Car Flags, magnets and other dumb stuff.

Has anyone living in the Chattanooga area noticed how few Tennessee fans are celebrating their team with crap on their cars? Of course, after starting out 2-3, Id put my Big Orange windsock back in storage. As a matter of fact, I don't see much Georgia stuff either after that whipping they got a week ago.

I must admit that I do have a car flag....and a magnet, but I have not displayed them on Saturday's thus far. Im deathly afraid some State Trooper is going to pull me over and then plant a kilo of blow under my seat. Then Ill be Roll Tiding it straight to the pokey. Hey, Ive been to the pokey (Knoxville, class of 2004) and it stinks. I spent roughly 48 hours at the Knoxville Detention Center for a DUI and that was enough for me.

Jail is not what you think. I was in no danger of "dropping the soap," or getting a swastika tattoo on my butt, nor did I get to shank someone that slighted me in the "yard." It was really like staying at a really bad hotel. The bed was hard, the food was bland, and the TV only had 3 stations. Fortunately, I was able to read to my heart's content and they had a basketball goal, so I survived.

That DUI changed my life actually. I was very messed up at the time. I was smoking dope like Cheech and drinking like Joan Crawford. I had long ago ran out of medication so sleep was an afterthought. I had barricaded my own life. I lost some really good friends and betrayed the trust of dear family. Desperation leads one to do things that they would not normally do. I fancy myself a smart guy, but I was hitting a 6.5 on the richter scale of stupidity.

I got cleaned up and ended up back in my hometown, which I pledged to never do. There were some family and friends that helped me get on my feet, but I had to do the heavy lifting myself. There were, and still are bridges that were burned. Even 4 years later, I am still bandaging those self-inflicted wounds. You can't unring a bell.....

Im writing this because there was one bridge in particular that I have been trying to traverse for a long time, and I think Im getting close. What brought on this communication with my oldest friend......COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!!!! Yep, he's a Notre Dame guy and they are having some success as is my dear Crimson Tide, so hopefully these two teams will continue to win so I can continue the long process of winning back a dear friend. Go Irish.

In closing, everyone has something in their past they are not proud of. Maybe some more than others, but it's never over. 4 years after hanging out with some other DUI offenders and not having a pot to piss in...nevermind the window, I am going to be writing for The Chattanooga Times pretty soon, plan on going to law school.......and have a perfect daughter.

There is an old saying that I remind myself of......"Luck favors the prepared mind." I've been lucky.