and i'm going to try my hardest not to tear up just writing this (although that's probably not going to happen...).
i'm almost willing to bet that everyone who knows me knows my love and respect for Peyton Manning. i mean, seriously. i spent 16 years teaching preschoolers and i can tell you that some of them still, to this day, see this man on a football field and say "Ms. Nicole loves Peyton Manning". the number 18 forever embedded in their little minds. the number 18 representing greatness, gracefulness, determination, drive, talent and just a legend...a pure legend.
i have LOYALLY followed this man for almost TWO DECADES (yes, THAT long) and i have NEVER faltered once due to any loss by the Colts (his then team) or by the Broncos (his now and most likely final team-insert tears)...even after the ugly loss two years ago in Super Bowl 48 to the Seahawks. never. his humility and pure love of the game make him something special. a role model, of sorts. something the sports world alone could learn from this man.
ironically, beginning 6 years ago we wound up having something not so fortunate in common...multiple neck surgeries/fusions. every day (after THREE surgeries) i STILL live in pain....pain that shoots down my right arm (yes, my painting arm) into my hand, back up into my shoulder, down my trapezius and well, it's just not a whole lot of fun. i manage. i'll continue to manage. why? because my drive and determination and pure LOVE and PASSION for my craft will keep that pencil and paintbrush in my hand, no matter what the pain level may be. throwing a football and being one of the greatest players to ever grace a field after FOUR of those surgeries? well, that is nothing short of miraculous. yes, he has access to the greatest doctors in the world, etc etc etc. but he plays still because he has great LOVE and PASSION for the sport. no matter what his physical disabilities may be, his drive and determination is much much bigger.
knowing that today's game may be his last ever, you can bet i'll be crying a whole ocean (or two) just watching this man do what he loves most...honestly, humbly, respectfully and just Peyton being Peyton. not sure what i'll do with my sundays now but i'll still be wearing that magical number 18 and i'll still have his face as the screensaver on my Mac so that when i'm at my easel doing what i love most and the pain gets a bit mundane, i can just look over and know that it can be done. that pain and physical limitations don't have to stop you from doing what you love more than anything else in the world. always promised myself that one day i would pen this man a letter, letting him know how much of an inspiration he truly is....
helmets off to you, Peyton Manning for being a class act all the way to the end. win or lose, you'll always be a winner to this girl!
{my style may have changed over the years but that's about it when it comes to this man!}
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