Alexander and Rocky

Here's a photo of two of my neighbors: Alexander and Rocky... Alexander is the taller of the two. He's an exchange student from Germany. His interests include tennis and soccer. Rocky is the Klement's family dog. He has lots of energy and likes to chase anything furry.

Normally my blog photos are of family members, and Coach Sam's Life has been pretty much about 'Family for the last 582 posts'. But I've been thinking about taking a little different tact to my journal for a while and have decided to begin posting a series of photos and commentary of various aspects of my life, especially the community around me...

I think it will be fun to be able to come back to this post five, ten, maybe even twenty years from now and relive this moment and recall people, places, and events that might not necessarily stay in the memory banks as age starts to creep in.... And not only for myself, but for Elijah, Connor, and possibly their children as well. This and my other journals are a legacy to them. -Here I am in my early 40's and I can't really remember much of my early childhood, or even my junior high and high school years. -And sadly there's not much that's been preserved from my childhood years. My parents have both been gone for some time now and there are hardly any photos or mementos of those precious moments in time.

I want my family to know and remember that community was/ is very important to me. I love the little community that we live in. West Columbia is so different and refreshing after years of traveling and living in the city. The people down here in the country are different... -In the best ways possible...!

We've got wonderful friends and neighbors all around us who keep an eye on us and are really tuned in to what's happening around them. We care about them and they care about us. There's a feel that we're all extended family here. This is what home feels like. It's warm and comfortable. You can take your shoes off and be yourself.

It feels good to be 'home'....!