It feels like I get a reminder of how old I’m getting everyday now. The tell-tale signs were already there – chronic back pain, gray showing up in my beard, getting grumpy over mundane things – but now it’s all the people I’m around who remind me.

At the office, I have a coworker who can remind me that I was the sports guy when she was playing little league sports in Warren County. At basketball practices, the girls I coach enjoy teasing me about my music (I guess teenagers these days don’t enjoy The Outfield or Rick Springfield as much as I do), my wardrobe, still being single and pretty much anything else. Most of it revolves around me being old.

Even Friday, I got a reminder covering the homecoming parade. I was taking pictures when I got a tap on the shoulder and turned around to see a young woman that I once coached in little league. She’s now about to be a mom herself and I just shook my head in disbelief. How could somebody who still seems like a youngster to me be about to have a youngster?

Oh yeah, I know the answer: I’m old.

But, one thing that used to date me doesn’t anymore. Just a few years ago, I could talk about the good ol’ days of live music in McMinnville – when Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, LoneStar and countless others would come to town – and people would think it was ancient history.

Thanks to the resurgence of the Park Theater, there are big names coming back to town. You don’t have to wish for those glory days to return; you just have to scroll the latest listings of acts coming to the Park and pick your favorite.

Here’s an example: Aaron Tippin, proud owner of a Working Man’s Ph.D. and singer of over 30 songs to hit the Billboard Hot 100 Country lists, will be in town Tuesday. Tippin is scheduled to be at the Park with his family and the event will go to a great cause as it will raise money for Boyd Christian School.

While I did already point out their ability to tease me endlessly, I will say that I’ve gotten to know a number of Boyd students over the last year and helping coach them has been the best thing I’ve done – maybe ever. They’re wonderful kids and our community could help them and help provide a place to receive a great Christian education in our small town.

Getting to see a country legend – at an affordable price – is the cherry on top. 

Seriously, tickets are as low as $40 to see Tippin Tuesday. I paid half that much to see a movie of a concert (that had tickets going for over $1,000 nightly). You can see Tippin up-close and maybe get involved in a Q&A as well Tuesday.

If you want to help a great cause or just want to see Tippin perform a few hits, visit the Park Theater website and snatch up a ticket before they're gone. I won’t speak for all of Boyd, but I will say the Lady Broncos are thankful for your help and support. 

Standard Sports Editor Jeffery Simmons can be contacted at (931) 473-2191