The Ultimate Test

Recently I read where the Best and Brightest of Florida’s youth were in Tallahassee competing for scholarships. Much to no one’s surprise these young people were found to be, well… really good and really smart. Hmm…maybe that’s where they got the title “Best and Brightest.”
I give today’s youth much the same mark not because I screened out only the top 1% to get to the best and the brightest but because I put them to the Ultimate test. Yes, I, a strange old man in these young people’s eyes walked up to them and asked if I could join them in their game of Ultimate. (A Frisbee game combining soccer, football, spacing, the triangle offense, and pies. OK, I made up the part about pies.)
These guys and girls are Lincoln and FSU students so I am about ten years older than twice their age. I have played with them three times now and each time they have treated me with both respect and some good natured ribbing. The first thing that is awkward for them is that they don’t know what to call me. They want to call me “Mister…” but I stop them and say much like Tom Hanks said, “There’s no crying in baseball,” there’s no “Mister” in Utlimate. They seem very uncomfortable calling me Paul so I am going to have to come up with a cool nickname like maybe, P-Daddy. That allows them to show respect for my age and yet not having to call me Mr. Peavy.
They are so sympathetic they don’t even pick me last, when picking teams. One time when I got knocked down they came running over to see if I was OK. It was then that I got to my knees and threw for a score. Hey, if there’s no Mister there can’t be any mercy, either.
I also enjoy the much deserved mocking they dish out. After I made a diving catch in the end zone Lincoln Senior, Colton Doll, smirked, “Keep that up and we’re gonna have to call an ambulance.” To which I replied, “No, I’m walkin’ outa here with my dignity, now get me my cane.”
From my study of these young men and women I can tell the future is in really good hands. Although I would feel better about our world if they had a piece of pie waiting for the old man the end zone every time I scored. Now, that would truly show ultimate respect!