text: By Stephen C. Schultz There is nothing quite like children to remind us of our mortality. My youngest daughter, nine year old Emma, was mentioning at dinner the other night that she is not only one of the youngest in her class (birthday in July), but she is the one in her class with the oldest parents! This was quickly refuted by my wife stating that "so and so" had older parents! Wow…what a blow to my ego…I am now in second place in the oldest parent's competition! Does this mean I'm the youngest old looser? Mortality is an interesting thing. We pass through our daily lives moving from one event, task or pursuit to another. Unlike gravity, that literally keeps us grounded, we always seem to be competing against that other universal law called "time". Take a look at a previous post of mine written about one of my other daughters entitled, " Lessons from a nine year old ". I hope you enjoy it!
  By Stephen C. Schultz The walls of the gymnasium were lined with teenagers. Led Zeppelin's song, " Stairway to Heaven " was playing on the DJ's Hi Fi Stereo System with the four foot high speakers sitting at either end of the stage. Star like bursts of colored light spun around the room as if we were inside a kaleidoscope. This was the last dance of the night and the teens were swaying back and forth, arms draped awkwardly around each other's shoulders. The needle on the stereo briefly made the rhythmic scratchy sound as the music faded. The gym lights began their insect like chirping and humming followed by a dull glow that slowly filled the room. Kids began to search for friends and make plans for later that night. At 15 years old and having just received my learners permit to drive a car, I was more interested in my mother picking me up from the dance so I could drive home. I walked to the parking lot with my friend Bill to wait for my mother. She was coming t
  By Stephen C. Schultz Picture if you will, a gymnasium with humming lights. Cheers after every play. Two girls volley ball games are going on at the same time. There is excitement and emotion in the air, for this is the championship tournament. One team, having lost one game in this double elimination tournament, is fighting its way back through the loser's bracket. Another team has been undefeated until they played the team fighting back. The winner of this final game is the champion. I sat quietly in the bleachers enjoying the game. My oldest daughter Stephanie was on the team fighting its way back through the loser's bracket.