Niners head into week 11 at 5-4 riding a 2-game win streak with wins over the Rams and Chargers (Battle for LA – won by a team from The Bay??). Was a great win (every win in NFL is a great win!) and Niners are now poised to lock it in and get on a roll for the 2nd half of the season. One week at a time yes, but getting healthier each week, finding their groove on both sides of the ball, defense is the best in all of the NFL, and lots of tools on offense to work with. The future is ours to claim!! 

LET’S ROLL!!   

Niners spent this week in Colorado at the Air Force Academy working out to adapt to the altitude of Mexico City and Estadio Azteca! This is the largest stadium in all of Mexico seating 87,522 and sits at an altitude of 7220 feet/2200 meters (Mile High Stadium in Denver sits at 5280’). Hopefully the cold weather they experienced will add to their preparation from working out this week at 6700’. No doubt altitude can be a thing so we will see how that all worked, as Cards simply stayed in Arizona. Will hope that is an advantage for us.   

This week we are thrilled to have with us a good friend of the family and iconic “photographer of the stars” Brian Bowen Smith. You might ask us, what does a fancy-pancy photographer who has shot pictures of almost anyone and everyone in Hollywood has to do with football, mental performance, mindset, and successfully navigating transitions? That is a good question, but the answer is actually a hell of a lot. This story found its origin way back in 2020 in the midst of COVID lockdown when Brian drove his 1958 F-150 pickup cross country to take pictures of the U.S. during the midst of COVID. The pictures are all from inside the truck and were published in his book “DRIVEBYS”. Anyway, Jan hit him up and invited him to come through Nashville and he did, and our family picture made it into the book.   

From there we have continued to be good friends with Brian and his family. We are also both involved in our favorite tequila (Casa Del Sol), for which Brian is the corporate artistic director. With the trip to Mexico City we though it prudent to include a story that talks about tequila. So we did and this is that story. Brian shares how he worked through photography to capture the heart and soul of not only the tequila itself, but also the people making the tequila.  It is a work of love and spirit and one we really enjoyed telling.  

This week with the holidays approaching let’s focus on accepting who we really are, inside within our heart and soul, and to finding the courage to embrace that and life that life out fully. Dropping the masks we wear to make others happy, the rules we follow given to us by others that are not out own. This holiday season let us offer grace, love, and forgiveness, for ourselves and others. But let’s do so without sacrificing who you TRULY are. Let us lead always with love, grace, and kindness.   

Be safe. Happy holidays. Have a great week being uniquely you!!     

Bruce & Emma 

REMINDERS:   It is OK TO NOT BE OK (and to tell someone!!) - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!  It is OK TO ASK FOR HELP – that is why YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!  CANCER/ILLNESS SUCKS –YOU ARE NOT ALONE! – WE ARE THINKING OF YOU!