Memphis, Tennessee

Summer 2015

A wonderful shine of summer sun beamed through the window of Glen’s spacious mansion. It lit up the living room where the aged professional wrestler sat in his favorite recliner.

On the mantel above his fireplace were pictures of him at seminal moments throughout his life. The photos captured the essence of his journey; Glen and his deceased best friend from childhood, Bryan Griggsby, Glen in his army uniform before shipping off to Vietnam, Glen posing with his father on his wedding day, Glen with Charlene and Goldie in the early 1980s, and Glen posing with various championship belts.

The old man relaxed for a moment and took it all in.

It had been a full life; there was no doubt. And despite its darkest moments, he had found peace at the end. And not just because of his redemption with the fans, but rather because he was able to reunite with his daughter, Goldie.

Of course, the conversations were difficult when they mended their relationship. Glen had missed so many years, which was something he could never fully atone.

Goldie had to tell Glen that Charlene had passed away the prior year from cancer, which devastated Glen for several reasons. One of those reasons was that Glen wasn’t there for Goldie when it happened.

That’s where the power of forgiveness changed everything. Goldie had become an adult by the time she reconnected with her father and was remarkably mature. That maturity was necessary because she also had to tell Glen that despite being only twenty-one years old, she already had a child.

In one instant, Glen realized that he had become a grandfather to a little boy named Ben.

Glen heard a knock at his door and labored out of his chair. He grabbed his golden cane and slowly shuffled his way through the house. As he creaked the door open, he saw his beautiful daughter and her son.

“Hey there!” Glen exclaimed in a southern drawl. “Glad you could make it.”

“Hey dad,” said Goldie with a smile. She looked stressed, but still positive.

“Hi Gold-pa!” Ben eagerly replied. The large young man mumbled something about needing a snack and made his way down the hall to the kitchen.

“Boy, Ben sure is getting big,” Glen remarked to his daughter.

Indeed, Ben was in high school and already a football star like Glen had been a long time ago. And with Ben’s blonde hair and impressive physique, Glen saw a lot of himself in his grandson.

“He won’t stop eating, dad. I swear, I can barely cover these grocery bills, which is why I try to bring him over here so much.”

Glen chuckled and ushered his daughter down the hall to the kitchen, as well.

“Dad, I heard something about you coming up with some sort of wrestling league right here in Memphis.”

“Just rumors, I assure you. I left wrestling more than a decade ago, and I’m fine just trying to give all this money away to charities,” Glen replied.

“Well go ahead and grab a seat on the back porch, old man, so we can catch up. I’ll get us some sweet tea.”

After a warm smile, Glen obliged and made his way to the rear deck of his house. He sat down in the warm sun and thought to himself.

His life had been more than just a winding road. It had been full of potholes and detours, but it still reached this destination: an old man who had the love of family in his life, and fulfillment in his soul.