Wrestling - Pack The Gym

I've been going to write about this for a few weeks ... and as you know, I'm quite the procrastinator. It's a lovely story, and as I write this I'm watching "My Fair Lady" and she's singing "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" ... doesn't it just paint such a cozy picture. Anyway ... I do digress!

My story ...

I got a postcard in the mail from the Lake Mills High School Wrestling Team ... it was "Pack The Gym" ... and I set it on the desk, and I thought, I better call Mr. Boehmer and tell him that he could take me off the list, Doug was the HUGE wrestling fan. As I was cleaning my desk, I picked up the postcard, almost tossed it, and the return address caught my eye. It was from a certain young man, and I sat down, opened my calendar and penciled it in.

Now you need to know I am not a fan of wrestling, even being married to a 4 year varsity wrestler, I never found the love of the sport, but totally supported my husband's love of it. Sent him with cash in his pocket whenever I could.

Now you might wonder why I went and I'll give you a little back history. You see Doug was the guy who never met a stranger. He always struck up a conversation. And one specific night, last January or February maybe, it was a soup night at The Grand, we stopped and talked to a friend and her young son. They were on a "date" I think. We didn't think much of it, we visited, and as we left, Doug said, "I can't wait to see him wrestle next year."

Move forward to May 11, it was the visitation at the funeral home for Doug. This mom, husband, and son (I think, don't quote me) ... but for sure the mom came through the line, tears streaming down her face, and she told Nolan and I that she just wanted us to know something, she said, "I want you to know that Doug touched a young man's life in a brief moment one night at The Grand." Now I don't remember the exact words, but I remember being touched by those words.

That is the young man who sent me the postcard asking me to help "Pack The Gym" ... and so I went with a couple of friends, because truly didn't want to walk into that gym alone ... as we sat there watching the crowd, watching the matches, I so wished Doug could have been there. He would have adopted this young man and a few more, he'd have been their fiercest fan, offering little tidbits of advice for out on the mat.

And so eight months after our loss, I am, was, reminded of the kind of man my husband was. I'm not sure that the young man knows what a smile and joy he brought to me with that little post card. But what he did was remind me of the true legacy that my Doug has left this community. I wish this young man all the luck in the world, and I will cheer from afar as they work their way toward state. Perhaps there will be just a smidge of extra "muscle" out on the mat this year.

Until soon,
Vic