Driving safely
Hey, Coach! My neighbors tell me that they have issues with the way our son has been driving. They said that they have seen him going too fast on several occasions. We thanked them for their concern, and we told them we would address the matter. Our son is an excellent driver when in our presence, so we don’t want to accuse him of anything. On the other hand, we don’t want to get caught with our heads in the sand, so how do we gently broach this topic with him? Signed+.Easy on the Pedal
Dear Easy on the Pedal: This appears to be an easy question to answer and presents a great opportunity to review safety concerns with regards to driving. As we all know, speed and recklessness kill, so I would take your neighbor’s communications very seriously. Without mentioning names, sit down with your son and tell him what a few people have said about his driving. Give him an opportunity to come clean. If he denies any wrongdoing, be firm with your communications. With that said, respectfully, most reading this may agree that the chances are much better than 50-50 that he indeed has been driving inappropriately. Feel free to remind him that driving is a privilege and that you would be terribly upset if he caused, or was in, an accident. Feel free to mention that he does a great job in your presence and that you would be very disappointed if he ever drove in a reckless fashion. Feel free to talk about the dangers of cell phone use and texting, along with the dangers of speeding and showing off. Although the Coach does not recall seeing any in recent years, many years ago there were slogans on TV commercials about being a defensive driver, so bringing up that old slogan is a thought. Lastly, talk about driving under the influence and how dangerous that is for everyone on the road. Let’s hope the message gets through.
Penn State football
Hey, Coach! Let’s not kid one another. Joe Paterno is hurting Penn State football at this point by staying on as coach. He has a hard time speaking in complete sentences at press conferences, so I can imagine how everything else goes. I love Penn State football, but I finally must say that Joe must go. What do you think?
Signed+Time to Punt
Dear Time to Punt: As much as Joe Pa has done for PSU, there comes a time when things just have to come to an end. Let’s hope Joe gets 400 wins this year and retires.
He’s been great.
Awareness Month
As many know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink has been worn and seen by many during the last four weeks, to include being very visible during the NFL games.
As a reminder, here are some tips offered by the American Cancer Society to help reduce our chances of getting cancer:
n Visit with your primary health care team on a regular basis for cancer screening tests.
n Stay away from all tobacco products and eat a healthy, nutritious diet.
n Try to maintain a healthy weight by getting plenty of physical activity.
n Avoid the sun during peak hours of 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., and protect your skin with a hat, shirt and plenty of sunscreen. By doing these simple things, we can all greatly lessen our chances of getting cancer.
n And, of course, early detection means we also help our chances of getting the best possible treatment. Visit with your primary health care team on a regular basis.
Coach’s Comment: Good things come to those who hustle while they wait.
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You can contact the Coach at askthecoach2003@Yahoo.com.