I remember high school football games when the cheerleaders used to bounce around with all the energy in the world and they would chant S-U-C-C-E-S-S, THAT’S THE WAY YOU SPELL SUCCESS.

I was playing that football game. Listening to those cheerleaders and their chant. I wasn’t playing on offense on this particular night, and I ran onto the field with the defense. The first play we stopped The Hawks for a one yard gain, the second play I made a tackle in the backfield. On the third down play, the opponent passed away from me, as the third down pass fell incomplete. That was our success at the moment getting the offense back on the field.

Once in a while, I’ll be out running on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon and hear a distant far off marching band at a high school football game. I think of Vicky Makowski chanting those words about success.

Who knew while standing on the sidelines at the high school football game one would be connecting something that happened many years before. Who would think that I would be living on the complete other side of the country and being honest, not really liking football that much.

Success in life is a far off vague concept and not easily identifiable. As I listen to that marching band play once in a while I think, have I been successful? Usually my answer to myself is.

Who cares.

Am I happy?