Jill's Journal: Regret

Regret is a feeling of sadness or disappointment, which is caused by something that has happened or something that you have done or not done.

It was two weeks ago that I sat beside Brent Deckert to say “hello”. It was during half-time of the girls’ basketball game, and the night was a special one, as it was “Senior Night.” His daughter, Kennedi, is one of three Lady Lynx seniors on the roster this season.

In our limited time, we talked about how he’s doing in his battle against cancer. He told me “OK,” but honestly, I knew better. In recent months, the cancer has taken charge, attacking his spine and relegating him to a wheelchair for mobility to basketball games, doctor’s appointments and treatments.

I asked if he had “some time” that I could come visit him at his home. He welcomed my self-invite, although I never scheduled a day or a time. I told him that I had a few things to chat with him about. First and foremost, with his plan to retire, I wanted to use this opportunity to ask him questions about his career as a teacher and a coach at Brandon Valley. 

Secondly, I wanted to ask him questions about Chase Douglas and Nick Bentele, two of our former Brandon Valley athletes who played basketball under his guide and will be inducted into our Hall of Fame later this month.

And last, but not least, I told him I just wanted to “shoot the shit” with him like we’d done so many times before in the small confines of his office tucked inside the boys’ locker room at the Middle School. Our season preview chats first always focused on the season at hand and the players who would be wearing the Lynx jersey. 

Then, we would talk about everything else. Life. Family. Vacations. Retirement plans. You get the gist.

I knew that I would be “busy” on the sidelines of the state wrestling tournament later that week, so I suggested a visit to his home for the following week.

Again, he obliged my “self-invite.”

The week came and went. Regrettably, I didn’t make it to the Deckert house. It’s likely I’ll won’t get the chance to “shoot the shit” with the coach who I’ve considered a friend from our first introduction nearly 20 years ago.

Regret. We’ve all had one or two or hundreds of them in our lifetimes. And this is one of them.

Make the call. Take the time. Have no regret.