So recently I had been having some trouble dealing with the anniversary of my marriage falling apart before it started. This past weekend was one year ago that she told me she didn't want to get married and tried to give me back the ring. This past year as uncelebrated anniversaries have come and gone I've had difficulty keeping my head up. This weekend was a little better.
(The spoiler contains a more detailed account of the weekend. If you just want the end result don't click it)
SPOILERS! (Click to view)Friday afternoon Iako, Aaron, Keith and myself travelled to Gainesville, GA cuz Iako was fighting on Saturday night. We went up on Friday for the weigh ins. What that means is basically Iako had to cut 9lbs to make the 185 mark so he could fight in the weight class he agreed to. We drove three hours and without hesitation Keith and Aaron paid ten dollars so they could follow Iako into the sauna room at Gold's Gym and keep him focused during the difficult task of losing 9lbs of water weight. I, being the new guy, was uninitiated to this rite and was obliged to follow them. Honestly, I had no problem with it. I love working and training with these guys and was more than willing to help every step of the way.
The task proved difficult as Iako (being tough as coffin nails in the ring) hates cutting weight and needed us with him. The gym closed at 9pm and the weigh ins were supposed to be until 10pm. At 9 we headed over and Iako was still 2 pounds over. We went outside and "hotboxed" Aaron's car. What that means is Iako put on his sweaty nasty sauna suit, a sweatshirt, and cranked up the heat to full blast in the car. He said that wasn't working so he jumped out and started running laps around the shopping center. At 10pm he made weight and started the process of rehydrating. We went and ate sushi and then Iako and I went back to the hotel (Keith and Aaron headed home cuz Keith had to teach in the morning) where I IV'ed him and drained his ear and went to sleep.
Woke up the next morning and ate breakfast at the IHOP next to the hotel. We kinda vegged around for a bit watching Nip/Tuck and then I went over to the venue to witness Iako's opponent's weigh in. He made it and I headed back to the hotel. About 3pm Keith, Aaron, Ashley (Iako's wife) and his daughter showed up. I love their daughter, Veevee. She is the sweetest thing.
About 6pm we head over to the venue to get set. A bunch of our friends made the drive up and we all hung out a bit. One of the promoters knows Aaron and Keith real well and approached them to see if they'd be willing to take a kickboxing bout last notice, one of their fighters didn't show up. Aaron thought about it for all of one minute and agreed. He is a true warrior.
The event began and soon I found myself ringside for Aaron's first kickboxing fight. Being the toughest motherfucker I know, on two hours notice and never having fought a kickboxing bout before, he pounded the guy dropping him three times for the KO.
I could tell Iako was nervous for his fight (he'd been out of the ring for a while) and that made me nervous. He always seems to me to be the guy that's always in control. So when it came time for his fight I had knots in my stomach. Being Hawaiian his intro music was preceded by his cousin chanting an authentic Hawaiian war cry. It was 47 seconds of him standing stationary in the spotlight with the Hawaiian flag draped over his shoulders and some guys grunting in a foreign language. Before his intro song actually kicked in (Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock {out in the streets, they call it murder}) about 80% of the crowd was vehemently booing him. When that song kicked in Iako jumped out and was dancing around the ring like he owned it. It was beautiful.
First round, 1 minute 2 seconds, goes from rear mount into an armbar and the guy taps. He jumps and all you hear is boos and "Out in the streets, they call it murder." We jumped on the ring and just taunted everyone for being stupid. It was great.
Funny part is, we thought the crowd was booing us for beating their local guys. Turns out, they thought Iako was from Britain or Iran or something. They were that stupid that when they heard the Hawaiian chant they thought it was Arabic and so must be Iako. When one lady confronted us and told Iako he should go back to "Iraq or wherever he came from" Keith very diplomatically told her, "yes, he's been to Iraq. This is Staff Sergeant Kalili and I'm retired Staff Sergeant Bach, we fight for the US Army Combatives program." The lady just shut up and didn't know what the hell to say. You have to love stupid people.
We went back to the IHOP for dinner and after that I decided to let Iako and his wife have a night out in the hotel. I gave them the keys to my car and rode back with Keith and Aaron. You make sacrifices for family; it's that simple.
We got back to Iako's house around 4am and Aaron and I just crashed. Woke up around 12pm and headed out for breakfast and to go watch the video of the fights.
Around 5pm on Sunday I found myself sitting in Iako's living room playing with his daughter, watching a movie, listening to retellings of the fights, joking around with the guys and their other halves, dodging flying toys and grabbing the occassional kid that would run by or fall down laughing. For about a second I realized that one year ago that day was the day she told me that horrible news that I never thought I would be able to get over. For about a second I was there in that moment again. But then I looked up and smiled as one of the guys made a wise crack and one of the kids did something funny, and the moment was gone.
I was with family again and as happy as a man could be.
im gonna take that as a compliment.
fuck being professional out of work... thats why they call it free time, because youre free from the stupid rules that you have during work time.