25 years ago

Twenty five years ago today is a day I’ll never forget.

My wife Rhonda called me at home from her office during the morning of January 28, 1986 and asked if I had heard the bad news. She informed me the space shuttle had exploded shortly after lift off so I immediately turned on the television and watched in horror.

The sick feeling I had watching it over and over and the sadness I had for the families involved. They had actually witnessed it. And what a tragedy it was to NASA and our space program.

At the time I was a full time sports writer with the Grand Prairie Daily News and didn't have to work in the mornings. That night I covered an important high school basketball game between South Grand Prairie and Duncanville at Warrior Coliseum.

There was a moment of silence before the game and Duncanville edged SGP by a couple of points in what eventually gave Duncanville the district championship. SGP also made the playoffs that season and went on to the Region I Tournament in Midland.

Now back in those days we – me and sports editor Randy Jennings – worked way into the next morning putting together the sports pages. Around 2 a.m. on the 29^th a call came over the police scanner that a pedestrian had been hit by a train near the Dallas-Tarrant County Line.

Because our police reporter Gene Abrahamson lived in Dallas I figured I could handle the story and headed out to the scene. Plus I'm an avid railfan so it gave me a chance to be trackside. At the scene I found Grand Prairie Police Officer David Hooper who was in charge of traffic accidents at the time and he was filling me on the situation.

Standing trackside next to the train "Hoop" was telling me the man had either passed out on the tracks from drinking too much or committed suicide. I asked Hoop how mangled was the man’s body. He said “look” and with his flash light showed me I was standing inches away from the man’s upper body.

I’m like “sheesh Hoop!” Hooper started laughing and thought I was aware we were near the body. Over to the left he showed me the man’s leg and to the right another body part. It was indeed a sight I’ll never forget.

Or a day with the space shuttle either.

Max: what a blessing

A lot has happened in my life since the last time I blogged.

I’ve been battling cancer again since September and had surgery on my right pelvic bone on December 13. Same cancer – synovial cell sarcoma – I fought back in 2009.

I went through chemo and radiation prior to surgery and hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments after surgery. I am cancer free at this time but currently going trough another stage of chemo that will end in May and I have to use a walker and wheelchair to get around.

I have not been released to drive again but each day I’m improving dramatically and ready to enter another stage in my life.

While the cancer thing has pretty much taken up not only my life but my wife’s as well the most important happening in the last four and a half months was the birth of our first grandchild. As we remembered 9/11 Weston Maxwell McDonough blessed us at 8 lbs 1 oz and 20.5 inches. “Max” is the son of my oldest daughter Amanda and her husband Mike.

Max was born in Memphis, Tn. but lives in Hernando, Ms., just 20 minutes south of Memphis across the state line. Max has no earthly idea but he has helped me tremendously during my current health issues.

When I’m not feeling good I remember I have the greatest grandson in the world. When I’m in a lot of pain I remember I’m a grandfather and what a blessing it is. Or when I’m feeling like I don’t want another round of chemo I remember the times I’ve been able to hold Max or make him giggle like I did earlier this week.

Max has truly been great for me more than he’ll ever realize. Despite the fact he is 8 hours away from Grand Prairie Amanda and Mike both constantly send us photos or videos of Max.

God sent Max to us for a reason. One reason: to help me forget about what’s troubling me.