Hello to all of you (I'm writing to everyone)
I can't remember a time in my life (except on my wedding day and the birth of our son) that I have been so moved. These past few weeks, and especially these past few days have taken me on an emotional roller coaster. The end of an era is near.
Sunday (5/18) afternoon was simply one of the most memorable days of my life. Kathy Webb and the Cy-Creek Water Polo Club (Water polo, swimming and diving) really put together a wonderful and memorable afternoon for me. As I found out later, not only was it memorable for me, but some some of the alumni that visited. You see, some of them had not seen each other for many years. This gathering gave them an opportunity to reacquaint themselves. There was even a group that hadn't seen each other in so long, they made a dinner date that night!
All of you that came to the reception on Sunday, I can't tell you what it meant to me. There were so many cards, gifts and notes from those that attended, it was completely mind-boggling!
On Monday night (5/19), we had our 2003 Spring Sports Banquet at Cy-Creek. I made it through the entire banquet - although there were times I didn't know if I would or not. One of the things the seniors presented me was a photo album that was put together with great care and thought. I looked through it Monday night after getting home from the banquet, and saw so many memories brought back to life. I had a wonderful group of seniors this year (haven't I always?). This year's group carried a special bond with me though. They knew it was the last water polo game, the last swimming meet, the last practice, the last sports banquet, etc..
Today, I found out just how incredibly stupid I really am. You see ---- in this photo album there were divisions in it. One section was devoted to 1988-1992, another was devoted to another group of years, and so on. I believe Michelle Marion (one of my wonderful seniors this year) put the whole thing together. Well, at the beginning of each one of these sections was a letter of testimony written by one of the swimmers of that era. I was quite moved by these letters. Now, to the s.t.u.p.I.d part -- I wondered why some of the plastic sheets were a little crimpled.
So I stuck my hand in to straighten out the paper, and I found MORE letters written by swimmers of the past and present!!!!! There must have been 50-70 letters stuck in those plastic page liners!! I couldn't believe it!
Well, I got all of them out today and read them all. Couldn't eat lunch. I was so moved by the letters from the swimmers. There was even a letter written to Kathy -- to thank HER for allowing the swimmers to share me, and thanked her for putting up with the phone calls to the house, for her patience and understanding of being left home alone all those times I had to be at water polo games and swimming meets.
WOW!!! Now I looked on the Cy-Creek Aquatic web site, and Konrad DeLong even has a count down to my retirement!!
Well, the time has come for me to close this. The time has also come for me to graciously thank each and every one of you for the wonderful experiences you have provided for me. As I said at the end of the Spring Sports Banquet--- outside of Kathy and Mike Webb, the Cypress Creek swimmers, divers and water polo players have been my life. Not just a PART of my life, they have actually been my life.
I don't know how many coaches in past years at Cy-Creek, or anyplace for that matter, have had the unbelievable emotional trip all of you have put me on these past weeks.
I doubt if there are many.
I love you all!
Coach John Webb
