Final thoughts on Princeton...

---

I admire women for so many reasons.

Among those, how nimble and agile God's best creations must be to wear high heels.

How do they negotiate various terrain and surfaces, seemingly without effort?

Amazing.

But, on occasion, the Laws of Physics become inescapable.

After Ms. Ripa's unceremonious entry, what happened next endeared this remarkable lady to me forever.

Her first words as she quickly picked herself up, flashing a huge smile.

Such self confidence and stoicism in quite the embarrassing situation...

That only added to her beauty.

I must speak to this lady...

Cannot remember her name, but she came by to personally thank us.

When Lisa pointed out we had driven from Chattanooga, her eyes widened.

"Really?  Thanks even more for your presence!"

I have been hugged many times over the years from family and patients.

This was memorable, with a kiss on the cheek.  As she departed, she told Lisa she was looking forward to our return for the live taping of the show and dinner afterwards.

Blondie also came by and thanked me for the contribution.  That meant a lot to me.  He was genuine and a Manly Man. 

There aren't many men I would allow to put their arm around Lisa.

I made an exception for Blondie...

With an eye on the growing crowd of young studs surrounding Lisa...

Kelly Ripa immediately struck me as the epitome of 'The Girl Next Door'.

She is quite an individual.

After a few minutes of conversation, I wanted to introduce Ms. Ripa to Lisa; we walked across the room and found Lisa surrounded by 4 or 5 men.

Flies to honey...

"Excuse us, guys..." as I cleared the way for us to approach my bride.

"Lisa, this is Ms. Ripa", I began...

"I'm Kelly.  My mother is Ms. Ripa..."

Yet another indication of this stunningly beautiful lady with her feet still on the ground.

God bless you, 'Kelly'...

Our incredible mother comforted her 5 year old son and infant daughter with her soothing voice and candlelight while our father was deployed with the NC National Guard during a raging storm...

Denise was oblivious to the crash and banging accompanying the electrical storm that besieged Kinston, NC, that dark evening.

With no power available, the situation provided the opportunity to tout my newly acquired first grade skill by reading to her my favorite book - 'Bambi'.  

Denise seemed to actually enjoy my oratory...  

Like their mother, all are highly accomplished.

Denise honed her maternal skills by emulating our mother and interacting with her Chatty Cathy.

I admit I enjoyed pulling her string...

Dawn was a large part of keeping my children healthy.  

I will never forget, and continue to thank God for, her presence at my grandfather B.C. Daw's funeral.

Young Kara had suffered, a few days prior, a 'Nursemaid's elbow' during daycare at church.  Lisa and I were cautioned at Children's Hospital by the pediatrician the damaged ligaments would heal, but Kara's elbow would be susceptible to reinjury for several weeks.

Sure enough, while holding Kara's hand as she attempted to commando crawl under the pews to reach her grandfather on the front row...  

Yes, Martha, it popped out of place again. 

A Sunday afternoon in rural NC, so far from home.

Aunt Dawn saved the day by reducing the dislocation.

Seemingly effortlessly and with no outcry from Kara as she did so... 

Kara still shares that experience with her friends.  She loves her aunts...

One of my father's favorite uncles lived on the outskirts of Pensacola.

Milton, FL, escaped serious damage, thankfully.

The family enjoyed numerous outings with my Great-Uncle Bill on our father's deep sea fishing boat. 

As I have described earlier, the boat became stranded in the Gulf of Mexico as a consequence of mechanical failure.  Miles from the coast, a powerful thunderstorm provided enough rainfall to sink the boat.

Two Manly Men jumped into action.

As Dawn and others accessed shelter in the cabin, Uncle Bill and the Sergeant Major bailed water all night long in a desperate attempt to avoid sinking.

Dawn and the other passengers all had life vests on, just in case.

Two Manly Men averted disaster; the stricken boat and its passengers were rescued by the Coast Guard not long after sunrise.

Thanks to God...

Again, when Hurricane Milton was headed for, potentially, Milton, I suspect Mrs. Barnes had a few flashbacks...

Such a beautiful addition to the Daw family...

4.0 GPA in high school, continuing at UT, Homecoming King...

Most importantly, this Manly Man is a Christian.

The cautious optimist I am, I am viewing this stud's breaking a Tennessee football rushing record held for 95 years as a portent of God's coming blessing:  a Trump victory.

Yes, Martha -

Nearly a hundred  years!

Gene McEver was a Manly Man, as 90 % of men in that generation were...

The issue of faked injuries should be revisited - with more than a strongly worded statement.

I suspect the Fourth Estate has infected the NCAA even further (along with NIL and The Portal...) with their collusion in this treasure trove of virtually unlimited ad revenue.

Thank goodness for Hulu's ability to circumvent the universal abuse of the fan  with multiple channels in operation.

Digital control sure beats VHS cassette fast  forwarding...

A Brigadier General in the United States Army, this Manly Man, saturated with Masculine Toxicity, was impressive, indeed.

 His 1939 squad is the last NCAA team in history to hold every regular season opponent scoreless. 

 General Neyland was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1956. 

Asked who was the best player he had ever coached, General Neyland did not hesitate:

The Bristol Blizzard

 Neyland Stadium at UT is not only named for The General, but its present form was designed by him. 

I have a deep feeling that God's anointing of this Sampson - who shares my younger son's name - is, in fact, a portent of a change in azimuth for the nation and

We the People.

That deep feeling is bolstered with the confidence my Mother and Lisa are on Overwatch...

The number of supernatural occurrences I have experienced since loss of the Love of My Life and my Mother are many...

I will never forget, during the moments preceding the birth of my beautiful daughter, Kara, when suddenly Lisa asked me -

"Can you smell her?"

"The nurse who just checked you and who was incredulous that you are not climbing the walls?", I asked.

As a broad smile spread across the face of this most beautiful angel from God  -

"I can smell your mother!  Her perfume is so strong; can't you smell it?"

"She is here in this room...", she continued.

I could not, but assumed it was my dear mother who was looking down and made that happen...

You know - it's a mother thing...

Also, I suspect my mother had something to do with Kara being born on my 41st birthday.

Just sayin'...