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{Straight From the Heart} *Remembering Marlena* 2/9/01
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This Saturday night is a very special night for me. It will mark the last time
that I will have the opportunity to coach against our niece Jennifer Pozzani.
Jennifer is an all-state basketball player who led the Rock Valley Conference
in scoring both her freshman and sophomore years at Beloit Turner before she
transferred to Beloit Memorial. In both her junior and senior year, she has
led the Big Eight Conference in scoring, surpassing even Mistie Bass,
Wisconsin's Girls basketball player of the year from the 16th ranked High
School Team In The Nation, Janesville Parker.
Our own beloved Lady Cougar varsity team from Clinton High School are on
a 15 game winning streak and haven't lost a game since November of 2000.
They are currently ranked 10th in the state for division 3 schools, while
Jennifer's team is ranked 13th in the state for division 1 schools. To say
that this match-up has been eagerly anticipated would be an understatement!
Jennifer and I have shared a lot of good-natured kidding about basketball the
past four years, especially at family get-togethers, but I can't even begin to tell
you how hard it is going to be for me. A chapter in my life will be through... I
will go home, have a good cry, then scratch my head and wonder where the
time has gone. At the age of 32, I still consider myself young, but the
realization that my Jennifer has grown up before my eyes, makes me feel
like I have officially grown up too...something I wasn't planning on doing for a
long, long time.
But nothing is going to be harder for me than the starting lineups. Each year,
when Jennifer runs out onto the floor, she will shake Whitey Gilbertson's hand,
(the head varsity coach) and then make her way to me for a pre-game hug. It
started out as a pre-game handshake when she was a freshman, but
somewhere along the line I grabbed her and gave her a big hug, and I haven't
let go since...
I wanted to share a poem I wrote to Jennifer this week.... I know....I can hear
the laughter already...."Michael wrote a poem? Are you kidding me!?" This
is my first, and most likely, last attempt at poetry.
Jennifer sent me a good-natured email about our upcoming game, and this
was part of my response to her. Some of it you most likely won't understand,
but Iwanted to share it with all of you anyway, to honor Jennifer...
The Lady Knights have rusted, send the "Arena" back to Rome.
Trash-talking can't be trusted, time to prove it in the "dome."
Mistie tried to stop her, Tom said, "Get her off the floor!"
But if you check the Clinton Topper, you will see the final score!
Pozzani may score twenty, but she can't do it all alone.
Subs: the Cougars have a plenty, does Pozzani have a clone?
But regardless of the outcome, and no matter what the score
I'm proud of you and then some, but I've told you that before.
This game I'm looking forward to, with teardrops in my eyes
And to show how much I love you, be prepared for a surprise...
Bittersweet will be the start, pain at my heart will tug.
As I open up my arms to you, and give my last big hug.
I love you Jennifer and wanted you to know that you have made me proud
on and off the court....
Michael
P.S. So if you want to watch a classic high school girl's basketball game
between two State-ranked teams, come on down to Clinton High School at
7:00 PM tomorrow, February 10. I'll be the guy in the suit trying to hold
back the tears...
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Remembering Marlena
(c) 2001
By Julie Jordan Scott
The only sound was the hammering of my
heart as it reverberated in my ears. My car came to a stop
at the top of the cold, barren mountain. Other than the
disconcerting song of my heart, complete silence enveloped me.
Slowly I opened the car door, allowing a blast of wind to assault
my hands and face. Grasped tightly in my right hand was a festive
balloon bouquet of twelve pink balloons with fuschia ribbons crowned
by a single shiny Mylar balloon emblazoned with the message: "I
love you."
It was to have been Marlena's seventh birthday. Other people no
longer remembered the significance of the date: February 9th. As
her mother, I could never forget the date that a piece of my dreams
died. After that date, my life would never be the same.
So it was alone with my memories of my firstborn that I stood with
only the wind kissing my face as I stood in the drab grayness of
that February day. Cold, unforgiving, continuous was the relentlessly
chilling wind as I paused, surrounded solely by scrub brush and
silence.
"I will always love you, dear Marlena. Happy Birthday my precious
baby." With those words, I released the balloons. All twelve pink
balloons quickly skipped into the overcast sky as they seemed to
be playing a spirited game of duck, duck, goose, or tag. Up into the
sky, higher and higher they went. As they climbed, I counted. There
were only eleven pink balloons!
Where was the twelfth balloon?
I counted again. There were still only eleven pink balloons against
the backdrop of the sunless sky. Eleven balloons dancing heavenward.
I looked to my side and was immediately reminded of something else.
I had forgotten the balloon crown, the heart shaped balloon with
the message of love for my little girl.
Inexplicably, it had not flown towards heaven with its playful pink
friends. It had silently floated back to me, quietly swaying at about
my waist level.
Eleven balloons reached the heights in the sky. The twelfth was
gathered up by Marlena. It must have been Marlena, who sent her
message to her Mommy in the only way she could. A heart shaped
balloon with the words, "I love you".
Happy Birthday.
Julie Jordan Scott
julieja@lightspeed.net
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Requests:
From: aflanders@yahoo.com (Alice Flanders)
I have a friend who just lost her aunt suddenly. Her
uncle has MS and is unable to care for himself. She
can be reached at blaisrick@yahoo.com.
************
From: emh67@hotmail.com (Montie Hickey)
My cousin and his wife just found out that there might be a chance that
their little girl has leukemia. They still are not sure if that is the
problem. They have several more tests. She is having her tonsils removed
on Tuesday. Please pray for the family, pray that the Lords will be done.
I also have a friend who had his toe amputated today. He recently found out
that he has diabetes, and developed an infection in his toe. Please pray for
a quick recovery for him, and that he won't have any further problems.
Thank You,
Montie Hickey
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Thought For The Day:
"Guilt is concerned with the past. Worry is concerned about the future. Contentment enjoys the present."
Verse for the Day:
"Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content in whatever state I am."
Philippians 4:11
Kid's Thought For The day:
"There is no good reason why clothes have to match."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"The phrase 'Working Mother' is redundant." --Jane Sellman
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Others may have more ability than you. They may be stronger, taller, quicker, or have a higher vertical, but not one should be your superior in respect to team spirit, loyalty, enthusiasm, determination, or character."
Deep Thought For The Day:
"I had to go on two diets at the same time because one diet
wasn't giving me enough food."
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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