Thank You

I just wanted to be able to personally say thank you again for your support of the Team Gleason fundraising efforts through my own personal page.

                                                      Pre-race photo at Rebirth Statue

We raised over $55,000 and some of us are still receiving funds even though race day has passed. The rain held out during the race, though not so much at times during the post race party.

                                                           Team Photo for Team Gleason

We gathered at 7:15 on Saturday morning for a group photo in front of the Rebirth Statue that leads to one of the Superdome entrances near Champions Plaza. For those that may not know the Rebirth state depicts a famous play that Steve Gleason made in a football game almost ten years ago to re-ignite the city upon its return to New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina. 

                                                                  The name says it all

The race course was perfect. A slight bit of humidity only altered the quickness of the course as we ran through the French Quarter, then down Esplanade Avenue, and then finished among the beautiful scenery at City Park, exactly 6.2 miles from the start line that was downtown by the Superdome.  In good 'ole New Orleans fashion, there was even a "dehydration station", for those who wished to partake in a little early morning booze before reaching the finish line.  One of the greatest experiences of my year so far was being able to hear various chants of "Go Team Gleason", during this somewhat easy run on Saturday. 

                                                    The race ended at this beautiful park

                                       This beautiful museum was the backdrop for the finish line

I was able to meet Steve Gleason on Saturday and it was a somewhat humbling experience. His eye recognition software was unable to function as it usually would due to the glare of the sun at that time he was under the Team Gleason Party tent. Before his arrival, Steve would have had to compete with some intermittent rain showers. Steve Gleason is now entering year number five with ALS (average expectancy is two to five years). 

                                          My good friend Wonneken, myself and Steve Gleason

Team Gleason was founded so Steve could stand with others who live with ALS and ensure they have the technology needed to live comfortably with ALS. Most importantly the goal is to find a cure for this crippling disease. Steve and his wife Michel have also assisted in helping folks with ALS be able to experience extraordinary life adventures in life such as climbing Macchu Picchu, cruising the Panama Canal, and even attending Super Bowls. 

                         It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be awesome. Awesome ain't Easy - Steve Gleason

                       

                           

Recently at the Sundance Festival, the documentary Gleason was such a powerful film that even Amazon Studios purchased the rights to it. Stayed tuned for its release in July. 

I hope you have enjoyed a few pictures that I have attached throughout this post. 

Thanks again for your support,

   John T

          

   Ran into an old buddy        Under the Team Gleason Tent

   We were treated very well as charity runners!

Hello Again

Last Tuesday morning I was helping a 14 year old plan his Junior Olympic 1500 meter race. The young man succeeded in setting a new personal best, but Coach Tower's game plan kind of fizzled out a little bit.

Duke (Demetrius is his real name), was the fastest runner by a few seconds on paper in a pretty slow race. He was in the first of four heats. The fourth heat actually saw a national record fall by nearly twenty seconds. Anyway, I told Duke to play around on the first lap and save some energy for his second lap. Then he could take the lead as I suggested. Duke was unable to practice due to a muscle strain during the month of July, so as he expended all of that energy on lap two, he also grew a little weary.

He did lost a few spots on lap three to finish fourth, but he was still able to come in five seconds faster than his previous race. I will probably be coaching Duke in cross country this fall, so we will both be getting ourselves in pretty decent shape soon.

Overall, I did have an enjoyable time at my first Junior Olympics as a coach. Due to where I am at the moment (car dealership), I do not have many pictures that I can upload from the event. Our field event guys both set PRs in the shot put, and Duke set a PR in his quarter mile race as well.

                                                             Duke and Coach Tate

                                                           Duke getting warmed up

Still Getting Some Love

From my baby girl in Korea that is. . . The little one that used to call me daddy recently sent me a letter. I felt so bad that she mentioned she had been too busy with school to write to me.
Anyway, it was a great start to my week a few weeks ago, when my pops brought this letter to me at work one Monday.

I'm an ARV

It is a very rainy morning here in Knoxville, TN, this morning.

On another note, earlier this year I became an ARV (animal rescue volunteer) with the Humane Society of the United States. It is very rewarding to be able to help animals that come out of puppy mill, hoarding or fighting situations. My first bit of work helping a group of dogs that came out of a puppy mill in Arkansas. There were 45 dogs, 8 chickens, and 3 cats that came off of the person's property. I was able to help be a part of the rehabilitation process for these animals (not so much the chickens), and I even took part in grooming them as well.

Since I was only two hours away from Memphis, I managed to help out three different times, and enjoyed being in a glorious Hampton Inn every evening.  Most importantly, I met some wonderful people, and thanks to social media we are able to keep in touch. I look forward to my next volunteer mission with the HSUS; whether it be this year or next year.

The first picture was from the first trip to Central Arkansas, while the second was from the following trip.

Time for a Comeback

Good Evening World!

It has been a LONG time since I have attempted this blogging idea. I have repeatedly asked myself to get back to this place over the last few weeks. I am happy to announce the Keep Going blog is back for now.

First of all, I do not know how long it has been since I last typed in this box provided courtesy of Google's Blogspot service. A lot has happened in life though. There have not been many big changes though.

Currently, I am sitting in a hotel room in Knoxville, TN, 18 hours away from the Region 6 AAU Qualifying Track and Field Meet. For the last few months I have been coaching the Blues City Runners, a track club that I once represented (as a distance runner).

I have three runners (distance-wise) that all have very good shots at qualifying for the Junior Olympics next month in Norfolk, VA. I spend three days a week practicing with these kids, and it has been just as rewarding as teaching English in Korea was to me.

I have not done a great job keeping in touch with everyone in Korea these days, so I found a nice little Korean church, with a few American men that are actually married to Korean women. I really enjoy sitting through sermons that are in Korean (while following with English translations).

There is a sweet little lady in the church with an amazing operatic voice, who gives me goosebumps every time I attend a service. Her name is Kim Wickes, and I found out through the pastor of the church that she actually spent some time singing  for Billy Graham's Crusade. This lady has certainly lived life to the fullest, considering she lost her sight at age 3. Please click on the link below, and even do some searching on your own. She has an incredible voice for such a petite lady.
Kim Wickes


Here is a picture of Pastor Ho Jin and myself that he took on his new Samsung phone recently.

I just may be back for another blog post soon! There might be a hot tub calling my name downstairs. 

A little piece that may be published

..... On another blog site that is.

Humbled by Women Everywhere

From the ESL World to the MPA World

If someone told me eighteen months ago that I would be living in Memphis working at Memphis Animal Clinic, and volunteering with Memphis Pets Alive, I would have laughed. Until June of last year I was teaching ESL in South Korea. I knew I would depart later that summer to some emotional goodbyes, and then transition over to living in Eastern Europe for a little while.  I taught kids aged 3-8 years old, and was the only full time male teacher there at Harmony Language Institute. Being the only man is not such a bad thing, except when only three of the fifteen women can actually speak fluent English, it is another story. Good thing I was pretty close to fluent in the Korean language.

Those women worked at least ten hours more than I, and may have received half of the pay as myself. Did you know that the word value for humble when playing scrabble is 17? I went to work humbled every day, knowing that I was giving my heart and soul to those children just like my female Korean coworkers were. This reminds me of a group of women I know very well these days.

Fast forward to the present. After only learning of Memphis Pets Alive! six months ago, I have become what one might call an active member of the organization. Once a month there is that “mandatory” Saturday, where I assist in dog washing, or dog lifting. Once a week there is Wag Along Tuesday, where Miss Beth and I make sure that every stray dog gets just as good a shot as every health hold, and adoption room dog receive. I also assist in cat room activities, and ensure that the “adoptable” dogs are free of any health issues.

Today I received an email informing me that a certain brown pit bull had found her a new start in life. I was thanked for the wonderful photos, and the loads of animal rescue info that I provided.  Later in the afternoon I threw up a big fist pump (better than Tiger Woods), upon reading that email once again.  As I thought for a few minutes, I realized that sharing the big news would make the day of a few ladies too.  The women of Memphis Pets Alive!, (most importantly Miss Dani, and Miss Beth for their photography skills), were the reason that brown pit bull has a wonderful home with a mom, dad, and two kids.

Volunteering with Memphis Pets Alive!, and teaching English in South Korea are two experiences that one would think are totally different.  Shockingly enough, they tend to be more similar than they are different.  In the world of education there are a ton of amazing women that spend their lives touching so many little children. In the world of animal rescue there are a ton of amazing women that spend their lives touching others, especially touching the lives of the four legged (and sometimes three legged) critters they work so tirelessly to save.

I am so blessed and humbled to have been around so many amazing women, here with Memphis Pets Alive!, and on the other side of the globe, while teaching English in South Korea.

When you hear of the animals that get adopted at Memphis Animal Shelter, think of the ladies at Memphis Pets Alive!. When you hear of the beneficiaries of the Memphis Pets Alive! Pet Pantry, think of the ladies of MPA! When you go to sleep tonight with your rescue dog, think of all of those hard working ladies that made sure that dog became a rescue, especially the ladies of MPA!.

Heading Back to Korea

On Sunday October 26, I will be heading back to my other home in Daegu, Korea. I will be visiting the family, and many, many, others until November 6th. Am I excited about this? You betcha!