Brave Enough To Be Bliss

long I could run because of increased pain. I did make it to the regional meet and my finish was enough for us to qualify for the state meet that was held in my hometown, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish at the state meet. It was such a disappointment after working so hard all summer, but I appreciated all the kindness of my teammates and the parents to still help me feel like a part of the team. Cross country taught me that I had endurance. I had stamina. I had heart. And I had never questioned I had words. I often said I hated multiple choice tests but give me an essay question and I could write my way out of anything, even when the professors said they could spot a “bullshitter.” I took that as a challenge, and I would rise to the occasion. While I don’t remember it, apparently, I enjoyed writing at a very young age. I recently found a letter from my great grandfather when I was eight years old. He lived several hours away, so I didn’t see him often. I was struck by his tender words when I read the letter because I don’t recall that words like these were often said to me as a child.

My dear little Ginger: I got your nice letter a few days ago, nice to hear from my little great granddaughter. I am glad you love me for I love you too, very much. You are a pretty good writer honey. You ask what I’ve been doing. I’ve just been sitting watching TV and reading, not very hard work, is it? Tell mom and dad and Michele, hello for me, will you? And come see me sometime, huh? They are having a pancake dinner at the City Auditorium at noon today, guess I’ll go down and eat my dinner there. Bye, Bye for now honey.

I love you all, Grandpa Olly

College was just something I had to do in order to work, and I couldn’t wait to be done. I transferred to Kansas State University the second semester of my sophomore year, but I don’t remember why. I do know I had planned to go back to KU in the fall, though.

Everything changed when I met a fellow journalism student who worked in the K-State sports information office. He told me about what he did there

and when I asked if they needed more help, he thought they could use another volunteer student assistant. I interviewed with the director and started working there soon after. It didn’t take me long to know that’s what I wanted to do with my writing career. I would be able to really know the people, be behind the scenes with one university’s teams instead of trave ling around and interviewing different people all the time, but not really getting to know them. I worked long, hard hours but I loved every minute of it. Fortunately, I got by with decent grades despite not studying much, but I didn’t care because it was the work samples that would get me a job after I graduated. I felt grades were irrelevant in my field, so average grades were good enough. I just had to have the degree and then I could show prospective employers what I had already done in my portfolio. So, I worked more than full-time hours as a student assistant first as an unpaid volunteer and then eventually for very little pay, but that was OK with me. It was an investment in my future career. I loved sports and got to work at virtually any home events I wanted to…football, basketball, baseball, and track are the ones I remember the most. I would work in the press box or work along press row during games. I remember sitting in the baseball stadium’s very tiny, basic wooden “press box” that only a handful of people could even fit in. It, like the football press box, was a far cry from what exists there today. On a Friday afternoon in 1989, I helped set out media packets at each seat in the press box before the next day’s Kansas State vs. Kansas football game that back then was referred to as the “Toilet Bowl” since both teams were so bad. And I vividly remember coming in the next morning to a mess, which seemed quite fitting for a Toilet Bowl. There were trash cans and buckets sitting all along the counters to catch the rain that was still coming through the ceiling. We had to pick

20