A few months back, Mark and I were discussing all that we have done in our lifetime. Sometimes I envy my athletic/fatherly/honest/sailor/friendly/rock star/trucker/shop owner/hiking/karate kicking/jiu jitsu loving guy. Seems like he has done it all. I think he's done it all and doesn't give up until he is really, really, REALLY good at all he does. He's humble about his successes and does not brag on himself in any way.
I found it interesting that Mark stated, "I want to leave something important behind. Something that my kids and grandkids can talk about." Doesn't he know that he has already done that?
I don't want for anything. I like to say that it's because I don't ASK for anything. That's not really true. I don't ask because Mark would find a way to make it happen. And sometimes my wants are not nearly as important as my needs.
Montgomery Gentry sing Something To Be Proud Of. EVERY SINGLE TIME I hear:
Dad, I wonder if I ever let you down
If you're ashamed of how I turned out
Well, he lowered his voice, then he raised his brow
Said, let me tell ya right now
That's something to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on
You don't need to make a million
Just be thankful to be workin'
If you're doing what you're able
And putting food there on the table
And providing for the family that you love
That's something to be proud of
And if all you ever really do is the best you can
Well, you did it man
In 2005 Ron Howard wrote and directed the movie Cinderella Man. Mark Deming wrote on the rottontomatoes.com:
The true story of an athlete who achieved his greatest success against the most daunting odds of his life is brought to the screen in this historical drama. In the 1920s, James Braddock (Russell Crowe) from Bergen, NJ, was a promising contender in professional boxing; he had strength, spirit, and tenacity, but the combination of a serious hand injury and a 1929 defeat in a bout with light heavyweight champ Tommy Loughran sent his career into a serious tailspin. As Braddock's career in the ring dried up, the Great Depression put a stake through the heart of America's economy, and Braddock found himself working at the New York docks for pitiful wages as he tried to support his wife, Mae (Renée Zellweger), and three children. Desperate for money, Braddock turned to his former trainer and manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti), who was unexpectetedly able to scare up a bout for him, battling John Griffin at Madison Square Garden. While conventional wisdom had it that Braddock was too old, out of shape, and out of practice to have any chance of winning, he defeated Griffin, and continued beating his opponents with a powerful left hook that had been intensified by years of punishing dock work. In a nation desperate for good news, Braddock's surprising comeback became a tonic to struggling workers and unemployed people, and all eyes were on Braddock when in 1935 he took on powerful heavyweight champion Max Baer (Craig Bierko) in what was both literally and figuratively the fight of his life.
The Deason family owns this movie and periodically it finds its way to the DVD player. We pop popcorn and settle in with the yummy goodness, warm blankies and the guarantee of a wonderful movie.
Mae (René Zellweger) didn't want James to fight. At all. She worried that something would happen to James and, quite frankly, she kinda liked him and wanted to keep him around. Mae sent James off to fight, yet the fight was truly at home. She was mad and scared and no amount of money could make this right by her. She wasn't speaking to him. As the movie progresses you see the fear in her eyes, but they are met with determination in his.
A few months back, Mark took up jiu jitsu. He fights and rolls with the best of them. He comes home bruised, winded, sweaty and sore.
In February, the Utah State Jiu Jitsu Championship came to Salt Lake City. Mark enrolled. I said all the right words "You'll rock it." This is going to be fun." "I'm excited to go. Really, I was thinking "What if you get hurt?" "Can you do this?" "Do you have any idea how OLD you are?"
Mae makes her way to the Braddock locker room before the fight. She says:
Maybe I understand, some, about having to fight. So you remember who you are...you're the Bulldog of Bergen, and the pride of New Jersey, you're everybody's hope, and the kids' hero, and you are the champion of my heart...
Off to the Utah Open Gi, No Gi tournament we went. After getting me in the door and settled (which is a workout in and of itself), Mark made his way to change. Goose, Daulton and Uncle Mike showed up just in time to watch Mark's first match.
He won! OHMYGOSH! HE WON! After fighting and rolling and sweating and (in his words) leaving his soul on the mat, my husband became the State Champion.
I about burst with pride. I know how hard he worked for this moment. I saw the sweat. I saw the bruises. I heard the stories. I watched the bad moves and the awful You Tube videos. All that faded to the distant past. Mark was a Gold Medalist and the Utah BJJ State Champion.
And the champion of my heart.
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