T-shirts mark the end of an era

It’s the end of an era for the Kissman family. For the last time, covering a period of eight years, a Kissman donned a Mason High School red, white, and blue uniform. I knew this time would come. It always does. Everything has to come to an end at some point, right?

Left behind are cherished memories, bulging scrap books and several Mason t-shirts I’ve worn through the years. I’m the dad who always gears up for the game. In fact, I still have t-shirts from when the kids played in youth leagues.

It’s impressive and scary in a way. Consider this:

My oldest daughter, Autumn, went on to play basketball at Oakland University. She’s in her senior year. Because of Covid, I get to watch her last year of playing organized ball on television. Not happy with that. But I have OU t-shirts to wear. Black and gold. I’ll be there in spirit.

My youngest daughter, Sage, just finished her volleyball season at Mason. She’s set to play volleyball in college at Ashland University, in Ohio. She missed half her season because of a positive Covid test on her team. Ashland’s colors are purple and gold. I’m still working on this one. I have time.

Sport careers end. Time has a way of doing that. You keep moving up the leagues based on your talent, until you either talent out, age out or move on in life. As a sports parent, I’ve driven thousands of miles (and plan to continue), being there for my kids.

As I go through my t-shirt drawer, it’s like my own personal scrap book. I have old coaching shirts, logos that have long been out of style, shirts where there is a cracking logo because it’s been washed so many times. And don’t get me started on the stains and washed in body odor. Some of the games, over the years, have been so stressful I looked like I ran the court!

Sports will always be part of the Kissman life. My wife and I both played in college, my kids will have played in college, and I’m sure on some level the legacy will continue well into the future. Sports prepare us for life. I’m seeing it as the physical compliment to the mental challenge of high-level college classes. It’s the recipe for winning in life.

For Sage, I’ll be ready to don the purple and gold. For Autumn, who will enter physical therapy grad school when she’s done with hoops, I’ll be ready for the next t-shirt. And thank goodness, all of the shirts I’ll be sporting for the next phase of their life will be new.

And smell new. That’s important.

Enjoy the issue!

Sage Kissman (middle) at her signing at Five:1 Athletics, in Clio. Five:1 is her travel volleyball team. Club Director Eric Lazowski is on her left. Tim Kissman is in the new purple sweatshirt.