That's how South Dakota High School Activities Association executive director Wayne Carney once described me. He said he didn't mean to imply old! But, that I was a female involved in athletics at a time when the field was predominately male and I hopefully helped open the door for more females.
Well, I'm parking the covered wagon and putting the mules out to pasture. As of Aug. 1, I will retire from the Aberdeen American News. (Look shocked because I'm not old enough to retire. Thanks!) I'm 62 (and you think I don't look a day over 61 !). That's the last time I will admit to my real age in public, private or print (barring a moving violation that appears in the paper).
I taught and coached for seven years in Minnesota, went back to school for journalism, worked as sports information director at Northern State for 15 years and as sports writer at the AAN for 16 years. That adds up to long time.
It's not so much that I am walking away from something as walking toward something new. That's walking, not running, not jumping, not skipping.
I grew up in Minnesota, but after 30-plus years in Aberdeen, this is my home so I will stay put for now. Besides, I'm sure my brothers and sisters and mother in Minnesota are all hoping that I will not move in their direction.
Everybody asks about my future plans. I will be looking for a part-time job. I need to get up and out of the house and have some structure. I have been told I would make a good greeter at Wal-Mart!
For the first time in my life, I have my social security number memorized. In fact, my whole identity has been reduced to my social security number and birthdate.
Things I'm looking forward to
1. Parking in the senior citizen spots at ShopKo.
2. Ordering off the senior menu at the Millstone Restaurant.
3. Standing in line and paying for a ticket to a game. Really.
4. Sitting in the bleachers at games.
5. Watching games without having to analyze them.
6. Not having to figure out if the Aberdeen Central girls' basketball team is playing zone or man-to-man.
7. Opening the paper and not seeing my picture.
8. Going to bed at night and waking up in the morning instead of the other way around.
9. Seeing the sun.
10. Watching TV during prime time, watching college football on Saturdays and watching the NCAA women's basketball national championship game on a Tuesday night.
Many thanks
There are so many people to thank that if I started to list them I would sound like a surprise winner at the Oscars and I would forget some names.
Athletic fans and parents don't appreciate enough the quality of coaches in northeast and central South Dakota at all levels. The athletes as a whole are talented and hard working (this is the Midwest after all). The coaches and athletes forced me to do as they do, and that is give my best effort. Thank you for inspiring and challenging me. You made me better.
Sometimes parents were concerned about what their children said to me in an interview. They hoped their children gave intelligent answers and didn't have to be censored. The athletes were almost always better interviews than their parents anticipated.
A big thanks goes out to the coaches and athletes for being willing to share their stories and observations. Without you, there were no stories.
I had to say, "Amen," when listening to KBRK Radio announcer Dellas Cole of Brookings calling an Aberdeen Smittys and Brookings American Legion baseball game recently. Once upon a time, Cole had coached the father of one of the Brookings current Legion baseball players when the father was in youth baseball. Cole said, "They grow up and I just get old!"
Many athletes that I followed in high school and college are now surrounded by sons and daughters of their own. I'm afraid I will call the next generation by their parents' names.
I also wish to thank the South Dakota sportswriters and broadcasters who allowed me to sit at the press tables with them. Those men and women put in a lot of time during the sports seasons.
Enough rambling. It's time for my afternoon nap and the rocking chair beckons, but first, I have to find my reading glasses. The last time I found them in the freezer. Thank you all for your support and for putting up with me.
If you see me out and about, please say, "Hi." I've got plenty of time to visit!
Deb Smith is an American News Sports Writer who can be reached at 605-622-2311 or dsmith@aberdeennews.com. Follow @DebSmith_AAN on Twitter.