was still breathing.
Later, Linda returned as the head coaches secretary when Gene Stallings took over in 1990. To this day, she still helps Coach Stallings with many of his book signings and speaking engagements. Anyone who ever went through the Bama program as a player or coach, claim Linda Knowles as a dear family member.
Anytime we think of our school family, our memories go back to elementary and high school. To this day, I can still name classmates from more than 60 years ago and the closeness we had then and that we still possess. Many of us think of ways to get this family back together.
Each March, my brother hosts a group of us who went together at Colbert County High School or grew up in Leighton. We refuse to let that special bond break or slip away. My dear friend Doug Gray also hosts a “men’s breakfast” on the first Saturday of each month on Wilson Dam Road in Muscle Shoals. Why? For the same reason. Fellowship, food and just being there for each other.
The same happens for our “St. Jude” family. This refers to the group of volunteers, led by Dr. Jimmy Gardiner, who work on many Saturday mornings, getting Doc’s farm on Underwood Mountain, ready for the third weekend in July for the annual St. Jude Trail Ride. This year will be the 30th year and our goal is to raise over $500,000 to help end childhood cancer. We need you to join this special family. Go to saddleup4kids.org. TODAY.
Susan and I have a new special family that we call our Destin Family. They will never replace our old friends or blood relatives. However, we have all been there for each other, even though most of us don’t even know about each other’s roots. Many members of this family go to church together, listen to music together, travel together and celebrate together. At our advanced ages, we have been there for each other for health scares, funerals and family emergencies.
Two of the greatest comments were recently made by members of this Destin Family: “I never knew so many of these friends would be there for me during my hospital stay. I felt the prayers and couldn’t have made it through without them all.” The other best off-handed compliment: “I only have one complaint about this group: I wish I had met them earlier.”
Every family has issues. Every family has challenges. Every family has problems that seem to be unsolvable.
But, by the Grace of God,
Every family has each other.