An Auburn Man Teaches An Alabama Fan A Few Lessons

In just 57 days, the college football season will get started for the Tide and their 2014 season. I have found myself wishing for it to hurry up and get here. The Alabama Softball and Baseball teams had wonderful seasons and that helped curtail the anxious feelings for kickoff. As soon as they were over though, it seemed that I get even more anxious just wishing time would hurry up and pass so that we could once have football again for a few months in our lives. Then this past Sunday, those feeling stopped or at least decreased for while with the sudden and tragic death of Philip Lutzenkirchen and gave me a few different perspectives.

If I ever uttered the words “I wish so and so would hurry up and get here”, without fail my dad would answer “Son, Don’t wish your life away”. As a child that seemed crazy and didn’t make sense. As events happened in my life, I slowly and slowly realized the old man knew best as each of those occasions would pass. Phil’s sudden passing this past weekend reminded us all that we are not promised another day in this world and to make the most of what we have why we still have it. If you spend all of your time waiting on something else and not living in the current, your days on earth won’t be as pleasurable.

Philip’s other two loves was family, friends and football. Those things made him happy. Most of them make us happy as well. Before long, we will gather at whatever place we are going to watch the game, whether it be in Tuscaloosa or at home. In either of those places, we will be joined by friends and family. Even if we are tailgating or cooking at home, the delectable smells from the BBQ, Chicken, or whatever is the standard fare will be permeating the air around your gathering. Depending on the outcomes of the play, we will either celebrate with family and friends or be disgusted at least for a little while.

Auburn fans and Alabama fans fight tooth and nail when it comes to football. However if there is a tragedy, we come together to help each other cope. It truly is a brother/brother relationship. I left out the big/little so there would be no animosity in this piece. Those that spoke at the service spoke of Philip being a light and that if we continued to carry that on, his legacy would also live on. Let’s all make a vow to do that. Live every day like it is your last one. Look forward to what is ahead but enjoy what is going on in the present. We can find so much to be happy for now but still look forward to being happy next month when football arrives. When it does, continue the happy times. Cherish the time that you will get to spend with family and friends. Take nothing for granted. Make memories of every little thing that you can that may happen on Gameday. Use the promise of no guarantee of tomorrow to make the most out of today.

As we all know when a loved one has been taken away from us, there is a huge void there but we must continue to press on no matter what. With that in mind, be sure to continue to keep Phil’s family, his friends, and the Auburn people in your thoughts and prayers. Keep them uplifted as they continue the grieving process.

Being an Alabama fan as long as I can remember, I would have laughed if you told me that I would learn or be reminded in this case of one of dad’s lessons from an Auburn player. But Lutz did that. I’m going to slow down, enjoy each day, but still keep my eye on what’s coming soon. And also live each day as it could be my last. Football season will be here soon, Bama fans. However, let’s enjoy today.

Happy Fourth of July to all and Roll Tide. And just for Lutz, I will even give a War Eagle and a thank you for the reminder.

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