[Les Paul]

My son was an allstar in baseball and football through middle school. I bought him a guitar when he was 8. He was the starting quarterback and middle linebacker his 8th grade year until he broke his thumb on his left hand and his right arm. He knew he broke his thumb in the first quarter but they told him it was just jammed and he played the rest of the game and got his arm slammed by a helmet in the 4th quarter. He missed the next 6 games with casts from elbow to fingers on both arms but finished up the season starting the last 2 games. He couldn't play his guitar the those 6 weeks and that bugged him more than missing the games. The doctor told him he was lucky he didn't have permanent nerve damage in his left hand. He lasted one more year in sports. His heart was never in sports again after that. It killed me because I lived for sports in high school. He has had 4 bands through high school and has one CD out with another in the works. For the next three weekends he will be at state competition in speech and debate. The only kid from his high school to ever make it to the 3 different state competions.

I had visions of him playing D1 football or baseball. We played catch with either a baseball or football year round from the time he could walk. I know I miss it way more than he does. My point, enjoy this time like no other. It may all be over before you know it. I'm very proud of his debate skills and I know he is good because he could convice you the sun will rise in the West.