Lamar Thames

With very little effort on the part of my wife and I, we had probably the best Christmas we have experienced in quite a long time. I’m talking legendary, as in it was so exciting that it was hard for us to fall asleep for at least two nights in a row.

So, what was so exciting about our Christmas, you might ask? Well, first we spent Dec. 23 with three of our children and all six of our grandchildren at our youngest son Joe’s house. Joe is the one who had a major heart attack four years ago at age 35; got married a year later and bought a house the last week in November 2009. Joe had to good sense to choose Tamarah Lohma as the woman he would marry. I will applaud him for that decision for the rest of my life.

The evening was just so full of joy from everyone. It was one of those evenings where

The grandchildren had fun trying to open a present with mittens on. (Photo by Lamar Thames)

everyone was in a good mood, including the children, who were so happy to be spending time with their cousins, their nana and papa and their aunts and uncles. We ate dinner, celebrated Jesus’ birth with an angel food cake (what else?) and candles, passed out presents and played games.

We always try to get together with my children in the Jacksonville area at least a day or two before Christmas for two reasons. One is to get our gift exchange out of the way early because of all the others involved in that holiday celebration, in-laws and such. It just makes it easier on everyone. Then, we are free to travel to Orlando to spend

another enjoyable evening with our other son and his family. We walked the neighborhood marveling at the luminaria and enjoying some of the more creative light displays. Plus, everyone indulged me as I watched at least half of my favorite all-time

The youngest grandchild was excited to see his favorite cartoon character, SpongeBob SquarePants, up close. (Photo by Lamar Thames)

Christmas show, “A Christmas Story.” The next morning, we got to watch three of our grandchildren open their Christmas presents and partake of our son Jeff’s “breakfast burritos.” Ummm! You haven’t lived until you have had breakfast burritos on Christmas morning.

Those three days were so precious to me that I don’t think I would trade them for $4 million.

I’m sure you are wondering where I came up with that figure, right? It’s easy. That is what Urban Meyer makes a year as the football coach at the University of Florida. I thought of the differences between Urban and myself (other than the $4 million salary) as he first quit as the team’s football coach and then as he rescinded that decision and decided to take a leave of absence instead. He said he wanted to dedicate more time to his family, his faith and to his health. But it doesn’t look like he was willing to give up that lucrative position and the pay that goes with it to obtain what he says he wants.

I was sadden to hear that Meyer was so driven in his chosen profession that he was neglecting all the things that are important to him. I hated to see the Gators lose such as good coach, but no one wants to see him continue to destroy his health in the way that he does with his extreme dedication to his job. I think it is sad that football coaches especially are so prone to overworking that jeopardize the things that they cherish so much.

I remember when I was a young sports writer in Lakeland working for The Ledger covering the high school football scene. One of the coaches I grew fond of was Tom Atwell, the head coach at my old high school of Kathleen. Atwell’s wife told me that he frequently spent the night at his office because he would fall asleep as his desk watching game film And that was in the off season.

To me, Meyer is making a mistake by not completely divesting himself from his position as the Gators head football coach. He says he will try to delegate more of his responsibilities to others around him and not to work so hard in the future. He also said his gut tells him that he will return as the Gators head coach in time for the start of the 2010 season. I am sure he will, just as I am sure he will also return to the former Type A personality methods that brought him to consider quitting in the first place. I know from experience that once a Type A, always a Type A. I am married to one and she hasn’t changed his working habits in the 20 years I have known her, and I doubt that she will, at least not until she retires.

Meanwhile, at least I can get her to stop and smell the roses on occasion as we spend time with the loved ones around us who bring us so much joy.

Happy New Year, everyone!