Dearest Jake,
07/31/2023.
Today, you start the first day of your last year at Noblesville High School. I have a few things to share with you.
Fifty years ago, in 1973, I began my many last and fast times at NHS.
While much has changed since I graduated in 1974 from NHS, some things haven’t … and never will.
Being your grandmother, you know I am gentle with my thoughts and advice.
First, you need to know that your mother will shed many tears during your senior year. Hug her often. She may not look like a cheerleader, but she is your greatest one. She gets to sit on the front row of your life’s bleachers, but I’m right behind her. I will be reminding you of the remarkable man you have become. I won’t be as loud as your mom, but you will hear me. I know how much words of affirmation matter.
Excuse my skewed way of using sports analogies.
Life is like baseball.
Whenever you are up to bat, it’s not just about hitting the ball but your courage when facing the pitcher. You see, Jake, life will throw you some fastballs you will never see coming and some curve balls that will land you on your behind. In the words of Taylor Swift … shake it off. (Yes, your grandma loves her music.)
Remember that baseball game when you got hit by the ball FOUR times? You shook off each hit and kept playing. There was a lesson you may have yet to realize you were learning. Keep playing, even when life gets hard, and your breath is knocked out of you. Look for your friend who will remind you, you will be okay … eventually. I know you have THAT friend … Logan Shoffner.
I remember when you and Shoffner became friends. You were three years old. I saw you two laughing and clumsily tossing the football. It took two hands to pick it up and throw it. Your boyish chatter created a language only you two understood. I knew you were building a forever friendship.
Jake Baker and Logan Shoffner have been the best of friends since they were toddlers, and they’ve played for the Millers since elementary school. (Photos provided)
Life is like football.
Hopefully, I will see you throw the football to Logan on the field this year. Picture doing that for many years to come. It’s more than tossing a leather ball you now hold with one hand. You know where to throw it because you know where he will be. There for you. Sometimes, just out of the blue, he will show up. You will celebrate the touchdowns. There will be many celebrations you share in life. There will be moments when life tackles one of you. Pick up the one shouting out for the referee to call a penalty. You will gain strength from each other. Sometimes life and the referees aren’t fair.
In 50 years, I predict you and Shoffner will sit in the bleachers with your wives and cheer for your grandsons. The 50 years will go fast, just like the times at NHS.
If you glance up in the stands this football season, you might see me sitting with my best friend, Patrice. We’ve been best friends since junior high school. She has always been there for me, showing up whenever she knows I need her or a good laugh. We learned a lot as we sat next to each other in Mr. Fleming’s history class, but our history together has taught us many things about friendship. Never take friendship for granted.
Jake, you are the third generation in our family (both your mom’s and your dad’s) to graduate from Noblesville High School. We know what it means to say … Proud to be a Miller. Black and Gold are the colors in our closets as well as in our hearts.
This grandmother is Miller Proud and Jake Baker Proud!
I’ll have some more advice for you along the way this year. Stop by and see Grandma Janet for some chocolate chip cookies and a hug. Now hug your mom. Angie is going to need every one of them.
One more thing … You might tell Logan to hug his mom.
Love always,
Grandma Janet
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Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). Visit janethartleonard.com.