Some things...

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We have a HUGE weekend of sports ahead of us. And with Labor Day marking Summer’s last chance to make bad decisions while wearing white pants, a great percentage of people reading this are figuring out how they are going to balance watching their favorite athletes while also saving plenty o' time to get blind drunk with their closest friends. 

But before you shove off onto what could be the greatest weekend of the year (you never know), maybe you will permit me to slow things down a tad to concentrate on something more important. Maybe you will take a quick break between going to CVS to load up on AXE Body Spray and then the local liquor store to load up on High Noons and take 3 minutes to learn about Delilah Loya. 

I won't post any pictures of Delilah out of respect for her parents, but I will link a viral video the family seems (properly) proud of… But that’s later on. 

For right now, I want you to know that Delilah Loya was a nine-year-old girl who died on July 21, 2024, after a 5-year battle with neuroblastoma.

Not an easy sentence to type.

I am not precisely sure what neuroblastoma is, and, quite frankly, I am terrified to Google it. I do know that it is something terrible that made OVER HALF OF THE LIFE of an innocent little girl I will never meet incredibly difficult.

Still, through the undying love of her family and the generosity of others, Delilah had random moments of joy that put her battle in the rearview mirror temporarily.

And, as is so often the case, she found some comfort through music… Particularly music that just so happened to mention her unique name.

Turn this one up to 11 and tell anyone who tells you to turn it down that they can go fuck themselves…

So whether this season your household will be screaming, “Go Irish!”… Or, “Roll Tide!”… Or, “Gig ‘em!”… Or, “Hook ‘em, Horns!”… Or, “Hotty Totty, Gosh Almighty!”… Maybe we should also take a second to say, “Rest in peace, Delilah.”

I'm a dad, so I first used that fact as the excuse as to why this particular story shook me like it did… But I don't think it's because I am a father… It's because I'm a human. And if that clip doesn't move your emotional needle then maybe you need to reevaluate.

My condolences to the Loya family, and my kudos to Tom Higgenson for giving a young girl some much-needed/well-deserved smiles. 

-Large