42s on my 44th Birthday

 Hurdling 42s on my 44th Birthday

June 20, 2011 marked the 44th year of my birth and over the past few years I've made it a tradition to step foot on a track and take on the 42 inch hurdle to celebrate life, the blessings of having the ability to still overcome the obstacles both off and on the track. As a track and field athlete, my main event was the 110 meters high hurdles and for more than 20 years I've competed in the event from grade school to college (paid my education) to elite level (earned a living doing). Once I gotten passed the point of earning money doing it, I simply kept doing it for the love of the event, the sport, and the benefits I receive from doing it (physical fitness and peace of mind). I competed up to the age of 38 at the US Championships and if not for other obligations I could have kept it going into my 40s.

I get the questions, Why do it? Isn't it taxing to your body? What is it you got to prove? You can't fight father time, face it you're old, you're getting old... The (glory) days are over so why, why why?

My easiest answer to all the questions, the I'm too old for this, etc. is simple... You  have your thing you do that gives you 'peace of mind' and I have mine... and if you don't have that thing that gives you 'peace of mind' you best hurry up and find it. I'm a physical needy kind of person, I like to be on the move so I absolutely love that my job is coaching and I'm outside on a daily working and putting in work to maintain my own health. For me, being physically fit leads to a healthy state of mind as I deal with the ups and downs of life.

Hurdling, is a way of life for us all and I just so happen to have done it for a living on the track and in doing so.. I look at life as a hurdler. The obstacles I face in life is simply another hurdle I'm trained to overcome.

So until that day GOD let me know that the days of running over 42s is over, I'm lacing up the spikes and getting into that 'Ready-set-Go' position and celebrate my way. And yesterday when I stepped off the last hurdle it felt incredibly good to step over in stride all 5 hurdles... YES!

Hurdling over 42 inch hurdles on my 44th birthday was the best gift I could give myself and I thank my Heavenly Father for the gift that keeps me moving forward in spite of the challenges I face.

Hurdler For Life

My 2011 Father's Day thought (Flashback to the day my son was born)

On Sunday June 19, 2011 it's our turn..  that's right! It's Fathers Day and I'm elated to say that for 10 years and some months, I've had the privilege of wearing the hat of dad daily (A full 24 hours, 7 days a week). Through the up and downs (the hurdles seen and unforeseen) the one thing that remain a constant since the day little tee was born, I am a father to a son and for as long as I have God's blessing, His mercy and grace to see another day I'll continue to live up to the challenge of raising a son to be a man, and prayerfully a even better father to his son(s) and/ or daughter(s). 

His mom went into labor on a Monday night around midnight and 14 and half hours later 2:28 pm on Tuesday the 26th day of September 2000, we were blessed with a handsome young prince, Terry Reese III. It wasn't until the moment I held him in my arms that he was named after me. 

Tiger Woods ~fist pump~ YES!

A hungry Baby Tee

Lil Tee's mom had  initially got me to settle for Terrence Jamal Reese before birth.. Whew! Not a fan of that name... But once I held him in my arms and looked her in the eyes when the nurse asked us what will be the name of our blessing. I got my wish to name him after my father and I. See picture =>

Random father and son moments through the years (2000 - 2011)

Daddy Tee and Afro lil tee

Back to school - 3rd grade

A Day at the Office (Paul Derr Track)

Yeah! We big like that!

Workout time at Paul Derr Track

At the neighborhood park

Father's Day/ Birthday Dinner at Kickback Jacks June 20, 2010

In Buffalo, NY

Dad and Baby Tee

Each One, Teach One

Father's day 2009

At the park

Kings Dominion July 2010

Incredible ride

This was too fun (1 hour 30 minute wait time for front row)

Before going into Kings Dominion

Fathers and sons King Dominion July 2010

Duke Twilight 2010

Wolfpack Football 2010

Wolfpack 2010 Champs Sports Bowl Game (Orlando, Florida)

Snow day

October 28, 2010 - Wolfpack 28 - FSU 24

NC State baseball vs VA Tech 2010

At the park

A Woman's Touch

(Background - 'Love Supreme'.. the Artist - Alonzo Adams)

Thinking back to around the time I wrote this piece, I was still married but only a few months away from my wife and I separating. The piece is pretty much my way of saying... "This is what I need from you." but it seem to fall upon deaf's ear. We've gone through a rough two years up to this point and there were choices made on both our parts that simply iced any attempt to mend any broken links to what I (maybe her too) would be a union that will  last to the end of time. => The dreamer in me talking. 

Even through some rough patches I've always felt like there's nothing we can't overcome if we truly love one another. But only if we both had a mind to persevere. That we both would see all the good that comes from allowing our love to conquer what every marriage has to deal with... LIFE!

Well, I simply wanted express the vision behind the words... (divorced since February 2009) and the dreamer in me still exist  and I look forward to a day I'll be able to look that 'Beautiful Black Woman' I'll someday come home to and yes, greet her with ~open arms~ a fluttering heart and a big grin... followed by a "It's so good to see that pretty face of yours! I love you baby!"

Why do women do this? Flashback: One year ago

Random share: Why do women do this?

Recently I saw my new neighbor (my 9-year son and I are in 100% agreement that she is one ‘pretty lady’) waltz out seconds after us as we were about to get into the car. We both did a double-take, and it slowed down my stride. I kept my thoughts to myself, “Whoa! Where is she going looking so incredibly good in that body length form fitting sundress?”   Well, I snapped out of it to do the gentlemanly ‘Hi’ as she beat us both into our cars while we watched her drive off waving. I’m shaking my head, Wow!

Well, later that night our paths crossed again. Returning to my apartment from taking out the trash and behold, there she was! We meet and greet in the parking lot (this seems to be the trend lately), but this time around she’s wearing jeans. We traded words and of course, I’m a guy who can’t (an in most cases won’t) pass up giving a well deserved compliment. I complimented her on her dress from earlier in the day. She goes on to tell me that she went to a birthday celebration for a family member and that she only wore the outfit she had on earlier because her Ex was going to be there. Shaking my head and thinking whatever went wrong with that, she obviously want him to think twice about what he’s missing. She explained that she was on her way back to her family’s place but wanted to get out of that sundress, I take it served its purpose and now she can go back to the normal wear. Laughing on the inside and thinking, “That’s just wrong!” You got me missing you and I don’t even know you yet!

Well, the conversation concluded around the subject of my 9-year old son and her nephew who’s a year older dealing with some similar issues that led to her asking for my phone number, Huh?  Not that I’m oppose to ‘the pretty lady from upstairs’ having my number, I just need to know will the Ex be a problem down the road. <= bonus share I’m smiling! Now back to the topic.

I have my own conclusions to why women do this but I want to hear from the ladies; men please chime in as well, I’m sure you have a story or two about seeing your Ex in ‘Woo woo woo’ mode, looking incredibly gorgeous.

Why do you insist on torturing your Ex if he is your Ex?  In other words you put in an extra effort to look extremely good when you know you will be in his presence again?    

______________________________________________________________________

<= Bonus share... Mm! Mm! Mm!

Yeah I got a thing for me some Kerry Washington!  

Happy Mother's Day (Reflection)

Flashback!!!

I can't remember what age I was but it was somewhere between 5-7 years old when I first looked at a woman and was Wowed! I looked at her and thought, she is the most beautiful lady in the world... so I told her, "Momma, you are beautiful and I'm going to marry you some day!" HEY! I didn't know any better about what I was saying or expressing. Well, anyways... She laughed at me and told me to get out of here with that mess with a smile.
(photo: Mom with youngest brother, Gerry)


Fast forward to present state of mine;

As I reflect on a thousand and one reasons to join in the celebration of mothers around the world, today I chose to celebrate it from the moment, that moment I looked into the eyes of a 'Beautiful Black Woman' and thought she was the 'Most Beautiful 'Gift from God' to the black man. Okay, so it wasn't that deep of a thought when I was kid but HEY! In some ways it was because any woman I found myself 'Wooing' was in a lot of ways a reflection of the first beautiful black queen I acknowledged as a little kid, my Mom.

Reflecting again on that day, I can remember also thinking... 'My dad is one lucky guy to be married to such a pretty lady...'

Present state of mine;

From that point on I think my ideal woman was beginning to take shape because I observed my mother in the light of 'this is how a woman should carry herself and do things'. For starters, she's going to be a beautiful black queen who like my mother is God fearing, nurturing, selfless in her acts, can cook, speaks her mind and what is spoken is backed with words of wisdom, respectful, supportive, forgiving, and the list goes on... <= Hmmm! A lot of qualities I feel are in me... Thank you Mom for the examples you've set!

BTW, when I say Beautiful Black Woman/ Queen do know that it's not only defined by the initial physical attraction but what follows when I get to know the beauty within. I've seen and still see those moments when beautiful black women => physically! Turn unattractive really quick by what's lacking in the way they carry themselves, the things they say and or do. <= to the young ladies of today Hint hint! Carry yourself like a lady, speak like a lady and watch how much more you'll be respected and yes, gain the right kind of attention that will be healthy in you finding Mr Right.


In closing, not only do I want to wish my Mom a Happy Mother's Day I too like to extend a Happy Mother's Day wish out to my ex wife and mother to our Handsome Young Prince. She's too has displayed...

'A Love Supreme, A Mother's Love'

Happy Mother's Day Jamie

Thank you for being a beautiful mom to our son.

Hurdling my way to 'peace of mind'

April 10, 2011, It's a Sunday afternoon and there is no better place for me to be then that of working out at the track. Besides the benefits of physically maintaining my health, it's been healthy for my mind and spirit too. I really enjoy it most on Sundays on a sunshine of a day because I basically have the entire track to myself. I love the energy I get from days like this to simply free my mind as I work up a sweat. On this particular Sunday, I pulled the hurdles out for the second time this spring (on a Sunday) and because of how well I've maintain my fitness I didn't hesitate when I decided to raise the hurdle height to the 110m hurdle height I raced at for many years. If you've never stood next to a hurdle at 42 inches, pull out a measuring tape and get an up close and personal feel for what you've witness me repeating stepping over. 


Although I don't compete anymore, I've found it to be refreshing in my maintaining fitness to on occasion lace up the spikes and hurdle. I'm only a couple months away from my 44th birthday and it still feels 'Incredibly Good!' to put some pep in my step and hurdle those 42 inches. 


We all should find that thing or things we do that allows you to unwind and refuel for the challenges of a new day. I workout by running, skating, playing with my son... but hurdling... I'm on top of the world!


The peace of mind that comes with all of the above is a blessing I embrace with joyful and thankful heart and mind... 


Thank You Father God!


Terry Reese Jr.

~it's the hurdler in me that looks at life in the same light... we all have to face obstacles... I simply anticipate and hurdle it in stride~

Each One, Teach One