By Steve Stricker

Columnist

Like the seasons, each day, working on my cars, stuff changes, progresses, like life, birthdays, this is a total update.

Yesterday, Tuesday October 8, 1862, the  Union and Confederate forces fought a one-day battle at Perryville, KY to prevent the South from bringing Kentucky into the Confederacy; it was the feast day of St. Simion to whom the Holy Family presented baby Jesus in the Temple at Jerusalem; was the day my best friend was birthed in Missouri and now appropriately lives in Kentucky.

Stephen is not only my best friend, but bourbon and medical consultant, my sounding board of reason – i.e. my rock, my peace maker, my life, and I’ve known him from his birth – he’s my oldest son and namesake….

When I left my marriage of ten years, three young sons (hardest decision of my life to this day), Stephen was 10 years old. From day one, I worked hard at being in contact with them and in person as much as I could.  For those precious years in the home, Stephen and I did everything together, were very close, and thankfully, so thankfully, God, still are.

Stephen is very intelligent, a walking encyclopedia of everything, always mature for his age as a result of being the oldest and above reasons, lots of common sense, and has just always done the right things. Graduating with top honors in high school, he attended and graduated from Vanderbilt with a BS in Molecular Biology, in Vandy’s Spirit of Gold Marching Band and Memorial Gym Basketball Band; came to Ole Miss for his MS in Biochemistry (so great having him on campus with me), then PharmD from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and joined me as Dr. Steve.  

Stephen has his own Bourbon Blog “Bourbon Script,” just moved into their new house this summer, married to my “daughter” Rev, Dr. Kristie, and is currently Associate Scientific Director, US Medical Affairs, Oncology, at AbbVie. 

On June 6, 2005, my namesake Stephen Renaud Stricker, III entered this world, and is now a sophomore at prestigious Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio, majoring in Trumpet Performance.  He is so good; I am so proud!

Christmas 2023, Stephen sent me a box with two swell bottles of bourbon and five gift cards.  When I called to thank him, he said there was another gift – his twin sons, my grandsons, Trent and Thomas, then sophomores in high school, were going to send audition tapes to perform with the 45th Ole Miss Mid-South Honor Band in February as he had done when he was in high school and I was working on the Ole Miss Campus.  

Having not seen the twins since December 2018 and Stephen in a couple of years, I was excited!  The guys were not only accepted but placed trumpets 2 & 3 out of 41 others, juniors and seniors.  Trumpet 4 asked where they were from because no one local had ever beat them!  Ha…so proud!!  

From then until Saturday, February 17 and the main Concert with both Sympathy and Concert Bands at 11:00am in the Ford Center, it was a plethora of wonderful family time together, swell rehearsals, great food at a different Oxford “famous” venue for each meal, and my dad, grandad wee heart continued to swell with pride and love.

Saturday night after the Concert, we attended the Ole Miss vs Missouri Basketball game in the Pavilion – Win, 79-76!

There is simply not enough word count here for me to describe what it meant to be with Stphen, Trent and Thomas for such quality time and so proud of “3. Stephen not only arranged the auditions, drove over eight hours from their home in Kentucky, but also paid for everything and showed me and the boys immense love. I’m still having major withdrawal pains from missing them…whew! Thanks, Dr. Steve, Dr. Kristie – I totally love and miss you guys!

Thursday, October 3, just off the phone from a call from Stephen…my heart is full….

Steve is an Oxford resident and received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (Counseling) from Ole Miss.