As a bachelor with no kids of my own, I often feel as if the hundreds or thousands of high school athletes I've covered and watch grow up are distant nieces and nephews.
It's impossible to get close to every young man and woman I cover. It's equally impossible not to form a close bond with a few athletes in every class.
Like a proud uncle, I watch as the young men and women spread their wings as they leave high school and their home stomping ground in Okaloosa County. I try to keep up with some of these young people on Facebook. I even have a few of their numbers in my cell phone.
Even with the joys of social media and modern technology, it's still hard to stay in touch with those athletes that I've been closest to through the years.
That's why it's always special to unexpectedly see or hear from one of them.
I've had two of those pleasant surprises in the last couple of weeks with a couple of former Crestview stars who have been away from the area the last few years.
Catching up
I was talking to Crestview baseball Coach Tim Gillis on May 9 in his office when Anthony Brown, a 2006 CHS grad, dropped by to see his old coach.
Anthony, a standout in baseball and football for the Bulldogs, played a few years of minor league baseball. He is one of those guys who, when the time comes, should be elected to Crestview High School's Sports Hall of Fame.
Coach Gillis had to get to a dodge ball tournament and, after he left, Anthony and I stood in the parking lot for 30 minutes just catching up.
He continues to represent his school and community well eight years after graduating.
NFL dreams
Chris Pickett has been out of high school four years, and I've seen him at a few basketball games when he was home from Troy University, where he played football.
Recently, Chris — who graduated from Troy a few weeks ago — posted a Facebook status message that said he had a tryout with the Jacksonville Jaguars. I got in touch with him last Tuesday at the Bulldog football practice to talk about his National Football League dreams.
I was always as impressed with Chris' manners and his athletic talent. He has always been a, "yes, sir; no sir," young man who respects the game and those who have coached and, in my case, written about him through the years.
With his degree in hand, Chris will go far in life, no matter what the football world holds in store for him.
Some advice
In a few days, the Class of 2014 joins Anthony Brown and Chris Pickett as high school graduates. As has been the case for several years, I have watched this class grow and mature through their four years of high school.
It will seem strange next football season not writing about Denzel Ware at Crestview or D.J. Thomas at Baker. In my own way, I will miss all of the young people from the Class of 2014 who have made my job a little easier and more exciting.
I hope I have played some small part in capturing the memories of their high school careers.
As the Class of 2014 steps into a world full of mystery and promise, I'd like to offer a few words of advice.
Hold tight to your high school teammates and friends because you will find they will always be the ones that know you best and love you the most.
Remember the lessons of discipline, teamwork and perseverance your coaches taught you, for those are the foundations of a successful career and life.
Finally, don't be afraid to love and risk loving — even when it hurts. If you learn to love God, others, yourself and the work you choose to make your life calling, you will live a successful life.
Congratulations on a job well done.
Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SIDELINE OBSERVATIONS: Good times remembered