WNMU Creme Brulee

Last Friday started out as a regular travel day for Adam.  We kissed him good-bye and wished him good luck and watched his truck pull away.  I went on with my day like any other...until I got a casual little call about a fire.

Adam called and told me that everyone was OK and there was a bus fire.  He was really calm and acted like it was already taken care of; I told him I was glad everyone was OK, I loved him and we hung up.  Then I got this crazy picture...

Compliments of Silver City-Sun Times

I knew Adam was busy taking care of everything football wise, so I waited a while to call him.  The pictures were chilling.  The bus fire started with a flat tire that burnt the entire bus down.  Everything was lost, players gear, bags, wallets, video projectors, you name it.  It was as total loss.  Everyone was pretty shook up and Adam had a decision to make to play or not.  He met with the team and asked them all honestly how they felt.  There were mixed reviews.  Guys motivated to play even more, guys confused on what happened and guys who were mad about losing everything.  The team was divided.  Adam talked to them about the many different challenges in life and what it meant to cope with adversity and how to move forward in a positive manner.  Many were ready to throw the towel in but Adam asked, what if this happened to your home and you have a family to take care of?  Are you just going to shut down and hibernate?  No, you will pull through it and be a better person b/c of it.  Adam shared his speech with me and it brought tears to my eyes.  I could feel his energy as he retold the story and it made me want to gear up.

Another bus picked the players up about an hour later and they headed to a local high school (Bloomfield HS)  They players rested there with food and drinks provided by the H.S.  The coaches worked on the details on how to play a game without any gear.  After being on the phone for the next 6 hours, Adam and the coaches worked everything out and were able to play the next day.  It was amazing how everything came together.  Adam called me delirious at about 11:30 on his way to Wal-Mart to buy almost 1K of underwear, toothbrushes, deodorant etc.  Cleats were donated, gear was lent out and support flooded in from around the country.  I can't tell you how proud I was of Adam and how happy I was too see the support and love from all the WNMU fans.  

Angie, Caden and I with our signs

The Mustangs ended up winning the game 26-17 against Ft. Lewis College and the team had a huge home coming party waiting for them with a police escort lead by the Mayor into town.  Caden and I were there (4:30AM) and anxiously waiting for Daddy to get home.  We weaved through the crowd and finally found our hero.  Adam had a lot of people congratulating him so it was hard to get through.  When we did we had the best family hug ever.  Adam's warm strong arms wrapped around us made us feel that everything in the world had stopped and only our heartbeats and Caden's coo-ing were the only sounds in our ears.  It was heaven.

Caden-what's up dad, where were you, let's play, i'm sure you're not too busy

Adam and I got home around 6am, he went straight to bed to catch up on his missing sleep that he hadn't had for 2 days.  We all embraced each other and snoozed off and I thanked God that everyone was home safe and sound.

Everything this weekend reminded me of how important it is to embrace each other and tell your loved ones how much they mean to every day.  Never leave angry and never say anything you regret.  Love and you will be loved.  Each day is a miracle from God as my Grandma would have said.

Next week we play against the School of Mines, where Adam and I previously were at before we moved here.  No WNMU buses will be involved :)