Sergeant Tony's Blog

I loved school.

I hated Donny Osmond. (Just thought you’d like to know.)

I wasn’t one of those kids who looked for excuses not to go to school. I thought it was fun!

But in the 8th grade I ran into a bit of a snag. Algebra and English were conspiring against me. They were evil twins dishing out misery and torture of the worst kind. I was awful at Algebra and even mo’ awfuller at grammar.

Mrs. Holman was my 8th grade English teacher. And she was the first adult black woman I ever had a conversation with. Or rather, “the first adult black woman with whom I ever had a conversation.”

She was a middle aged woman who wore big jewelry, very distinctive perfume with a powdery smell, and spoke with an adorable Southern accent, right out of some fancy finishing school. If she said, “Young sir, you need to go to the barber shop.” It would sound like, “Yunng suuh, you need to go to the baahba shop.” Think refined Southern like Scarlett, not trailer park Southern like Reba.

Of the eight or so 8th grade English teachers on faculty, she had the reputation for being the toughest.

Perfect, just perfect.

Our first conversation happened because I had to see her after school early in the first semester. I was tanking her class, in a HUGE and grotesque manner. The first semester was all grammar and the second was all literature and writing.

My apparent goal during that first semester was to establish a new level of failure in her grammar class. And I was doing a particularly splendid job of it. Transitive verbs, indirect objects, subjects of prepositions, past pluperfect verbs, subordinate clauses, diagramming sentences … none of it was sticking.

So a couple of days a week, instead of going to football practice after school, I had to go to Mrs. Holman’s classroom for remedial grammar. I was not happy about this and I had a fairly good sized chip on my shoulder. Of course I blamed Mrs. Holman. And as you would expect, my coaches were furious. I was afraid of losing my position on the team. (Which I lost.)

By the end of the first semester I had raised my F- to a solid C. And my bitterness towards my teacher had actually turned into something of a crush on Mrs. Holman. She was so charming and she took such an interest in all of her students. She was irresistible. I started working hard to impress her, and to get back to after school sports.

By the end of the first semester I was no longer having to get extra help after school and the literature and writing of the second semester were way more fun.

Everything was going just fine, that is until Mrs. Holman did something terrible. She slipped some poetry into the mix and I took an immediate dislike to it.

Poetry? Are you kidding me??

My grades started to tumble again. It seemed like poetry wasn’t very manly or compelling for a young lad hoping to one day to be a real man. I had to start going back to her classroom after school for more help. I complained to her that poetry seemed so feminine and sissified. I just couldn’t relate to it. I was sure, I told her, that none of the men in my family read such stuff. She just smiled and giggled.

One afternoon as I was struggling to figure out what some stupid poem about daffodils or kittens meant, she handed me a small book.

“Tony Ludlow, you will delight yourself in this book immeasurably, or I am no judge of such matters,” she declared in that wonderful accent.

The book she gave me was a short collection of poems written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. She had put a book mark inside and told me to open to the mark.

“I want you to read that poem and a week from now you will give me a report. I want you to tell me what it means.”

Oh that’s just “super” I thought. Perfect, just perfect.

The poem was “Ulysses.”

And that poem changed my life. And it changed my views on poetry forever.

Mrs. Holman started giving me other poems to read that weren’t assigned to the rest of the class. They were poems about life from a man’s perspective, written in many cases by the men themselves. One of those was “Dulce et Decorum Est,” the most famous poem of World War I, written by a soldier named Wilfred Owen. It was the last poem she ever assigned to me. And it was the last poem Owen ever wrote. And it brought me to tears.

On the last day of 8th grade, Mrs. Holman went around the room saying good bye and good luck to each of us. When she got to me, she shook my hand and smiled. I said, “Thank you for everything Mrs. Holman!” And she looked straight at me, paused, leaned in closer, and then said in a low voice that was almost a whisper, words I’ve never forgotten … “Tony Ludlow, I expect greatness from you.”

You expect WHAT?? Are you serious??

What was I supposed to say to that? What was anyone supposed to say to that?

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, as if I could run right out that afternoon and perform “greatness.”

I was an average student, a completely ordinary, skinny, knucklehead kid with a smart mouth and tons of goofiness, but no visible means of greatness. I was a very average boy, from a below average family, living in a typically average town, in a somewhat below average state. Why did she say that to me? I didn’t hear her say that to anyone else! Why did she burden me with such an assignment? Greatness?! Good lord!

Over the years I’ve never believed, despite all of my feigned cockiness and false bravado, that I’ve ever achieved greatness. The “burden” that Mrs. Holman gave me that day was intended to serve as a compass marker, a way to orient the map, a process by which to plot a course, a direction in life. I don’t think she intended it to be an anchor, a hardship, or a destination.

Striving for greatness is what she wanted for me. It’s something that each of us can do. No mater who you are or what your occupation. LeBron James is great, but so was Mrs. Holman.

Greatness travels with passion and has nothing to do with your zip code or bank balance. And I find that passion may be the single most attractive thing in a person. An average looking woman with a passion and fire in her belly for something (anything!) is infinitely more attractive than a beautiful woman with nothing that energizes her life.

A passion for things, a lust for life, and a positive attitude are magnetic and winsome in any person! Be those things and the world will find you!

You can be awesome!

You can be extraordinary!

You can be incredible!

You can be GREATNESS!

See you on the Quarterdeck!

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SCHEDULE CHANGES - IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

The 0530 class will meet every Thursday inside the gym (the one we always use). We’ll do the “Boga Workout.” If you’re new to that workout, it’s a combination of Boot Camp and Yoga! You’ll need your dumbbells and mat.

And until further notice, the Tues/Thurs evening classes are on hiatus. We’ll crank them back up soon … probably in March. Stay tuned!

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LOSE THE WEIGHT — The Body You Want in July Begins With a Strategy in January!

Take Shape For Life — weight loss program!

In a nutshell, the plan calls for you to daily eat 5 Medifast replacement meals and one “lean and green” meal that you prepare or have at a restaurant. It’s simple, easy to do, scientific, goof proof, affordable, and it works!

You can go directly to the Take Shape For Life website and poke around there. Plenty of detailed information. You can also sign up there as well. Go to: www.combatchallenge.tsfl.com . If you’ve got questions, let me know.

I’m really excited about this! The success that those who have started the program has been awesome!

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SNOW DAYS!!

In the event of snow, we will follow Memphis City Schools. If MCS shuts down, we will stand down.

If the snow comes while MCS is on a holiday break, check the blog on the USMC Fitness Boot Camp website where I’ll post my decision at 0500 of that day.

Also, if MCS shuts down in the morning and we stand down, but the streets clear and are fine by the afternoon, I’ll post my decision regarding the evening class on the blog by 1600 (4 PM).

Q: “Tony, what if the Memphis City Schools have a delay in their start (like starting 2 hours late) what will we do?”
A: “We will workout!! We will be rockin’ and rollin’!”

I will also post the announcement to the USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP group on Facebook.

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FACEBOOK

Find me on Facebook and make me your friend! (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=629618416)
I’ll make you mine! Then join the USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP Group! I can communicate snow day decisions through that group too!

While you’re on Facebook, you might see an ad for USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP pop up. Do not click on it! Facebook charges me for every time someone clicks on it. That’s an ad for prospective Boot Campers! You knuckleheads already know how awesome it is!

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BOOT CAMP SWEATSHIRTS

The black and gray zippered hoodie have arrived! Embroidered BOOT CAMP sweatshirts are the way to show your coolness! Sizes are available in S to XXL!

Get yours ASAP! $35 each or two for $65!

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BOOT CAMP GIFT CERTIFICATES

For the month of January I’ll make these gift certificates available to you to give to that friend or family member who really needs to be on the Quarterdeck with you!

As you know, the first month of USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP is $180. Then it’s $75 per month after that. BUT a Boot Camp gift certificate that YOU purchase this month costs YOU only $75 to give to your friends or family members! The certificate you buy takes care of their first month’s fee.

Only members of USMC Fitness Boot Camp can purchase these gift certificates at this savings.

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FLEET FEET IS HIRING!

If you’ve thought that Fleet Feet Sports would be a great place to work, now’s your chance - great pay, excellent benefits, fun co-workers, and the best customers in the world! Drop by the store for more info.

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A JOB SEEKER!

A new friend of mine is looking for a new position after a little time off and a relocation to Memphis from Atlanta.

She has an MS in Organizational Change Management but would like to start as an Administrative Assistant to get back in the flow of office policies and procedures, strategic and performance management etc.

She says, “I’m seeking a Full-Time Administrative Assistant Position, where I can apply my customer service, administrative, multitasking, and communication knowledge, skills, and abilities. I am focusing on companies where I can advance. I am a dedicated and reliable leader with customer service experience in a highly energetic corporate environment. I am an adaptable, achievement oriented person who works terrific in teams and independently.”

Let me know if you have any leads for her!

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“I expect greatness from you!”

To your continued good health and fitness!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow

USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
Mailing address: 4888 Southern Ave., Memphis, TN 38117
Cell Phone: 901-644-0145
www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com
www.combatchallenge.tsfl.com/esuite/home/combatchallenge/