Lots of Pictures and My Trip

I got back last night from Youngstown. Are you all ready to hear about the trip? I will warn you now this maybe a long post and there are LOTS of pictures. I thought I would do one big post instead of breaking it up into two. Hope you don't mind.



I got into town around 2:00 on Wednesday afternoon. Michigan and Ohio had some crazy high winds so I couldn't drive as fast as I wanted to because I was getting blown all over the road. I mean it was seriously windy, at one point I saw a garbage can full of garbage being tossed up in the air like it was a piece of paper. Once I got into town I went to the stadium to give the guys their cookies. As I've said before I love going to the stadium, being down there is what I'm used to, it makes me feel 'normal' and this was no exception. It was great to be back there with " my guys" again. All of their faces lit up when I put the huge box of cookies down in the kitchen. The two coaches that I'm the closest with knew I was bringing them. The two of them knew they were each getting their own bag, so they didn't have to share with the rest of the coaches. The word about the cookies spread fast. Within ten minutes of me setting them down coaches were eating them. I was told that all 215 cookies were GONE by the next morning! I'm telling you for some reason this set of coaches love my cookies!! There is one coach down there that I knew and used to talk to when Shawn was still alive, but I wouldn't say we were close. We never used to hang out like I did with the other guys. For some reason this summer he and I started talking more and more. Well, before I left to go see Jennie at work he told me that he wanted to show me something. I followed him down the hall to what used to be Shawn's office. I've been in the room a few times, but the other guys don't hang out there like we all used to, so it just doesn't feel the same, and of course it isn't. Anyways, he told me to go into the office and look on the wall. I walked in and turned around and this is what I saw.



They took Shawn's coaching picture from last year, the entire coaching staff picture from last year and the Shawn's name plate off of his office door and framed it. This now is hanging on a wall in Shawn's old office, which is also the video room. I knew they were going to do something with the picture but I wasn't sure what. I walked in and loved it! It didn't make me cry or anything, instead I got a smile on my face. Now Shawn will always be remembered at YSU no matter who is coaching there in the future and that is something I was really worried about.The coach that took me into the office looked at me and said, "I told you Shawn will always and is always with us, but now we can all see him everyday too, and that makes all of us feel a little bit better too." I'm telling you the coaches down at YSU have been amazing to me since Shawn has died, especially the four that I'm still really close to. (This picture was taken just just six days before Shawn died. He didn't always look this mean, it was just the football coach in him!)



After I left the stadium I went to go see Jennie at work. I walked into the center and I saw Jennie's three year old right away. Christopher saw me to and ran right up to me yelling, "Jenny Coin is here, Jenny Coin is here" and he jumped into my lap and gave me a huge hug. That felt great. I hadn't been to Youngstown since July so it was great to see my little buddy. The rest of the afternoon I hung out with Jennie at work. I even brought Bo in for the kids to see. He loved them and they loved him. After she got done at work, we went to pick up her two year old. He too ran right up to me and gave me a huge hug. There is almost nothing better than getting huge hugs from little kids that you haven't seen in a while. Then we headed to Jennie's house to see her fiancee and her oldest little boy who had just gotten off the bus. We all hung out at her house for a while and let the boys and Bo ram around, and boy did they ram around. The boys and Bo were so excited to see each other again. Later the night we all went out to dinner with Jennie's neighbors Jason and Amanda and their three kids. We went to my favorite Mexican restaurant. All the six kids did a great job while waiting for our food and eating. We pretty much sat, adult, kid, adult, kid to prevent "things" from going bad. However, the kids did great! I'm not sure thought if the people at the restaurant liked having us all there, but oh well. After dinner Jennie, the boys and I went back to her house to tell her fiancee good bye. He was leaving for Florida for a few days so we wouldn't be seeing him. (or so we thought) After he left Jennie and I stayed up for a while talking and messing around on the computer. Actually, we watched some pretty funny Youtube videos.



On Thursday Devin wanted me to watch him get on the bus so I got up right before the bus came. He looked like such a little man getting on the bus. A few hours later the day took a turn, but in the end all worked out ok. Jennie's fiancee and his brother were driving to Florida to pick up their Dad. However in the early hours of the morning they swerved to miss a deer, messing up their truck pretty bad. Needless to say they were stranded in Virgina. At 1:00 in the afternoon Jennie had to make the drive to pick them up. I was going to go with her, but we had the tiny issue of the three boys, and the dog. So we decided that I would stay home and take care of the boys. I was bummed that Jennie had to leave because she was going to be gone for like 18 hours but at the same time I knew she had to go get Chris and his brother. All in all the boys and I had a great day.



On Thursday night after I got all the boys and Bo to sleep I went out with four of the coaches for dinner and drinks and Jennie's Dad stayed home with the boys. Yes, I'm that good that I got three boys and one dog to sleep by 8:00 at night. (Just joking, I'm not that great, the boys were just really really tired)



Myself and the guys went out and had a great time. We sat around the table eating wings and drinking a few drinks. It was awesome to just sit around and talk with them. Of course we talked about football, I mean why wouldn't we, that's always what we talk about....they are coaches. They also all asked how I was doing and if there was anything that I needed. They all reminded me that no matter what happens they will always be there for me. Then they asked the question I know they have all been wanting to ask me. Am I seeing anybody or have I gone out on a date since Shawn passed away? I'm not sure why but I was kinda nervous to tell them about "T" and about the blind date I went on earlier this summer. I think I just didn't want them to ever think that I had forgotten about Shawn. They are great and wonderful, but after all they are still guys and I wasn't sure how they were going to react. I have been up front and honest with them about everything else, so I figured I might as well tell them. So I told them about "T" and that it just didn't work out, and then I told them about the blind date. They totally surprised me and they were all 100% behind me and that they all want me to be happy again. One of them even told me that they were shocked that I hadn't been asked out already, that I'm the "total package". That made me laugh real hard. However, they each told me that if I ever went out with somebody who would "hurt" me in any way they would hurt them too. Oh boy, I didn't think about the fact that I know have a group of "bodyguards" at my side. The night was great. It was great to be with them just hanging out. We talked about Shawn off and on during the night as well. We all knew there was an empty spot at the table and I think that was hard for all of us, however at the same time spending time with the guys made me feel 'normal' and it felt like old times once again.



Friday I thought I was going to have to get up and put Devin on the bus because I wasn't sure if Jennie was going to be back yet. However, they pulled in at around 3:00 a.m. Friday morning I got up and just kind of chilled out a bit. Around noon I met at the house of one of the coaches and ate a yummy lunch with two of the wives that I still talk to. Once again we had great conversation. It was nice to hang out with some of my old friends once again. One of them even had a baby four months ago (her baby was due just a month after mine was) I got to feed him a bottle. He was about the cutest little thing and held onto my finger the whole bottle, so sweet. Friday afternoon I went back to Jennies house and we just hung out around her house. Then we decided to order a few pizza's from the best pizza place ever. We took the pizza's and the boys and headed to the hotel where my parents were staying to go swimming in the pool. (Both my parents, sister and Shawn's parents came into town for the weekend for the game) I tried to take a few pictures of Jennie, the boys and myself in the pool, but it's kinda hard to take pictures while trying to teach a five year old to swim. We had fun swimming even though the water was a tad on the chilly side. The rest of Friday night Jennie and I just talked and chilled out. Actually, to be honest Jennie fell asleep on the couch at 10:15 and I sat my butt on Facebook most of the night. I swear FB is like a dark hole and just sucks you in.

Now onto getting Shawn's award:

I woke up on Saturday a little nervous feeling because it was game day and the day that I was to be given Shawn's award. Maybe nervous isn't the right word, I guess I was more anxious than anything. I went about my day as usual playing with Bo and the boys and tried not to think about the fact that I was going to be going out in front of over a thousand people to get the award. Around two I decided that I should probably get in the shower and start getting ready. I was feeling fine and was getting really excited to go to the game, to see the guys and to spend time with them after. Then I got out of the shower and like a ton of bricks it hit me. I was going to be going out on the field to accept an award for my husband...who was dead! I didn't want him to be dead! I wanted him to be the one to go out onto the field and to get his award, not me. Before I knew it I was in Jennie's bathroom wrapped up in a towel crying my eyes out. Wait, crying my eyes out would be an under statement. I was actually sitting on the floor in my towel shaking I was crying so hard, I even gaged a few times I was crying so hard. (that hasn't happened in a long long time) It sucked big time to say the least!! After about ten minutes of that I realized I needed to stop and I needed to stop now! In less than three hours I was going out in front of a ton of people to get Shawn's award and I needed/wanted to look good. I know it is kind of a selfish and rather snotty type thing to say and think but whatever I did not want to walk out onto that field with puffy eyes and a blotchy face. So I sucked up the tears and finished getting ready and focused on the fact that Shawn did receive this award and that I was going to make him proud and go out and get it for him. Now are you all ready to see pictures of Saturday night?

Here I am walking out onto the field. I was a little nervous and was trying really hard not to fall on my ass. My heels kept sinking into the turf. (Yes, I wore heels, I had to, other wise my jeans would be too long) As soon as I got onto the field one of the coaches that was super close to Shawn saw me, he stopped what he was doing and walked up to me and gave me a big hug and told me he loved me. That's all I needed, all the nerves were gone. Shawn and all "my guys" were with me.

Here I am waiting with YSU's new video coordinator (he filmed the presentation for me) and the school's Athletic Director.

Walking out on to the field to get the award.

The presentation. The game announcers said a few words about Shawn and what had happened. Then they said a little about the award. I really couldn't tell you what they were saying for some stupid reason I had the Black Eyed Peas song "I Got a Feeling" song stuck in my head and was jamming to that in my mind. I think it was kind of a diversion so I didn't bust back out into tears, although I felt fine, but ya never know when they will sneak up on you and get ya. It was a little weird standing out there in front of three different cameras getting my picture and video taken. Once it is on their site I will let you all know. The only thing that I heard the announcer say was please show your love and appreciation to Shawn and his wife, and the next thing I knew the entire stadium was cheering for Shawn. That gave me a big ole lump in the throat, but no tears. Phew! I had my parents and sister, Shawn's parents, my friend Teressa, Jennie and her three boys and the other coaches wives there to help me through the night. It was great having them all there with me. Have I mentioned before that I have the best friends ever?!

Hanging out down in the offices after the game. Her I am with two of the coaches that I still am really close to. These guys have been amazing to me. The one in the middle is the guy who was like Shawn's little brother. The three of us did everything together. I have a feeling these guys will always be a part of my life

Little did I know the school had arranged to have a loge set up for me and my family. So instead of sitting out in the cold we got to sit up in our own little suite. I was joking with everyone that it pays to know people in big places. (Thanks Shawn for keeping us warm on Saturday night)

A view from inside our suite.

Here is a picture of Shawn's award leaning up against the widows of our loge.

Another shot of Shawn's award. The award is is crystal so it was difficult to get a really good shot of it.

If you click on this picture you can see what the award says. It reads

"Collegiate Sports Video Association

Bob Matey National Video Coordinator of the Year Award

Presented to Shawn Coin 1976-2008

for his excellence in his work as voted on by his peers."

Even though I had tears at the start of the afternoon it ended up being a really great day. I had lots of fun at the game and it felt so good to be watching a game again in the stands. It's really hard not being there supporting the team how I'm used to do. After every game I would always stay after with Shawn and his assistant and help them break down the game. The three of us would just sit in Shawn's office and mess around while the film was being broke down. On Thursday that coach asked me if I would stay after the game with him, he said it would kind of be like old times. I gladly stayed after with him for a little while. We sat in the office and talked about Shawn and about some of the memories that the three of us shared. It was great to be able to spend some time with just him once again. After that I went out with the one coach that I've become closer to this past year. We got a few drinks and went back to his house and watched some more football games on TV. Football it's really what we all do! His neighbor was having a bon fire so later that night the two of us went out and sat by the fire and just ended up talking for a few hours. It was nice to be able to hang out with him and get to know him better. I think he too will be a great friend and will always be there for me. Much much later than I had planned he took me back to Jennie's house. It was a little after 1:00 am when I got back. Jennie and I stayed up and talked for a few minutes and then we went to bed.

Sunday morning I woke up with a little headache, I may or may not have had a bit too much to drink the night before. After getting up and around I was fine. I got my stuff all packed up to head back to Michigan. Around 10:30 Jennie, the boys and I met my parents and sister for breakfast. We all had a yummy breakfast and had a good time talking with each other. We sat ate, talked, ate, and talked some more before it was time to leave.

Here is a picture of Jennie, the boys and I at breakfast.

Here we all are outside right before I got in my car to leave. Do you all know how hard it is to get three boys under the age of 6 and one dog all in order for one simple picture? Let me tell you it was not easy! This was about the best one that we got.

I had a great trip! It was awesome to be able to see Jennie and spend time with her family again. I tell ya, I always have tons and tons of laughs when I stay at their house. It was also nice to see the other wives and talk ball with them. Whenever I go to Youngstown I always get to see the guys at least once, we usually go to dinner. This time however, I got to see the guys and hang out with them much more than I normally do. It was so nice to be able to see them and spend time with them, those guys meant so much to Shawn and were some of Shawn's closest friends ever. They also mean a great deal to me, so I was glad to be able to spend more time with them than I normally do.

Phew....this was a really long post. Thanks for reading about my time in Youngstown.