The Sendoff
45 Weeks to Publication
Hello friends!
This week I’ve been working on the last minute details, enjoying the extra time to polish up sections of the manuscript I thought could use more attention, but as the days grow closer to the time I actually hit send on this huge file, I find myself dragging my feet. Why? I should be thrilled to be finished! This has been my goal for this project for years and it is finally reaching its next stage.
But the thing is, I’m reluctant to let it go. Once I let it out of my hands it will be too late to adjust to anything new I find or anything I decide to change. My work of the last several years digging into new details, always finding some out-of-print pamphlet, article, or book, will be done.
I’m reminded of a conversation with professor and historian Tracey Salisbury, who wrote her PhD thesis on the Tigerbelles. She said, “You’re not going to get everything in there, and that’s okay! You’re fine!” That statement made sense to me at the time, and now, even more. I’ve done the work, now it’s time to take a break and breathe while someone else takes it over with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective.
Tigerbelles coach, Ed Temple, had to send half of his team, all of his star runners, on a plane to Melbourne in 1956 for the Olympics without him. He was young and had never traveled for international events, and they were even younger. He had to trust the people in charge, and he had good reason not to.
Wilma Rudolph was barely sixteen and before that summer had never left middle Tennessee. To call her inexperienced was a gross understatement. She was nearly six feet tall, skinny as a blade of grass, and so shy. Mae Faggs was the leader on the team, and 1956 would be her third consecutive Olympics, the first American woman who could claim that feat. Wilma followed Mae around like a puppy dog, always a half a step behind and hunched over Mae’s shoulder. Mae tolerated the dependence for the most part and took Wilma under her wing. Wilma was so vulnerable that even basketball great Bill Russell who played for the U.S. Team that year looked after her like a daughter.
The team said farewell to their coach at the airport, and Wilma’s passport was handed to Mae Faggs for safe keeping. The last words Temple said to any of them was, “take care of Wilma.”
Coach Temple waited at home for news, occasionally receiving a telegram or a much-delayed letter. He had to resume the rest of his life while he waited for the athletes to return, but he and his wife prayed for them to do their best, and for their safe return every night.
The team did do their best, earning bronze medals in the 4x100m relay and a silver for another high school student, Willye White, in the long jump. They could all hold their heads high for that performance.
As I let this baby go, pressing send on the email, I will be saying the same prayers and holding the Temples and the Tigerbelles in my heart.
Until next week!