As I started on my trail run, I was no more than a tenth of
a mile into the woods when there was a loud clap of thunder. I paused but continued.
Then there was another clap followed by some light rain. I paused again and
started to turn around, but the rain then stopped. I was not worried about
getting rained on and wet, though I probably should have been better prepared
and brought my poncho. I was more concerned about my phones. I convinced myself
that since I had them safely in a plastic bag within my running vest, that they
should be okay and if it came down too hard, I could just cut my run short.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that the thunder was a signal from the
trail running gods that I was going to experience one of my most memorable
moments on any run. I would meet up with someone who had a major impact on my
life.
At the time I was oblivious to all this and was just trying
to get in a good eight or nine mile run. On the run I saw three older gentlemen
walking around the lake in which I also circled around. I actually saw them
twice and they waved and encouraged me on. All three had the same T-shirt on
with the emblem of a wildcat on it. I left the lake for another loop and would
eventually return back to the lake and loop it again before traversing other
parts of the Tourne County Park.
As I returned back to the lake loop I saw two of the same
three gentlemen. I was not sure what had happened to the other man. They
stopped and indicated that they wanted to talk. I find this happens often
especially with people more elderly, they wonder who this gray-haired man is
running for a long time. So we chatted a bit. They asked me how far I was
running and were impressed that at the time I was on mile five but wanted to do
eight or nine. Then they asked me where I live and somehow during my reply, I
mentioned that I went to Boonton High School. The one gentleman then quickly
pounced on that and asked “What is your name?” When I replied “Ray
Pinney” His eyes lit up with joy. “I was your teacher!” I looked at
him and realized that it was my old football coach Dave Gardner or DG as we
used to call him. “DG!” I
shouted. “JC Pinney” He replied, using my old high school nickname which
he had bestowed upon me during football practice.
Now I have not been coached by DG in forty-eight years but that does not mean I do not think of him. Outside of my parents and family I am hard pressed to think of anyone else who had more of an impact on me than DG. I was so elated to see him but what made me even happier was that he was just as excited as I was. We just hugged each other with pure joy.
I wish that I was more prepared to meet him because I would
have waxed poetically about him, but it was such a surprise I was almost
speechless. Our affection and respect for each other was obvious and the
forty-eight years did nothing to lessen it. In fact, for my part it enhanced it,
because now with some of the wisdom I have gained over my sixty-four years of
living, I realized how fortunate I was to have DG coach me.
While I was completely surprised, the lessons of our
football drills came to me immediately. I didn’t have to go back far in the
rolodex of my mind to find them because I had always kept them in the front of
my mind. I did not keep them there to relive the glory days of my youth but
more as lessons to help me navigate the present. I told him that I think of him
often as well as the drills he lead on the football field. I wanted him to know
that he impacted me greatly. Yet I was not sure it came across. You see I still
consider myself an athlete, always competing.
His friend whose sons also went to Boonton High and played
football though a couple of years ahead of and behind me, remarked to DG. “You
seem to remember everyone!” Then DG said something that almost made me cry.
“No, I don’t remember everyone just the special ones and Ray is very
special.”
He even said I read about you a while back. I said, “My
running the length of New Jersey?” He replied “Yeah that was amazing.”
The three of us chatted a while laughing and enjoying
ourselves. We took a picture of DG and me.
Then there was a loud clap of thunder, and it seemed that the heavens
were going to open up. I was a mile and a half away from my car, so we said our
good byes.
As I headed down the trail, I felt so strong and light on my
feet. Soon the thunder got louder and more frequent. Yet there was no rain. It
was then that I realized that it was the trail gods again admonishing me.
Though they did not want to spoil everyone else’s day since it was my mistake
that they were upset about. They were
upset for me not saying one thing to DG: “Thank You!” He really helped make me
a better man. To make matters worse I didn’t even have his cellphone number to
send him the picture.
I relived those times with him and how they are still with
me all these years later. When I got home, I told my wife about my
encounter. She really knew nothing about
his impact but when I told her the story she said “This was no coincidence.
The universe was trying to tell you something.” She was right, I had to do
something.
Hopefully he reads this somehow. But maybe more importantly
he will read the next blog in which I describe his impact. Thank You Coach
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