Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The Dream of Yesterday


When Alan Dobbins graduated from Vestavia Hills High School in Birmingham in 1993, he had plans to become a professional baseball player. He had dreamed about such lofty things since he was a little boy.

He had the credentials too.

Alan was the middle infielder for two state championship baseball teams and also played on a state championship basketball team at the 6A Vestavia. He was recruited by several major colleges including the University of Alabama and Auburn University to play baseball until a stress fracture in his back limited his playing time his senior year.

Things have a way of working out though.

Alan received a baseball scholarship at Samford University in Birmingham and had a great college career as a 3rd Baseman and Closer for the Samford Bulldogs. More importantly he met Jessica Whatley, the girl who would eventually become his wife and the mother of his children. Jessica happens to be my wife’s niece.


Although his dream didn’t exactly turn out the way he first saw it, Alan would not change places with any baseball player these days. After spending four years in the corporate banking world, Alan has been employed for the past nine years with the church development company Myrick, Gurosky and Associates in Birmingham and is now Director of Business Development. Alan and Jessica have been married for nine years and have two beautiful children and another on the way.

The reality of today has a way of being much better than the dream of yesterday.


Since we have been vacationing together this week, I have also learned something else about Alan. He is a connoisseur of fine fried shrimp. The best fried shrimp in the world, by the way, are found at Osteen’s in St. Augustine Beach, FL. We ordered 17 dozen fried shrimp (not kidding) from Osteen’s tonight and we had an old fashioned shrimp eating contest.

Alan, the baseball player and church builder, took the grand prize. He ate 20 of Osteen’s finest along with all the trimmings. He broke the record he set last year by one.

Like I said, the reality of today is much better than the dream of yesterday.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Bruce,
Allen grew up with my son-in-law, Hunter Stanley! I've heard nothing but good things about him!
Ernest Greene