Dreams Really Do Come True

                                                                     

  

Dreams really do come true.  My daughter has been a Tar Heel fan as far back as I can remember.  I purchased Tar Heel gear for her all through high school so she could show her love.  She has passed her love on to Xavier.  He has on his University of North Carolina colors, light blue and white shirt, and a smile bright enough to light up the sky as he stands in front of the NC Chapel Hill logo.  A big moment for a little boy. 


My daughter was given 4 tickets to see the Tar Heel basketball team play this pass week-end at the Dean Dome, which seats 21,750 fans.  That’s a huge stadium.  I don’t know who was happier, Xavier or Marisha.  My SIL, who is not a UNC fan, swallowed his pride and made arrangements to take the family and one of Xavier’s friends to Chapel Hill, NC for the week-end.  They had seats directly behind the team, 12 rows away.  How great is that.  To put the icing on the cake, the Tar Heels won 80-51.  Go Bighorn Rams. 

Wondering where the name Tar Heels comes from.  Here’s the history:  North Carolina settlements provided tar, pitch, and turpentine for the navy, in particular the British navy. It was used to paint the bottom of wooden British ships to seal them and to prevent damage to the hull from shipworms.  During the Civil War, it was stated that troops stuck to their ranks like they had tar on their heels. The nickname “Tar Heels” was born. 

This is a picture of Marisha, Xavier, and Xavier’s friend with Rameses the Tar Heel mascot.   Rameses first appeared at a pep rally before a football game against Virginia Military Institute in 1924.  The Bighorn Ram was officially adopted as the mascot and continues to cheer on the Tar Heels. 
Some well known graduates from UNC who went on to play pro ball are Rick Fox and Michael Jordan.  Rick Fox was married to one of my all time favorite singers, Vanessa Williams, and he turned out to be a great actor.  
Family is important and making memories with family is just as important for children.  This family event will live in Xavier’s memory.  He will always remember being at Dean Dome and all of its surroundings when he’s watching the Tar Heels play on TV.  He will always remember daddy making arrangements to take him and mommy to see their favorite NCAA team.  He will be able to look at these pictures and remember one of the most exciting activities ever with mommy, daddy and friend Prince.  I see a scrapbook of this trip in his future.