Fame is what you make it.

I think it's most people's dream to be famous for something. People want to be known, revered, looked up to, etc. We see the Hollywood stars and dream of having that spotlight. If you are shaking your head no, you are a liar! We even throw ourselves "mini-fame" parties throughout the day...(I'm the world's worst). They go something like..."Hey, I rode 40 miles today" or "Yeah, just saw the homeless guy and the Lord told me to give him a couple bucks." I mean, who doesn't love to brag on themselves in hopes of getting more attention?

Personally, I have tried many, many times to reach the "fame" platform. I have gone to Los Angeles with the thought of not returning, I have applied for the Amazing Race, count 'em...3 times, auditioned for Leatherheads, among other things.

Sometimes I have mini-succeeded at this so called "fame". I have done the local TV news thing a few times (that's called a 'local celebrity'), have made the front page of the hometown newspaper, and have been awarded stuff that took me getting up in front of people to accept.

But...is that really fame? A better question may be...is that fame something I want to base my life around? Now, don't get me wrong, I don't believe that wanting to be on TV or striving to be a reality star is bad. Those opportunities would surely be incredible; but just last week I was playing golf with my Dad. We hadn't seen each other in some time and were having a blast together. Neither was playing particularly well, but that didn't matter. We were laughing, catching up, and having countless father-son moments. As he stood on the 9th Tee-box getting ready to hit I realized that to me, my Dad is the biggest celebrity I'd ever get to hang with. Now, cameras don't follow him around, he doesn't live in Beverly Hills, and he is not world famous-but he has done a lot better than that. He has raised and cared for his family, sacrificed to see me succeed, and has been there for me more times than I can remember. That's a hero, a celebrity, if you will, to me. That is someone that I craze to haves attention, someone I look up to, someone I want to be like.

So, thank your parents for allowing you to live this long! And next time you see Brad Pitt or George Clooney on the big screen, just remember that they didn't clean your throw-up out of your bed!