I’ve known since Mike’s CT Scan on January 2 that he had a glioblastoma (I looked at the report that I had to give the hospital when we checked in) and was fully aware of the typical fate of those diagnosed with that type of tumor. So, I created this blog not only to keep all of y’all aware of Mike’s medical condition on a regular basis, but also so there would be a record of everything that Ava and Savannah could one day read. The idea of you all writing comments could let them know their father a little better. (One of my favorite threads is the one from his birthday where you all shared stories.) Those of you who have been fortunate to know Mike know that he has an incredible quick wit and has come up with some brilliant one-liners. If you’ve had the joy of experiencing some of Mike’s classic lines (or the misfortune of being the brunt of some of them!), do share, so the newcomers—and one day our girls—can learn a little more about, as Mike would say, the man, the myth, the one to be with. I’ll get us started!
On not having a chance:
I feel like a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.
On students dealing with a substitute or student teacher:
They’re ready to get out the knives and start carving.
On dying:
We start dying the day we’re born.
On heaven:
Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody’s in a hurry to get there.
On not having a chance:
I feel like a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.
On students dealing with a substitute or student teacher:
They’re ready to get out the knives and start carving.
On dying:
We start dying the day we’re born.
On heaven:
Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody’s in a hurry to get there.
9 comments:
Thelast time I saw Mike before his GBM diagnosis, I asked him how he was. He was in the middle of the Chick-Fil-A Classic at RNE and he replied, "Some days you're the windshield; some days you're the bug. Today, I'm the bug."
I have so many from Mike. One I remember is On Gaining Weight
'Philo, you're trying to put this years butt in last years pants.'
Another one was 'Philo, you've gotten so big that when it comes to hauling butt you have to take two trips'.
On Heaven: Similar to what you said Dianne. After talking to Mike in the hospital about death. 'Everyone wants to get to heaven, but I haven't met a person yet that wanted to die to get there.'
“Sealed with a lickey cuz a kissey wouldn’t stickey” Mike wrote on a letter to me after I moved to a new high school in Charleston, SC. I just have never forgotten that. He was always my brother ever since that day we walked onto the John De La Howe Campus in McCormick, SC in 1979. He is our brother and friend.
Mike is my oldest high school buddy that has kept in touch with me and my brothers and one sister. I wrote you some of this on the other blog
when you asked for stories. Mike, Charles Lahay and myself were all in the 10th grade together at John De La Howe, McCormick SC. I believe we all met in 1979 which makes it almost 30 years of keeping in touch.
Mike was just like my other brother. He was in some of my high school classes and of course we all lived together at De La Howe. He watched out for me and all of us. He was just our big brother. Charles Lahay, Mike and me always hung out together in high school for that 10th grade year. Always fun, laughing all the time, playing jokes got us through many days with his humor. My brothers of course can tell more stories than me. But just the fact that he wrote every year and managed to keep in touch with me and my brothers showed he was a special man by writing letters. We were at Carolina together and met sometimes for lunch or dinner our freshman year. After that it was just seeing him in the summers in Myrtle Beach, SC. Mike always wrote no matter where any of us were. He called us his orphan buddies (the LaHays). He got married and still wrote all of us at Christmas. I have always been proud to say that I have two high school friends that keep in touch and one of them is your husband, Mike.
I truly am sorry as we all are for this to happen to our great friend, Mike. Please tell him that we all love him dearly and are praying every day for his recovery.
Words cannot express how deeply moving this has been to all of us.
Words cannot express how I admire your stamina on this blog and how you keep showing humor while living in this day to day illness with Mike.
You truly are an amazing woman and Mike and your girls are truly lucky to have you as a wife and mother to them. We are all still praying for all of you. You have shown what and how every spouse should do for their family. You have been and still are a truly courageous and amazing woman.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to you, Mike, Ava and Savannah.
Sincerely,
Betsy LaHay Mabee
Ocean Springs, MS
No verbal wit or wisdom---just an observation---that little, sweet smile, that thought passing through his mind as you are speaking to him, that twinkle in his eye--- all of which I now see in his eldest daughter, Ava.
Love to you all, Aunt Rachel
I can only say that Mike Starnes has meant the world to me as a friend and mentor. I have heard all the stories that can be told about his day in Chesterfield, Waltoboro, Georgetown, Ridge View and RNE he is a man well traveled. Many comments and conversations I can recall word for word. There are too many to record here. I know this he is one of the most passionate, caring and dedicated people here in this world and will be an angel when he leaves.
"You Get this, You do that!"
Simple explaination for football reactions.
Love you man!
Ryan Kendall
I do not remember the day I saw Mike last but I will always remember the laughter he brought to the table. The many, many meetings of our book club during those fine days of teaching at RV, I can remember Mike starting conversations with " Listen here folks....." When he started with that, you knew whatever he was about to say was whether you liked it or not, he was saying it! And having any grogs prior to that did not matter!
You would always want Mike on your side of an arguement. He was usually very blunt and always very honest. Just the way it should be. Thank you for all the great perspectives you have given to us!
Love, Renee & BJ Kozlowski
Mike is truly one of the most passionate and caring coaches I have had the priviledge to work with. I was blessed to have him as my Defensive Coordinator and as my friend. I unsuccessfully tried to talk him into coaching just one more year on numerous occasions, for I often felt lost without his wisdom.I still use his famous line that epitimizes his disiplined approach " Toes on the line not over the line"
Thinking of You,
Jay
"Eyes on your pressure read."
I can still hear that one today.
Thoughts and Prayers,
Clay Mitchell
I just wanted to tell about my experience with Mike,s dash. It was on a weekend trip to Myrtle Beach with the book club in December. I only knew Mike as a coach prior to that time(my son played football for RVHS) but after that weekend I got to know Mike as a Fun loving person and a great friend. I will always remember Mike from that weekend and will treasure those happier times. Mike will make all he meets above feel his presence and loving ways. His dash will not end here but continue always. Love, Ruth and Chuck
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