Getting an outlet back is good medicine for the soul

McCluer North quarterback Jordan Primm (with football) tries to escape from Parkway West defenders during a Suburban Conference Green Pool game earlier this season in Florissant. (Mike Buhler photo)

Over the last not-quite two years, I’ve talked about a lot of things in this space. But it seems a common topic has been the struggle to maintain my mental health during the pandemic and also while watching my grandmother’s decline and eventual passing.

Today, I would like to take the space to talk about how regaining one of my outlets has been great medicine for my mental health — and that’s getting to photograph high school football again.

First of all, we all need outlets. Whether it’s a hobby, taking road trips, spending time with family and friends or whatever, we all need something to do that we enjoy, partially to give us something to look forward to and also to keep life from being such a grind.

For me — and for many of us — those outlets have been curtailed the last two and a half years. And that has made what is already a hard time even harder to bear.

Which is why the last several weeks have been especially enjoyable for me.

Granted, football photography is a little different for me than it used to be. Because of my bad knees and other mobility issues, I shoot photos sitting behind the end zone now instead of while roaming the sidelines. And since I usually work on the Daily American Republic sports desk on Friday nights, I primarily shoot games on Saturdays. Since most area high school football teams don’t play on Saturday, I usually find myself driving to northern St. Louis County, where Saturday high school football is a long-standing tradition.

Am I complaining? Not at all.

First, I love to drive, even if I do find driving on the interstate to be a bit nerve-wracking at times. It gives me a chance to think, clear my head, listen to sports talk radio and even crank up some good music — be it the Gaither Vocal Band or Iron Maiden.

Second, North County (which is what many of the locals call northern St. Louis County) schools have a lot of tradition. Hazelwood East High in Spanish Lake has won three state titles on the gridiron. McCluer North has made it to the state championship game four times. Riverview Gardens is my dad’s alma mater and has a state title on its résumé.

Third, I’ve been treated great by coaches, staff and fans alike at games. Better yet, I think I’ve made a few new friends along the way — and that’s always a good thing.

Last but not least, it’s given me a chance to get back to doing something I genuinely enjoy. As much of a rarity as that has been since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has done for my mental health what spinach does for Popeye. Yes, it often leaves me tired and sore the rest of the weekend. But it’s worth it.

In the end, after the misery of the last two and a half years, it’s nice to be able to do something I love once again.

Mike Buhler is a staff writer for the Daily American Republic. Contact him at mbuhler.dar@gmail.com.