Full Ride

Freedom

I never thought much about my birthday til this year. 

From the age of about 8 I knew what I was gonna get - new mitt, gift certificate to the batting cages, maybe some tickets to see the Tigers.

This year I turn 18.

Already got one gift. Diller Pembroke got a scholarship to Baychon Junior College. Maaan, I was so happy for him. He almost ruined it by saying it wasn't as good as my scholarship to the University of Texas. I shook my head like I had a hornet in my ear and told him he was gonna hit .500 at Baychon and get drafted.

I got scholarship offers everywhere. 

My dad wanted me to go to Cal State. He was mad I picked Texas.

Told me he didn't understand. 

He's gonna understand soon enough.

In a way, it's his fault I picked UT.

He sent me to a baseball camp down in Georgia, didn't ask, just told me I was going. They had a swimming pool, a pro masseuse, movie night, and there was an equestrian camp down the road.

If you had asked me to define equestrian back then I probably would have said elderly pedestrian.

All the guys from the McGriff Elite Academy would wander down to Gold Stables and watch girls in silly hats ride horses.