Broad Ripple Magazine August 2020 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2020

Courtney Whistler Renovates, Reinvigorates Binkleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as New Owner

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NEW BEGINNINGS: COURTNEY WHISTLER RENOVATES, REINVIGORATES BINKLEY’S AS NEW OWNER

AUGUST WRITERS

Jon Shoulders Lindsey Thompson / Michael Durr Christy Heitger-Ewing

AUGUST PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Durr / Amy Payne

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The Broad Ripple Magazine is published by the Towne Post Network and is written for and by local Broad Ripple area residents. Magazines are distributed via direct mail to more than 10,198 Broad Ripple area homeowners and businesses each month.

8 Tips to Create a Functional Home 17 Poking Fun: Local Comedian Sensation & America’s Got Talent Office Space Finalist Ryan Niemiller Loves to Lasting Impressions: Dan Entertain Thompson Making His Mark on 20 True Blue: Indianapolis Colts Indy’s Art Scene Mascot Trey Mock shares History & New Beginnings: Courtney Whistler Life of Blue Renovates, Reinvigorates Binkley’s as New Owner 3 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atBRip.com

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8 TIPS TO CREATE A FUNCTIONAL HOME OFFICE SPACE Writer / Lindsey Thompson Photography Provided

It’s a castle, a sanctuary and a place to rest. It’s where meals are shared and memories are made. Home is a place to sleep, eat and play, but for many, home is also a place to work. According to a survey done by Global Workplace Analytics, the number of people working from home has grown 91% in the last 10 years. As work-from-home jobs become more common, many people are looking for ways to turn their homes into functional working spaces. Fortunately, it doesn’t take a lot of money or a lot of space to create an effective home office.

CHECK YOUR COMPANY’S POLICIES

Before you set up your home office, check to see what costs your company will cover. Depending on the company, you could get everything from the furniture to the internet covered. Keep receipts for anything that you purchase yourself. The federal government allows taxpayers to take deductions for home offices, whether you’re a homeowner or a renter.

START WITH THE BASICS

ORGANIZE YOUR SPACE

Employees who see clients or colleagues at home should provide comfortable seating for those visitors. Check out Facebook, Craigslist and other web sites for inexpensive options for desks, chairs and office decor.

To tame all those computer cables, phone chargers and other cords, purchase fabric cord covers or cord storage boxes to keep everything hidden but accessible. Bookshelves provide plenty of additional storage, or use floating shelves if you’re tight on space. Bulletin boards and dry-erase boards don’t take up a lot of space, and give you a spot for notes and important documents.

When putting together a home office, you’ll want to start with a desk or a table. This is where you’ll spend the majority of your day, so you’ll want to make sure it’s comfortable. Invest in an ergonomic chair that offers proper lumbar support, or use pillows to create your own lumbar support. Take plenty of breaks during the day to stand up, walk around and stretch your muscles.

For an even healthier option, purchase a standing desk and avoid sitting altogether. Studies have found that sitting too long during the day can increase your risk of dementia, diabetes and anxiety, among other issues. If a standing desk isn’t in your budget, you can make your own using books, or build a simple one with inexpensive plywood.

5 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atBRip.com

Be sure your desk has enough room for your computer, as well as your mouse and keyboard if you use those. You’ll also want a spot for pens, pencils, notepads and whatever other office supplies you use on a regular basis. Store these in a desk drawer to keep everything organized. You can also use decorative baskets or boxes to keep things handy and tidy if you don’t have drawers.

PICK THE RIGHT SPOT

If you don’t already have a dedicated home office or extra bedroom in your home, find a spot away from traffic and noise if you’re easily distracted. If you thrive on noise and

activity, nearly anywhere in your home will make a good home office space. Either way, you’ll want to be sure your office space affords you enough privacy for phone calls or online meetings. Working on a computer without proper lighting can cause eye strain and headaches. If the space is dark or doesn’t have any windows, find a lamp or two for soft, natural light. It doesn’t hurt to have a window that gives you some natural light, fresh air and a view of something other than your computer screen.

INVEST IN A QUALITY PHONE AND RELIABLE INTERNET CONNECTION

Sometimes your company will cover phone and internet costs for your home. If not, check your current packages to be sure you have enough bandwidth to be able to do your job effectively.

Under New Ownership

PERSONALIZE YOUR SPACE

Make your office space your own with pictures, art and other decorations that inspire you, make you happy and remind you why you’re working in the first place. Put up family photos, paint the room a color you love, or bring in a little of your personal style with window coverings, pillows and rugs.

SET EXPECTATIONS

Once your space is all set up and you’re ready to work from home, set expectations for yourself, your employer and your family. Just because you’re able to work from home doesn’t mean you should be on the clock 24/7. Make time for breaks during the day and set office hours, just as you would when working in an office. Let your family know if your home office is off limits during the workday or if you’ll just need specific times for peace, quiet and privacy.

SHARING A SPACE

Sometimes more than one person in the household has the opportunity to work from home. You can create two separate work spaces, or create one space that two people can utilize. When sharing an office space, think creatively to maximize space. Instead of two desks, share a large table. Have designated storage areas for each person’s work items and office supplies. If possible, share a printer, fax machine and any other bulky items to save on space. Your home office is where you get business done, but it should also be comfortable so that you actually want to spend time there working. Regardless of your budget or space constraints, you can create a functional home office space with a little creativity and planning.

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Local Artist Dan Thompson

Dan Thompson Making His Mark on Indy’s Art Scene

Writer and Photographer / Michael Durr

If you have walked the streets or alleyways of Broad Ripple and neighboring areas in and around Indianapolis, you have likely stumbled upon the artwork of graffiti artist Dan Thompson. Born and raised in the area, Thompson has spent many years developing his craft and continues to challenge himself in new ways. Thompson’s love for the art form began by reading graffiti magazines, watching “Style Wars” and learning from his friends in high school. He was drawn to the medium by the community and social aspects that surround it. “I didn’t have any interest in being an artist as a kid,” Thompson says. “I had a lot of talent but didn’t have any passion, and graffiti is the thing that gave me passion.” In 1998, Thompson and his high school friend Ben Long began collaborating on murals. Thompson’s ability to create characters, and Long’s graffiti skills, sparked a great partnership. They signed their

8 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atBRip.com

paintings with the name FAB Crew - a name originally derived from Fred and Barney - as a joke for their friends. Through the years and many murals later, the name became the calling card for their work, and in 2010 it also became the name of their business. A graduate of Herron School of Art + Design, Thompson began studying painting and eventually switched to general fine art. He acknowledges the influence of the professors and mentors he had in high school and college as he sprayed his way into the field, but he also believes that the only way to become a good graffiti artist is to put in the time. After pouring hours into his work throughout many years, Thompson began to create a unique style all his own, combining graffiti with traditional painting and illustration. “The beauty of graffiti and creating big murals with spray paint is that there is no instant gratification on earth that is like that,” Thompson says. The first important job Thompson had was working on The Caring Place in Indianapolis. He worked with a team of artists, painting an elaborate mural for an entire year. He calls the project his master’s degree in painting. While he may not have taken much money home from the hours he put in, he made up for it with the knowledge he gained and the experience collaborating with his talented team. One particularly eye-catching piece that Broad Ripple residents may recognize adorns the exterior walls of LAVA Lounge, located on Guilford Avenue. The vibrant color and impactful messaging is hard to miss. The alley side of LAVA is dedicated to local DJ and photojournalist Mpozi Mshale Tolbert, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 34. The mural was recently redesigned and recreated as part of a plan that also involved painting the front of the building. The work done on LAVA has a special meaning for Thompson, not only because of what the mural means to his friends, but also for the culture of Broad Ripple. 9 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atBRip.com

“We started in Broad Ripple 20 years ago and it was just cool to be back breathing that air,” Thompson says. You can also find some of Thompson’s more recent work facing the Monon Trail on Chipotle restaurant’s exterior wall, and you might even find a painted cameo, located inside HotBox Pizza on Broad Ripple Avenue, completed by Long. Thompson believes his art is his purpose, and he truly values being embraced by the Broad Ripple community. “Broad Ripple has a certain ghost about it, and people really appreciate the culture and people like me who contribute to the culture,” Thompson says. Thompson remains inspired and continues to create. If you want to keep tabs on his work, or if you are interested in hiring him for a custom project, you can find him on Instagram at: instagram.com/invisible_hometown.

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Owner Courtney Whistler

12 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atBRip.com

Courtney Whistler Renovates, Reinvigorates Binkley’s as New Owner Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Michael Durr

When Courtney Whistler took over as the sole owner of Binkley’s Kitchen & Bar last year, she was ready for whatever challenges might lie ahead. Little did she know that a pandemic would soon force her and many of her colleagues in the industry to adapt, change and get creative with their respective establishments. “We’ve just had to roll with it and do what we can within the limitations of what’s happened,” she says. “I’m still excited to be here and doing what we’re doing.” Prior to Binkley’s, which is now a first-generation Mexican, women-owned business, Whistler worked across the street at Ambrosia restaurant for nearly 15 years. Although owning a restaurant wasn’t on her radar early on in her career, Whistler and her husband founded a catering company, Whistler Catering, which they still run to this day, and she’s developed an affinity for the food industry through the years. “A little while back my husband and I were offered the opportunity to buy a restaurant, and we went through the process but at the last minute it fell through,” Whistler says. “At that point, we figured we would just keep looking and eventually try another one, and Binkley’s happened to come up after a few years and a few tries.” Whistler adds that the process of purchasing the Binkley’s business happened organically, and the move seemed like a natural next step in her career. “I don’t even know if the owners necessarily wanted to sell, but we sat down and had multiple conversations and came to an agreement,” she says. “It all fell into place and seemed to work for everyone at the right time.” Whistler officially became owner on November 18 of last year, and she says she’s tried to bring her restaurant experience, along with some fresh, new energy, to Binkley’s, which locals know is a long-standing fixture of the Broad Ripple scene.

13 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atBRip.com

Rather than dwelling on the downsides of the mandated business shutdowns that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic, Whistler and her staff eventually saw an opportunity to undertake a few physical improvements to the Binkley’s interior during their newfound downtime inside the establishment. “Once we had to shut down and we went through a couple weeks of doing carry-out, there was a handful of us that were together basically every day throughout the quarantine,” Whistler says. “It kind of just happened that everybody was handy, whether it was painting, construction, or whatever came up - everyone picked a job and we all did our own in-house renovations.” Both cosmetic and physical renovations were completed by the staff through the spring and summer months. “At the room between both sides of the bar, we made an entrance so you can walk through instead of having a wall dividing it,” Whistler says. The Binkley’s bar area received a complete facelift under Whistler’s direction, including a new granite bar top and new finish for the bar’s wraparound base, as well as new pendant lights. “We also sanded and repainted all the tables and put a high-gloss finish on the tables outside,” Whistler adds. “We redid the floors in the dining room, and the whole place got repainted. Between the dining room and the bar we put big panes of glass so you can see through everywhere and it all flows a little more now inside the restaurant.” The maximum capacity at the restaurant remains at approximately 300, but Whistler says the renovations allow for better movement for staff and patrons. “With that entrance we made, it just

makes it easier now for everybody to move throughout the whole place without getting stuck in corners,” she says. Like many other eateries, the Binkley’s menu was temporarily streamlined due to the pandemic, featuring appetizers like truffle fries and wings, salads, hand-tossed or thin-crust pizza (gluten-free options are available for $2 extra), burgers, sandwiches and entrees such as fish and chips and chicken pesto tortellini. There’s plenty of variety among the side options, including onion rings, fries, asparagus, kettle chips, fruit, roasted potatoes and more.

Binkley’s, she says it’s the people that make her restaurant stand out in the industry.

anymore. People know it - the energy changed the second we took it over.”

“I think what makes us special is the staff that we’ve put together,” she says. “The majority of us have experience of probably 50 years, all combined. We all were trained under the same people, and that helped shape us for where we are now. You can’t really find that kind of help or experience

Binkley’s Kitchen & Bar is located at 5902 North College Avenue in Indianapolis. For more information on hours, the menu, daily drink specials, a reservations page and more, visit binkleyskitchenandbar.com or call 317722-8888.

Whistler says she plans to apply some small changes to the full Binkley’s menu, once she’s able to offer it. “We’re not going to change the whole menu over a really short period of time, but we are going to start running a lot more specials and upgrade the wine list and drink menu,” Whistler says, adding that Whistler Catering, which specializes in onsite sushi catering, will have an increased presence at Binkley’s in the future. Whistler was able to retain the majority of her staff despite not being able to offer dine-in services for a while due to the pandemic. “With the [Paycheck Protection Program] loans, we’re slowly bringing everybody back,” she says. “The beauty of Meridian-Kessler and everything around it is the people here all support us.” Whistler feels the work she and her staff have done to the restaurant since she became owner will be appreciated by customers old and new. “There’s still some work to be done, but we’re getting there slowly but surely,” she says. Nevertheless, as excited as Whistler is about the physical surroundings at 15 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atBRip.com

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Local Comedian Sensation & America’s Got Talent Finalist Ryan Niemiller Loves to Entertain

So after graduating in 2006, he packed up his car and drove to L.A. When he arrived out west, he did an internet search on “how Being born with short arms, one might to get started in stand-up comedy” and went expect that Ryan Niemiller would be selffrom there. At just 24 years old, he claims conscious about his disability and do his the “ignorance of youth” helped him push best to blend into the background. However, past his fear of failure. ever since he was young, he has gravitated toward the spotlight. “I think I’m wired backward to the way most Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

“I watched a ton of stand-up comedy in high school and always wanted to try it,” Niemiller says. “But I mistakenly thought that you could only do it in L.A. or New York. I didn’t know you could start here in the Midwest.” His dream simmered on the back-burner as he studied theatre at Indiana State.

people are,” Niemiller says. “I just had this feeling that it would all work out.”

He enrolled in an eight-week comedy class, which provided the basic foundation for stand-up. Mining material for his sets has always come easy.

“When you have a disability, a lot of stuff happens for you,” he says. He does what he calls “observational comedy” in which he “I love theatre, but I was getting tired of observes how people treat him or others and telling other people’s stories,” Niemiller says. works it into his set. He notes that stand-up “I was ready to tell my own.” comedy is one of the few art forms in which 17 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atBRip.com

Haute to Indianapolis to Pensacola, Fla., taking various “real jobs” to begin saving money to buy a house. He found, however, that as much as he liked having health insurance, he couldn’t stomach a desk job. “My brain just couldn’t do it,” he says.

him alone. “It became my default,” he says. “Whether it’s fair or not, it’s kind of on me to make other people comfortable with me.” It didn’t hurt that he had a natural affinity for easing tension through humor. Though he calls himself the “cripple threat of comedy,” refers to his fan club as “club nub” and regularly incorporates his disability into his sets, he admits that having a disability is difficult.

There’s a joke amongst comedians that it typically “As much as I’ve come to terms with it and takes 15 years to become an made the best of it, it’s not what I would overnight sensation. have chosen,” Niemiller says. “Yes, I use it in my comedy, but it’s not a crutch. It’s me “I beat that trend. It only talking about my life.” took me 13,” he says with a snicker. His big break came Niemiller, who recently turned 38, notes the only way you know you’re good is by in the summer of 2019 when Niemiller that one of the toughest parts of this career performing in front of other people. competed on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” is the way it affects the timeline of his life. (AGT), performing in front of judges “If you want to learn guitar, you could Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Julianne “Being a touring stand-up comic puts strain spend 10,000 hours in your bedroom Hough, and Gabrielle Union, along with on a lot of things,” he says. “When you’re and know you sound pretty good before 3,400 spectators at the Dolby Theatre. The 25, not married, no kids, on the road all the you ever let another set of ears hear it,” experience didn’t faze him. time with no health insurance, that’s easier Niemiller says. “With stand-up, however, to power through than when you’re 35 in you may think your material is hilarious, “That felt at home,” Niemiller says. “Now, that same position.” but you don’t actually know until you do it if you told me afterward to go ask the girl for others.” out who was sitting in the fifth row, that For now, he’s riding the success of AGT would be mortifying to me. Large crowds after placing third in the show and returning The first official show Niemiller performed have always been easier than one-on-one for AGT’s The Champion’s show in January was on October 2, 2006, at an empty coffee interaction.” 2020. shop.

Though he didn’t get teased much as a child, “If you make the finals on AGT as a stand“I’d gone to an open mic to get a feel how it he suspects that’s because he learned, early up comedian, your career gets a huge worked and found out that my teacher had on, that if he made the jokes first, people left bump,” says Niemiller, noting that his signed me up to do a set,” Niemiller says. “I was totally put on the spot. I don’t know if it was performer’s pride or stubborn male IF YOU WANT TO LEARN GUITAR, YOU pride, but I didn’t want to back down from a challenge. COULD SPEND 10,000 HOURS IN YOUR He performed in front of four other comics and a barista and scored a few chuckles. “I’m lucky that I got a couple of laughs because if not, that could have affected my confidence and changed the trajectory of my career,” he says.

BEDROOM AND KNOW YOU SOUND PRETTY GOOD BEFORE YOU EVER LET ANOTHER SET OF EARS HEAR IT. WITH STAND-UP, HOWEVER, YOU MAY THINK YOUR MATERIAL IS HILARIOUS, BUT YOU DON’T ACTUALLY KNOW UNTIL YOU DO IT FOR OTHERS.”

Niemiller lived in L.A. until 2009, at which time he bopped around from Terre

- RYAN NIEMILLER 18 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atBRip.com

perhaps doing television, movies and podcasts.

social media following grew throughout the season but doubled between the semifinals and finals. When he made finals, the number of bookings he got quadrupled.

“As much of a life-changing experience as AGT was, if I’m still the dude from AGT years down the road, I’ve screwed up somewhere,” Niemiller says. “I want there to be more.”

Growing up poor in a trailer park and not owning a bed until he was in college, Niemiller found comedy to be his ticket to travel. And travel he has, week after week. Take last November, for instance. He performed 25 out of 30 days that month. Calling himself a “road dog,” he says he has a reputation for doing 14-hour drives to get to the next gig.

Niemiller, who currently lives on the southside of Indy, played several sold-out shows at Avon’s Red Curb Improv Comedy Club earlier this year. He also appeared on WZPL’s Smiley Morning Show and the Pat McAfee And he’s happy to be here, as he adores Show. He loves performing locally as he says Indy’s small town and big city feel. Hoosiers always have his back.

Prior to the pandemic, his day-to-day was driving to shows, hotels, airports and more shows. But he made the best of it, exploring new places whenever his schedule allowed.

“There’s theatre, pro sports and great restaurants, but you don’t feel like you’re in this huge metropolis where you have to struggle to get around,” he says. “If there’s traffic in Indy, it adds 10 minutes to your trip whereas in L.A. it can legitimately add four hours.”

“A lot of people have been surprised that I still live here,” Niemiller adds. “They are trained to think that if AGT says I’m from Indiana, that must have been years ago. Then they see me at Kroger and are like, ‘Oh, you’re actually here!’”

“I like to try local restaurants — find at least one place that’s unique to that location,” Niemiller says. In the future, he hopes to return to acting,

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When Trey Mock attended freshman orientation at Auburn University, his eyes immediately gravitated to Aubie the Tiger, the university’s mascot who was both athletic and entertaining. “He was hilarious, and I thought that looked like fun so I set out to learn how mascoting works,” says Mock, who, his sophomore year, auditioned and landed one of four student slots who shared the costume. “I learned a lot about how to become a mascot and performer while at Auburn,” says Mock, who, in 2003, won the Collegiate Nationals Mascot championship. Since Auburn’s rule only allows a student to act as mascot for a two-year term, when he finished his second year, he didn’t want to quit. “I felt like I had more in the tank,” he says. A number of former Aubies had gone on to become professional mascots so he followed in their footsteps and became the Atlanta Falcon’s mascot in 2004 and the Buffalo Bill’s mascot in 2005. Neither felt like the right fit for him, however, so he moved back home to Marietta, Georgia, and was considering

going back to school when the phone rang in March 2006. The Indianapolis Colts had plans to launch their own mascot and encouraged him to apply for the position. Mock was flattered but uninterested and declined the offer. They told him that if he changed his mind to submit his resume by a certain date. That night, he found himself sketching out Blue on a legal pad, and over the next few days, he felt conflicted. “The night before the application due date, I had this overwhelming dread wash over me that I had made a mistake,” Mock says. He shared his regret with his dad, who told him to get his resume together. He then drove his son to the Atlanta airport so he could ensure his package made it on a FedEx plane to arrive in Indy the next day. “That’s a small ounce of the support my parents have given me through the years,” Mock adds.

organization and explained the type of character he envisioned. “They initially wanted a rough, tough, mean mascot because that’s football, but I got them on board with my vision of Blue,” Mock says. That vision was an approachable anthropomorphic horse with blue fur and big eyeballs. Blue was first introduced on September 17, 2006, in the Colts’ first home regular-season game. People may assume Mock has little to do in the off-season, but the truth is he stays plenty busy. “This is a 365-day-a-year business,” he says. “We work on content creation and new promotions, not to mention community day events and schools shows.”

Through the years, Blue has presented shows about anti-bullying, energy conservation, literacy and authenticity. By Reviewing resumes and highlight tapes, the Colts narrowed the field down to 58 people, next year, Mock will have performed 2,000 then from there cut it to 12. They flew in their school shows in the state of Indiana. top five to perform a two-minute skit and impromptu session, followed by an interview. He cultivates each show to be meaningful The next day, they offered him the position. for children while still interesting to adults. Mock shared his sketch of Blue with the 20 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / atBRip.com

“I go for that Pixar movie vibe where

there is something for everyone,” Mock says. “People mistakenly assume my “I loved interacting with fans and throwing demographic only serves kids but really my footballs from the upper deck and all demographic is the kid in all of us.” of that, but after the game was over, I’d feel empty inside,” he says. "It’s like I In 2016, he published “Blue’s Road Trip was creating joy but not finding true Through Indiana,” a story that shares all fulfillment.” the hidden gems in the state that many people may not be aware exist such as Then in 2010, a Make-a-Wish appearance Amish Acres in Nappanee or the Grissom changed his entire outlook on life. Karen’s Air Museum near Peru. He’s now working wish was to have access to the Colts field so on his second children’s book about Blue, her family could play on it. She added, “If Tree Removal, • Garage/Basement/ an •anti-bullying story scheduled to be Blue could come down to the field and take released in 2021. a picture with us, that would be the icing Topping & Trimming Attic Cleanout on the cake!” Over the past 14 years, Mock has earned Mock still recalls running through the • Shrub Trimming • Gutter Cleaning a number of accomplishments, including tunnel of Lucas Oil Stadium and seeing a & Removal mom, dad and winning the NFL Mascot of the Year•in Mini Barn / Shed / twins and wondering which • Tree Removal, • Garage/Basement/ of the kids was Karen. He then learned 2016 and 2019. In addition, Blue was • Light Hauling Fence /Karen Deck Topping &into Trimming Cleanout was the mom. scheduled to be inducted the Hall of Attic Demolition & Removal Fame in June of this year. Nevertheless, • Shrub Trimming • Gutter Cleaning • Construction Clean-up “Her one wish was to create the perfect day Mock maintains that it’s not these & Removal • Appliance /Barn E-Waste for her family,” accolades that mean the most to him. • Mini / Shed says / Mock, who spent two • Junk Removal hours dancing and throwing the football In fact, he recalls how years ago, he was Removal • Light Hauling Fence / Deck with the family. “When I waved goodbye, always chasing a thrill that seemed to Demolition & Removal • Brush had the most amazing feeling wash over elude him. Pile•Cleaning Construction Clean-up • Stump IGrinding

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me, and that feeling stayed with me for weeks after.” Several months later, while at a Colts game, a policeman told Mock that there was a woman in the stands who was begging to see him. Though he usually doesn’t venture into the stands for fear of creating pandemonium, something told him he should go. When he approached the lady, she threw her arms around him and started crying, then said, “You don’t know me, but you met my daughter Karen. I wanted you to know that she lost her battle with cancer, but Blue, I’ll never be able to thank you for what you did for my family that day.”

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Mock says that, at that moment, the thousands knees, shoulder, a staph infection in my right hand,” Mock says. of fans around them melted away. “I don’t remember if we won or lost that game, but I remember the light switch that flipped in my head when I realized that my purpose in life was not to get laughs or applause from fans but to give them my time and my love,” Mock says. He cites renowned psychologist Karl Menninger, who had stated that the best way to overcome depression is to find someone in need and do something for them. “I get to do that every single day through a silly blue horse, and it’s not lost on me that that is a massive blessing and responsibility,” Mock says. Mock, 39, says he’d like to continue playing Blue for as long as possible, though he admits that the wear and tear on his body is not inconsequential. “I’ve had four surgeries due to Blue — both

But he feels he owes so much to Blue, including his career and his wife Ali, a former Colts cheerleader. Now their family has grown to include two children: Tegan (4) and Gunnar (7).

He’s eternally grateful to represent the Colts as a goodwill ambassador. “I love impacting other’s lives in a positive way,” Mock says. “It’s been a great life.”

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