Today, I became a Pageant Mom.

My son Austin tonight won the crown of Mr. Panther at Palmetto Senior High School. It was really cool. Waiting for the competition to begin, I sat there with Chesley, Kinsey and Kelsey, talking, reading, just watching the countdown.

Once the competition began, I noticed that I was getting into it. I felt like those pageant moms, that are all up in your face. The swim suit competition went well, and Austin looked hip. Then he made the Top Ten. It all started getting crazy.

Then the Top Five, no way! He could win this thing..."Hey everybody, that's my son up there, pay attention to him."

Then a moment happened that I will never forget. The top five pick a question from a hat (they don't know what the questions are) for the one-on-one interview. Here is the question that Austin picks. He is the first to go. "There have been many great people that have graduated from Palmetto Sr. Hg. Can you name one of them." Austin, says,"My Dad." He proceeded to say why he was proud of me. "I hope people will see my dad in me."

I was humbled. It was a moment I will never forget. I yelled, "I love You." Yep, I did.

Then the moment of truth. "The 2009 Mr. Panther winner is...Austin Flores." The crowd went wild! It was a really cool.

Thank you God for blessing me with a great wife and three great kids.

Okay Austin, tomorrow we begin training for state. We gotta be serious about this thing.