...I learned something about myself this weekend...

...Friday morning, I had a son...a beautiful boy who with one look at me, captured my heart...

...I got to thinking, what am I going to be able to teach this youngster?...What tools can I give him to be a person that he would be proud to be...

...just when I shouldn't be thinking about ELITE...I did...but not because I missed it...but because what it was about...

...for those of you who have donated to one of the charities we have rallied for, donated your time to a Mission or another organization with ELITE, or just busted your ass for months on end as part of the NATION...you know that ELITE is about much more than fitness equipment, training, or therapy...

...it is about commitment, testing yourself, surrounding yourself with extraordinary people and efforts, believing in yourself, giving back to those around you, persistancy and pushing yourself to explore your limits as a person everyday....

...when my boy, Sammy woke up in my arms from his nap...I knew exactly what I was able to teach him...I have been able to live it day in and day out with your help for 13 years...it is what makes ELITE a NATION...not a gym or a performance center...and it will also give our new son a great foundation to build his life upon...

Thanks to you...over 13 000 of you who have walked through our doors over the years...to test yourself and inadvertently created this amazing Nation of people...

....and thank you to the hundreds of well-wishers who phoned, emailed, texted and stopped by to see Melanie, Sammy and myself this weekend....

I will be back to ELITE on Wednesday.
Until next time ELITE NATION,
Onward and upward.
your pal,
fISH

...and a special thank you to my grandfather, our son's namesake...who gave everyone around him so much and expected nothing in return...I promise that you will be proud of our Samuel. Thanks GR. I love you and miss you very much.