Best Nights

Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 by Travis Cody in
15

Well gang, I didn't get much sleep last night so I'm giving up early tonight. Of course, this puts me behind in my rounds again.

**sigh**

Skittles tagged me with this. I didn't forget about it, I've just been thinking and thinking of what nights to share. Finally, with a little help from a friend - thank you Anndi - I figured it out.

Here are the rules: List the top 5 best nights of your life, with a little explanation about each. Then you must tag 4 other people.

And here are the nights:

1. The last first date I ever want was a night in June last year. It was the first date with Pam, and you can read the story here.

2. I've been dancing since I learned how to walk. Mom taught me how to jitterbug and to do all the dances she enjoyed when she was a teen in the 1950's. And Gram taught me to lindyhop. I've always enjoyed music and dancing, and I've always been pretty good at it. But the prospect of my sister's wedding was a little unnerving. I took ballroom classes so I could learn how to waltz. It was important for me to be able to dance properly. Sure, we cut loose and had one fine party. But I will always remember the progression of waltzes - first with my Mom, then with my sister, them my aunts. The only thing that could have made it more perfect? Dancing with my grandmother.

3. At my cousin's wedding last year, I did finally find the perfect night of dancing. This time, the ballroom classes were with Pam. And the progression of waltzes was Pam, Mom, Sis, my newlywed cousin, and both of my aunts. This was also Pam's introduction to the rest of the family. Naturally they loved her.

4. In my first three years of HS, we never beat our cross-town rivals in football. All three teams - frosh, JV, and Varsity - lost every year. My senior year had been like a fairy tale. We were playing well, had a .500 record, no chance to make playoffs but a decent shot at a winning record, and I was being recruited along with several other guys. Our cross-town rivals were undefeated and next on the schedule. And in that game, from my free safety position I had 9 solo tackles and assisted on a bunch more. I sacked the QB 4 times because they couldn’t block me on the safety blitz. I intercepted 3 passes and ran one back for a TD. I recovered a fumble. I felt light years faster than anyone else on the field that night. And we won the game to spoil their perfect season.

5. A certain gray-haired soul singer is responsible for so many things. He came along at just the right time, and it seems like so much of the joy and happiness I've experienced over the last year and a half points to that one moment when I heard his voice for the very first time. It seems silly, I know. But January through May 2006 was a special time. One of my best nights was one of his best nights, the night Taylor Hicks was crowned the Idol, 24 May 2006.



Sorry - I still get chills. My Soul Patrol brothers and sisters will understand. A group of people came together through the months of watching this show that will not be named. We were touched by this man and his voice, his passion for music, and the genuine feeling he brought to every performance. And even though it might be silly, I'm well known for my silliness anyway. Hey, I toss flaming walnuts while juggling leprechauns and mittened kittens and singing in the rain. What's sillier than that?

Thanks to Skittles for tagging me for this. I'm such a meme killer - I won't be tagging anyone, but consider yourself tagged if you decide to relive your 5 best nights.

I'll leave you with one of my favorite Taylor Hicks performances from the show that will not be named.

15 comments:

  1. Neila says:

    I think that's a great meme!! I love your five greatest nights. That really defines you!!

    This would be a hard one for me. I have so many great times involving my kids, it's hard to think back on life before them . . . Hmmm . . .

  1. this was nice to read Trav...shows your heart...

  1. Barb says:

    SOUL PATROL!!!!

    I never wanted anyone to win anything like I wanted Taylor to win that. I obsessed in between shows.. how was he doing, was rehearsal going ok? Thanks for posting the last show. I got chills all over again! Ahh c'mon.. Takin' It To The Streets wasn't your favorite? :)

    The rest of the post was good, too. I didn't know you really could dance!

    I've read about you meeting your wife before. Lovely!

  1. Julie says:

    Awww Trav....good post here....i love the clips from the showthatwillnotbenamed!

    Good job babe!

  1. Anndi says:

    I would have never guessed any of these.. ;p

    Love you bro.. and you make me so proud baby!

  1. Schmoop says:

    You Go Boy. Hopefully you will have many best nights to come. Cheers!!

  1. Mmmm.... Taylor Hicks is yummy. And, I also loooove to dance.

  1. Unknown says:

    Awww... you brought tears to my eyes with this one. You so rock, my friend.

  1. Neila: I enjoyed this meme.

    Katherine: Thank you Ma'am.

    Skittles: I've gotten a lot of mileage out of TI2TS! It's the knee thingy with the extra thigh action. Tobacco Road during the finale was excellent as well. But we waited so long for Try A Little Tenderness, and he nailed it. So that's my favorite.

    Julie: So many clips, but it's been awhile since I looked at those two.

    Ann: **snarf** Thank you for your help my dear!

    Shelby: Thanks!

    Matt: That would be the goal Sir!

    108: I don't know about yummy. The SP Hoochies will agree though!

    Sanni: Awwww - you're sweet!

  1. Unknown says:

    Oh yes...I remember Taylor winning...but what's a "date"?

  1. Queen loves ya even if you are a meme killer. You put a lot of thought into this. When are you and Pam going to make a dance video???!
    Can we see??!

    I am not a member of the Soul Patrol but I do love his voice. I think I will steal this meme if you don't mind and do it myself. It will be hard to narrow down the list but I'll try.

    Great post, Travis.

  1. Dana: Awwwwww! You had a date this year!

    Mimi: Of course you may take this meme. Who would deny the Queen of Memes. (psssst - will that keep me out of the dungeon?)

  1. I am so so so so sorry Travis.... I kept getting stuck on your sticky post and wondering why you were not blogging....DOH a sticky post means to SCROLL DOWN!!!!

    Thanks for the shout-out bud and I loved your best five nights...especially #1...because that first date is always incredible...especially when it leads to the love you and Pam have found... you are a lucky man....

  1. Liz Hill says:

    That night he won--we were all together as we had been on so many nights before--yet it was so special because it felt a lot like WE won. And i remember --in my pure joy of the celebration--when i spent every second that evening on the computer with the SP--telling my DH that things would get better after Taylor won. Well i was right but not in the way i meant that night.

    The connections we made through him have been strengthened as we've laughed and cried and cared for each other all this time.


    And i think the story of your first date with Pam is just so perfect--so lovely.

    You are a sweet and wonderful soul.

    Love you sugar

    Smooch