The connections with this family have went from zero to sixty-five in 4.3 seconds over the past three years.
Sure I knew of Todd and Angie Wilson before then... who hasn't? I've watched their boys grow up from peewees to young men. One can't be a patron of East Marshall High School and not know instantly who "Luke Man" and "Lil Guy" are. It's in the fabric of what made us Mustangs recently.
Luke (class of 2011) is now at Iowa State, but hasn't really left as he was back as middle school baseball coach this summer (teaching my own son the ropes of the middle infield... and there could be no better example). And Lefty Joshua "Lil Guy" Wilson had his turn on Tuesday to try his hand at this senior picture thing.
The road had been paved by his big brah a couple years back... and after Luke's epic session... It had been reported to me that after seeing so many unique ideas for his big brother.... young Joshua wondered aloud... "has BStew saved any cool ideas left for me?"
Oh ye of little faith... ;)
Truth is... now that the Darrin and Tracy Nuese family has no more seniors to bring me... next in line for favorite #facebook/#twitter/#texting Power Family in the district? #YouGuessedIt. Todd and Angie Wilson and Sons.
Not sure where I'm gonna go after this year... But in the mean time, I had to try to find a way.... somehow.... someway... to top the untoppable as one of our biggest fans in Mama Angie Wilson brought son #2 to us.... her baby boy... Joshua.
An exemplary young man in his own right, Lil Guy had a bad hand dealt to him out of the gate as the insane heat and humidity that has plagued us was bearing down on Central Iowa again. The Wilsons, being the gamers that they are, showed up an hour early to do whatever they could to ease the situation.... I wasn't surprised. Winners do whatever it takes.
Just like his older bro, we took a trip out to grandma's near the junction of highways 30 and 330. The images we have gotten there are particularly satisifying because it really MEANS something when we get an shot by a fence with the cornfield in the back... that they've been doing since Josh was a little boy. And when we get shots in his grandparents barn when he and his partner in crime brother of his have played since they were way shorter than their mama... that kinda stuff is priceless.
Sure it was nearly 90 degrees by 9:30 a.m.... but that couldn't stop us... it was in to Marshalltown to get a little urban stuff before returning to the stomping grounds that both mom and dad have invested so much in.... East Marshall High School.
We had JUST been in the locker room last week with Josh's life long buddy, Walker Steward... so with so much Mustang swag in such a short amount of time, my work was cut out for me. Add in the fact we had been there two years ago with older brother? I swallowed hard... prayed for creativity.... and you know what? God provides.
Some of my favorite images came in that locker room and gymnasium.... Why? Because I KNOW how much it means to Josh. I've been there. I know what it feels like to be in his shoes. I know what it feels like to win a conference championship in that town.... and also what a kick in the stomach it is to pour your heart and soul into something, only to have things not turn out as you might have hoped.
Sure it might be just a game... but I know that the life lessons that Josh is learning... he will take with him forever.... both the good and bad... and he will be a better man for it.
Life isn't always easy. Going 0-9 in football can be soul crushing to a high school football player.... as is not getting the job or promotion you had hoped for. Suffering thru back-to-back 1-21 seasons in hoops is no picnic, but coming out of that with the knowledge that there are bigger and more important things waiting for you that ultimately you have no control over... is winning that cannot be decided on the court or gridiron.
Josh Wilson flat out gets it. And if my own sons turn out to be 1/2 the young men that he is... my wife and I will have done something right.... Something very, very right.
Thanks for your loyal friendship Team Wilson... Hats off, Todd and Angie... you done good... both times.
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