Way Over Due

I've been neglecting this post for months now because I've wanted to do it right. Well, I've come to realize that probably won't happen, so I need to write about it now.

Background Info:

I went to K-12th grades at a small school in rural east central Indiana. I graduated with 37 kids. Small. But wonderful in many aspects. I am who I am today greatly because of the things I experienced there.

One of the things I developed while attending school is school pride-even though many kids could have cared less. I vividly remember sitting on the stage at the end of the gymnasium (a typical Indiana HS gym-beautiful, peaceful, that smell, man, I miss being in a gym) before a Saturday morning practice, being the first one there, looking up at the banners, and thinking how proud I was to be sitting there.

As early as elementary school I can remember wanting to grow up to be a Volleybronc, the name given to the girls who played on the varsity team. My heroes weren't Michael Jordan or Tony Guinn (Jeff gave me that one). My heroes were Teresa Jones, Michelle Farrell, Joni Kirby...you've heard of them, right?

I also remember March of 1985, a Friday night, grocery shopping with mom and hearing the announcement that the Daleville boys basketball team had just beat Anderson for the sectional title. Wow, we partied after that! Think Hoosiers. David beating Goliath.

So, that was my background. Loving my school. Taking pride in helping my team win. Wearing my black and gold letter jacket with my head held high.

Of course, like most small schools, we were looked down upon by most everyone else. We couldn't compete with most of the larger schools which had a bigger talent pool to pull from. In fact, my junior year was the last time our volleyball team was even ranked in the top 20 to date.

Now, to make this story complete I must introduce to you my close buddy, Corey.

Corey and I were in Mrs. King's 6th grade class and became inseparable from then on out. I thought (and still do) the world of him. I followed him everywhere. No one could make me laugh harder. We shared inside jokes. I was his biggest fan. But, as sometimes silly teenage girls do, at times I blew him off and would rank a current boyfriend's attention more important than his. He stayed my friend anyway. And has still through all of my stupid mistakes throughout the years.

Presently, Corey is a PE teacher at our old HS doing what he has wanted to do his whole life, coach basketball at Daleville. See, Corey had more pride in his school than even I did.

This is why it has taken me so long to write. Daleville HS and Corey mean so much to me for how they helped shape me and I wanted to portray them in the correct light.

I was over the moon, crazy proud, tears in my eyes excited when Corey and his team won the sectional this year. It had been 23 years. 23 years people. And it was my Corey who did it. Who deserved it.

I wish I could have been there. To have traveled along with the whole town which had something to be proud of again, to the regional game. But I kept up with it through the local paper and emails from Corey. I sent him candy and balloons after the win. I am so proud that he has been my friend for 20 years, only 2 people besides my sister, have been my friends longer. So proud of him and the man he has become. I hope that new banner hanging in the gym shines brighter than the rest.

This post serves as a thank you to Corey and DHS. And I hope I got it right.