When I was growing up we did a few projects at school where they would ask you to name what you parents did for a living. Answering about my Mom was easy, she was a therapist. I always new that. Heck anyone could figure that out just by talking to her for 5 minutes because invariably you would start telling her your life story. She just has that way about her. But my father, well that was a little more difficult. You see, what I knew about my father’s job was that he got up and went to work early in the morning, and came home fairly regularly around 530 at night. Usually I only saw him fleetingly for dinner just before I would rush out the door with my mother and sister to an evening dance class or rehearsal. But nevertheless I did have an answer for people who asked what my father did. He gave away the free cheese! See in Wisconsin there was this program that gave away free cheese to people in need. And though I didn’t know much else about my father’s job, I did know that he had something to do with that program. As I got older I finally got a real title for my father. He was the Regional Director for Health and Social Services for the State of Wisconsin. I still didn’t know exactly what that meant, but it was a great title!
That was his present while I was growing up. His past was something a little more colorful, but truthfully still elusive. From 1952-58 my father was a Harlem Globetrotter. Yes, you heard me right. He was a Harlem Globetrotter. And the only reason I have the dates down pat was because he had this award from the organization that hung in our house and it had the dates in raised characters on the front. I memorized them. I had to, because that was about as much detail as I ever really got about his experience. It’s not his fault totally. I don’t remember if I have ever really asked for detailed memories, I’m embarrassed to say. Amazing how we take the people close to us for granted. Their histories.
Last week I learned something more about my father that I didn’t know. Not from him, but from a newspaper article. [Read more...]
Miss Lori and Gatorade want to help young athletes BECOME their best
As you may already know, this Summer I have been named one of the new Gatorade SportsMoms. But I was a Sports Mom long before Gatorade came a calling. With three athletically inclined children how could I not be? It was in the cards from the beginning truthfully. Given the fact that my birth father was a well known college football player and track star, who was even highlighted in Sports Illustrated.
And my father, (adoptive), was the first African American to graduate from St Norbert’s College, who went on to become a Harlem Globetrotter.
Whether by nurture or nature, my kids were inheriting a motherload of ability from this Mom! Even though I chose the path of the theatre and not the ball field, I still believe in team work and athleticism. I have tried to be an example of both to all three of my children, but particularly the girls. It is important to me to foster in them their own “girl power”.
I always encourage them to push farther and reach higher, so that they may BECOME whatever they desire to be.
Gatorade shares my mission, not just for my kids but for all kids. That’s why they have created a Sports Moms pledge and are putting their money where their heart is. Both Gatorade and I are calling upon you to pledge your support to young athletes in the Gatorade quest to BECOME. Gatorade will donate $1 up to $10,000 to the Women’s Sports Foundation for every pledge received at www.Gatorade.com/moms. Simply read the pledge, click to commit and Gatorade will donate $1 in support of girls’ and women’s sports. The donation will help ensure there are opportunities FOR ALL CHILDREN who want to get physically active, get involved in competitive athletics and GET IN THE GAME!
As incentive for taking the pledge, Gatorade has provided me with an autographed soccer ball from Olympic soccer star, and fellow Sports Mom, Brandi Chastain, for me to give away in this post.
A win, win! Pledge your support to young athletes in the Gatorade quest to BECOME. Gatorade will donate $1 up to $10,000 to the Women’s Sports Foundation for every pledge received, and you could win a Brandi Chastain soccer ball! I will choose a winner randomly on Friday from the comments added to this blog post. Perfect end to a productive and inspiring week don’t you think?
So let’s all BE the best that we can BE, and help our young people BECOME the people of their dreams.
SMILE On!
ML
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* Level 8: Although not specifically compensated for this post, Miss Lori has an ongoing relationship with a company connected with a product, service or location mentioned in this post that Miss Lori feels may have influenced her decision to post about it.
* Level 10: Products, services or tickets were provided to Miss Lori to give away in a contest and to keep for her own use, attendance, or for review.
Miss Lori can be found Musing from her Minivan at MissLori.TV , Wearetherealdeal.com , YoungChicagonista , ChicagoMomsBlog , and ChicagoMoms.com. You can also see her Activating to Be Great at Miss Lori’s CAMPUS on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.