10 S NE 1

They have played together as a tennis doubles team for years. They have improved immensely year by year. In fact, there was a time when they fought with each other and irritated each other to such an embarrassing degree that I could no longer play tennis with them in public. However, today they are "en fuego" and I am very proud of them. They have tremendous potential and when all cylinders are clicking they are a juggernaut on the court. Unstoppable and Martha Grahams of the tennis courts. They move so effortlessly and in concert. Ballet tennis. This year they qualified for the Illinois High School State Tennis Tournament by finishing third in their sectional finals. I was so filled with joy and emotions that I could barely speak and I was with tears (of joy and pride) for hours after the event. A father could not be prouder of his children than I am of Matt and Billy.

The Road to High School Graduation

William Bowen O'Connell (DOB - 10.07.94)

Matthew Emmett O'Connell (DOB - 10.07.94)



I remember everything about their births, minutes apart from each other. Billy had the umbilical cord around his neck and eventually emerged with the assistance of metal salad tongs leaving him with a subtle cranial deformation that marks his historic journey. Matt was breached and tried to step into this life feet first, hitting the ground running. Both were six weeks premature and sweet little peas.

Today, they are eighteen and a half years old, size fourteen feet and a towering 6 feet 3 inches tall like their father. They are wonderful, young men that I am extremely proud of every day. I miss them every day as our years of physical separation have pained me for decades. I love them both with all my heart and with every fiber of my being. They make me very happy and I look forward to watching them continue to morph into mature young men with Darci at their side.