How we met:
Matt and I met for the first time when we were 10 years old in Little League. The first team that Matt and I played on together were the Cardinals, coached by my dad and Matt’s dad, Karl. Matt and I went on to be teammates for the next seven years or so in baseball and football. Matt was the guy that I always felt that I fed off of. I felt like if Matt was playing good then I was playing good. Matt always helped me to keep my head on straight when I got fired up, too. A few years ago we got to play on the Arry’s Roofing softball team together and make dreams come true again, filling the 3 and 4 slot in the lineup.
Three things I appreciate about Matt:
1. Matt is one of those friends that I know I’ll have for life. We can go a year or two without talking and then see each other and it’s like no time has passed.
2. Although I’ve never had the joy of hunting with Matt, we have spent some time on the water and he is as good a fishing buddy as any. I remember when we used to fish the lakes around my house and East Lake after baseball games when we were younger.
3. I love Matt’s relationship with his dad. It reminds me a lot of me and my dad. They work together and play together and it’s an awesome thing to see.
My favorite memory of Matt:
When you have spent a lot of time with someone it’s hard to pick a single favorite memory but to stay true to the format I’ll pick one that I think of often. Matt’s dad Karl took me, Matt, and his sister Melissa fishing. I think we were 10 or 11 years old. I don’t remember which island we went to but I remember catching shark after shark after shark. We were wading in the water at about waste deep and just pulling them in one after another. So much fun.
Another time I remember trading a bunch of comic books with a friend of Matt’s for a BB gun and then we used a bunch of thumb tacks shaped like BB’s and tried to shoot the gar in the lake by my house with it.
July 13th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Litch is an ok softball player. I had to give him a few pointers here and there of course. But he is a quick learner.
For real though, Matt is walking encouragement. There isn’t a nasty old soul on this earth that could talk to Matt for more than 5 minutes without feeling better about themselves, and life in general.
I’d still whoop him in just about anything of course, just like I would with the creator of this blog…
-C. Saulgood
July 13th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
MATT!!!!! Oh, I have always loved this boy! Mostly impressed with him as a boy who loves his mama. Now THOSE boys make really good men! And Matt is no different. Matt – I miss seeing you! I pray you are doing well and that God is making Himself known in your life. LOVE YA!!!!
July 13th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
I would like to see pictures of the two of you circa middle school. What a great lifelong friend to have!
July 13th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Ryan, this is a great thing that you’re doing. Matt is one of my favorite people as well. He has always been that person that makes you feel good about yourself and has an infectious joy for life.
July 13th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
I always, always, always loved Matt. Without a doubt one of my favorite people of all time. Love his family too!! Those were great fun days back then. I miss those days and think about them often. I miss you Matt. Miss your Dad too!!!