My sister called today out of the blue. That usually isn't a good sign. When I got a hold of her, the news was serious. My brother-in-law had discovered that he had some cancer. Fortunately, it hadn't spread.
While on the call, I got a chance to speak to him. Both of them were quite upbeat and positive. I think that's an excellent sign. Whether intended or not, they caught it early. Given the state of medicine today, I bet he has the odds well in his favor.
On the call, they thanked me for getting them a special gift for his 50th birthday. We had given them a few days at the local timeshare. He was genuinely grateful for the chance to spend some time at a place that his kids really enjoyed. I remember the last time we visited and all of the great memories that we had from our joint visit. I can only imagine the happiness on his kids' faces. I let him know that some of my most precious memories are from vacations just like that one. I also know that life is so much shorter than we realize. It's so important to squeeze every ounce of life out of every waking moment.
Hope you can hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Wascally wabbit
This is why we can't have nice things.
Over the years, we have seen a number of critters start to congregate in our backyard. At first, it was just chipmunks and squirrels. Lately, we've seen more rabbits. They are often hopping around and happily munching on clover.
The last few years, our garden has been relatively quiet. Whether we decided not to plant due to travel or because of the old location shaded by trees, we just were not getting solid results. About five years ago, the rabbits first started to munch on our produce. I spent a lot of time and effort putting up fences, but it didn't seem to help. Last year, I even went and improved it with window screen and a removable gate.
As of this morning, this is the result:
Over the years, we have seen a number of critters start to congregate in our backyard. At first, it was just chipmunks and squirrels. Lately, we've seen more rabbits. They are often hopping around and happily munching on clover.
The last few years, our garden has been relatively quiet. Whether we decided not to plant due to travel or because of the old location shaded by trees, we just were not getting solid results. About five years ago, the rabbits first started to munch on our produce. I spent a lot of time and effort putting up fences, but it didn't seem to help. Last year, I even went and improved it with window screen and a removable gate.
As of this morning, this is the result:
I had taken the screen down to get a clearer picture. What had once been a healthy cauliflower plant is now just a nibbled nub.
I suppose I'll just have to plant things they don't like to eat.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Little League playoff update
After a slow 4-5 start, the Twins turned their season around. They ran off a 9-2 streak to finish the season. Their two losses were to the Cardinals and Red Sox, the two best teams in the league. They even managed to eke out a 3rd place overall seeding (out of 12 teams) in the playoffs and a first-round bye!
Their first game would be against the sixth seed, the Padres. During the regular season, we had our ace on the mound. He was cruising along and we were winning, 4-2. In the top of the fourth with two outs, we ran into one of those little league streaks where a ball snuck under a glove here and a catch at second base was dropped there. After a few hits and another error, we were suddenly down 6-4. The game would end that way. This was the last loss before the Twins would run off a string of six consecutive victories.
One of the neighbor boys down the street plays for the Padres. He was with a second boy who is also friends with Older Brother (OB). My wife saw them getting ready and said, "Normally, I would wish you luck, but not today." The neighbor boy replied, "We don't need it." I guess you could say the rivalry was certainly on!
The game started well. After giving up a run in the first inning, we scored a quick three. We were cruising along again when the dreaded fourth inning came up again. Perhaps it was the strain of working through the batting order the third time through. Whatever the case, it was like deja vu all over again. We just could not seem to field or stop a succession of bleeders and ground balls from turning into base runners. As the Padres kept circling, we changed pitchers and it still didn't help. Our lead disappeared and we were now down 7-3. To make matters worse, we had two outs in the sixth and then gave up two more insurance runs to go down 9-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Padres finally ran into some of the same issues we dealt with. They gave up a solid single and then a shot to the outfield ran under the center fielder's glove all the way to the wall and went for a little league triple. A parade of base runners followed. With nobody out, we had scored four runs to make it 9-7. At this point, the Padres coach put boy #2 (from two paragraphs above) into the game. This ten year-old was on the opposite team last summer from OB and was on the mound when he ran into serious difficulty and turned a close game into a comfortable lead for us. I was secretly hoping for a repeat. He ended up walking the bases loaded. Unfortunately, we also had the bottom of the order coming up and our weaker batters. He ended up striking out the side and we lost, 9-7.
The majors playoffs are double elimination. We had a game the next day against the Cubs. OB only got to play the last three innings, but he did field well and hit a shot (possibly his best swing of the season) but his line drive was at the center fielder. As I told him later, that's baseball for you. It can often be cruel. You do everything right and you don't get a solid result. I reminded him that it's about keeping up your process and playing the odds and eventually your luck will turn. The Twins would go on to win, 6-4.
Their prize was another game in the loser's bracket. They did not expect to run into the league's regular season champion in that game. The Cardinals had gone 21-0 in the regular season. They averaged over a dozen runs a game and regularly stomped on teams by double digits. Less than two weeks ago, they beat the Twins 11-3 with their top players hitting five home runs.
This was my first time seeing the team in person. I had been traveling when they first played. It was no wonder they were so dominant. Their top kid is pushing nearly six feet tall (in sixth grade!). The four kids after him were all more than 5' 6" and any one of them would have been the biggest kid on the Twins. I was shocked to hear that they had lost their earlier game, but that is baseball for you.
It was a taut affair. Their ace was on the mound throwing at about 60 miles an hour (really fast for little league). We were giving up base runners, but our fielding was keeping us in the game. We had only one hit in the first three innings and no runs. In both the first and second innings, they had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Both times, we escaped without giving up a run.
In the third, the Twins struck first. We strung together a few hits. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position. We then got a single that scored a run and a groundout to score a second. It was now 2-0.
The lead was short lived. In the bottom of the inning with one out, our pitcher walked their leadoff hitter (who personally had hit two homers against us in the regular season rout). His reward was facing the home run derby champ batting second. He promptly launched a no-doubter well beyond the center field fence for the tying homer. Our pitcher settled down and escaped with no further damage.
In the top of the fifth, we were able to scratch across another two runs by stringing together three hits and a few groundouts. In the bottom of the fifth, the Cardinals leadoff batter released his frustrations on the ball and it also flew out well beyond the center field fence to cut the lead to one. Miraculously, we still got out of the inning and led 4-3. OB (playing second base) contributed in the fourth by catching a popup after nearly colliding with the shortstop. In the bottom of the fifth, he snagged a hard shot that looked like a base hit and casually flipped to second to get the force. They nearly got a double play out of it!
OB got to bat in both the fourth (against the fireballer) and the sixth. He fouled one off in his first at-bat but struck out. In the sixth, he worked the count full but got caught looking at a pitch that caught the outside corner.
The Twins had to replace their pitcher in the bottom of the sixth (pitch count). They went with their tallest and strongest kid. He can throw hard, but he isn't the most accurate pitcher. Fortunately, he would be facing the weaker hitters for the Cardinals. He started off with two balls but then followed up with a strike and a foul made the count 2-2. His next pitch was too much of a meatball and got pounded into center to put the tying run on first. He followed that up with a weak grounder that dribbled past him. The shortstop rushed in but flubbed it and suddenly there were runners on first and second with nobody out.
The next batter got to two strikes. He then flared one to second. OB jumped and got a glove on it only to see it pop out and go into right field. The runner from second raced home and we were now tied. A walk loaded the bases and we were now back at the top of the order.
Since he had hit a homer in his last at-bat, he was feeling confident. He dug into the box and it got tense. Two balls made it even tougher. He let a weak strike go by. On the next pitch, he took a mighty cut--and drove the ball a hundred feet straight up! The catcher waited a few beats but ended up catching it for an out.
The home run derby champ came next. He took one ball. He took ball two. He swung at the next one and missed. Then came ball three. The fifth pitch would be the last as he drove it to left center. No one was going to catch this one and the Cardinals would walk off with a 5-4 victory.
After the game, OB was more upset because he really wanted to pitch. Ironically, when I went to congratulate the coach after the game for a great season, he admitted that he actually thought about putting him in the game but worried it might be too much pressure. While a part of me wishes he had had the opportunity, I also realize the coach was playing it safe. The other boy was 12 and this would be his last LL game. No one would criticize him for pitching him and losing. OB might have done better (I am 99% certain he would have), but there are no guarantees.
OB took it better than I expected. Maybe it was because I told him the coach thought about putting him in. Maybe it's because summer ball actually starts on Thursday. Whatever the case, it was a great season for the Twins. I'm looking forward to more excitement this summer!
Their first game would be against the sixth seed, the Padres. During the regular season, we had our ace on the mound. He was cruising along and we were winning, 4-2. In the top of the fourth with two outs, we ran into one of those little league streaks where a ball snuck under a glove here and a catch at second base was dropped there. After a few hits and another error, we were suddenly down 6-4. The game would end that way. This was the last loss before the Twins would run off a string of six consecutive victories.
One of the neighbor boys down the street plays for the Padres. He was with a second boy who is also friends with Older Brother (OB). My wife saw them getting ready and said, "Normally, I would wish you luck, but not today." The neighbor boy replied, "We don't need it." I guess you could say the rivalry was certainly on!
The game started well. After giving up a run in the first inning, we scored a quick three. We were cruising along again when the dreaded fourth inning came up again. Perhaps it was the strain of working through the batting order the third time through. Whatever the case, it was like deja vu all over again. We just could not seem to field or stop a succession of bleeders and ground balls from turning into base runners. As the Padres kept circling, we changed pitchers and it still didn't help. Our lead disappeared and we were now down 7-3. To make matters worse, we had two outs in the sixth and then gave up two more insurance runs to go down 9-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Padres finally ran into some of the same issues we dealt with. They gave up a solid single and then a shot to the outfield ran under the center fielder's glove all the way to the wall and went for a little league triple. A parade of base runners followed. With nobody out, we had scored four runs to make it 9-7. At this point, the Padres coach put boy #2 (from two paragraphs above) into the game. This ten year-old was on the opposite team last summer from OB and was on the mound when he ran into serious difficulty and turned a close game into a comfortable lead for us. I was secretly hoping for a repeat. He ended up walking the bases loaded. Unfortunately, we also had the bottom of the order coming up and our weaker batters. He ended up striking out the side and we lost, 9-7.
The majors playoffs are double elimination. We had a game the next day against the Cubs. OB only got to play the last three innings, but he did field well and hit a shot (possibly his best swing of the season) but his line drive was at the center fielder. As I told him later, that's baseball for you. It can often be cruel. You do everything right and you don't get a solid result. I reminded him that it's about keeping up your process and playing the odds and eventually your luck will turn. The Twins would go on to win, 6-4.
Their prize was another game in the loser's bracket. They did not expect to run into the league's regular season champion in that game. The Cardinals had gone 21-0 in the regular season. They averaged over a dozen runs a game and regularly stomped on teams by double digits. Less than two weeks ago, they beat the Twins 11-3 with their top players hitting five home runs.
This was my first time seeing the team in person. I had been traveling when they first played. It was no wonder they were so dominant. Their top kid is pushing nearly six feet tall (in sixth grade!). The four kids after him were all more than 5' 6" and any one of them would have been the biggest kid on the Twins. I was shocked to hear that they had lost their earlier game, but that is baseball for you.
It was a taut affair. Their ace was on the mound throwing at about 60 miles an hour (really fast for little league). We were giving up base runners, but our fielding was keeping us in the game. We had only one hit in the first three innings and no runs. In both the first and second innings, they had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Both times, we escaped without giving up a run.
In the third, the Twins struck first. We strung together a few hits. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position. We then got a single that scored a run and a groundout to score a second. It was now 2-0.
The lead was short lived. In the bottom of the inning with one out, our pitcher walked their leadoff hitter (who personally had hit two homers against us in the regular season rout). His reward was facing the home run derby champ batting second. He promptly launched a no-doubter well beyond the center field fence for the tying homer. Our pitcher settled down and escaped with no further damage.
In the top of the fifth, we were able to scratch across another two runs by stringing together three hits and a few groundouts. In the bottom of the fifth, the Cardinals leadoff batter released his frustrations on the ball and it also flew out well beyond the center field fence to cut the lead to one. Miraculously, we still got out of the inning and led 4-3. OB (playing second base) contributed in the fourth by catching a popup after nearly colliding with the shortstop. In the bottom of the fifth, he snagged a hard shot that looked like a base hit and casually flipped to second to get the force. They nearly got a double play out of it!
OB got to bat in both the fourth (against the fireballer) and the sixth. He fouled one off in his first at-bat but struck out. In the sixth, he worked the count full but got caught looking at a pitch that caught the outside corner.
The Twins had to replace their pitcher in the bottom of the sixth (pitch count). They went with their tallest and strongest kid. He can throw hard, but he isn't the most accurate pitcher. Fortunately, he would be facing the weaker hitters for the Cardinals. He started off with two balls but then followed up with a strike and a foul made the count 2-2. His next pitch was too much of a meatball and got pounded into center to put the tying run on first. He followed that up with a weak grounder that dribbled past him. The shortstop rushed in but flubbed it and suddenly there were runners on first and second with nobody out.
The next batter got to two strikes. He then flared one to second. OB jumped and got a glove on it only to see it pop out and go into right field. The runner from second raced home and we were now tied. A walk loaded the bases and we were now back at the top of the order.
Since he had hit a homer in his last at-bat, he was feeling confident. He dug into the box and it got tense. Two balls made it even tougher. He let a weak strike go by. On the next pitch, he took a mighty cut--and drove the ball a hundred feet straight up! The catcher waited a few beats but ended up catching it for an out.
The home run derby champ came next. He took one ball. He took ball two. He swung at the next one and missed. Then came ball three. The fifth pitch would be the last as he drove it to left center. No one was going to catch this one and the Cardinals would walk off with a 5-4 victory.
After the game, OB was more upset because he really wanted to pitch. Ironically, when I went to congratulate the coach after the game for a great season, he admitted that he actually thought about putting him in the game but worried it might be too much pressure. While a part of me wishes he had had the opportunity, I also realize the coach was playing it safe. The other boy was 12 and this would be his last LL game. No one would criticize him for pitching him and losing. OB might have done better (I am 99% certain he would have), but there are no guarantees.
OB took it better than I expected. Maybe it was because I told him the coach thought about putting him in. Maybe it's because summer ball actually starts on Thursday. Whatever the case, it was a great season for the Twins. I'm looking forward to more excitement this summer!
Friday, June 10, 2016
Depth perception
This article from "Science of Us" explains the psychology that bars use to "trick" you into buying more wine.
A bar actually ran an experiment. They served wines in differently sized glasses on different nights. Although the amount poured was the same, the results on customers were not. At the end of the experiment, they discovered that they sold more wine when they used a larger glass. The larger glass made it seem as if the customer was drinking less, so they would be more likely to order another!
A bar actually ran an experiment. They served wines in differently sized glasses on different nights. Although the amount poured was the same, the results on customers were not. At the end of the experiment, they discovered that they sold more wine when they used a larger glass. The larger glass made it seem as if the customer was drinking less, so they would be more likely to order another!
Copas de vino en el Museo Vivancos de Haro en La Rioja
by -Wikimedia Commons
I think they are likely right!
Here is a link to the full article: The way restaurants trick you into drinking more wine
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Two photos
The first photo is from a dinner I recently attended. It was at a fancy steakhouse. Someone ordered the "dry aged" beef. It was served on its own wooden cutting board en flambe. It was quite impressive:
The second photo is from an interesting session at the recent GHX meeting. There were about eight teams seated at various tables. We were asked to work together to try to build the tallest structure possible out of a marshmallow, twenty dry spaghetti noodles, some tape, and about a foot of string. Our structure was a little less than two feet high. It was only the third tallest, but it was the sturdiest of the bunch. It survived for over an hour and half!
The second photo is from an interesting session at the recent GHX meeting. There were about eight teams seated at various tables. We were asked to work together to try to build the tallest structure possible out of a marshmallow, twenty dry spaghetti noodles, some tape, and about a foot of string. Our structure was a little less than two feet high. It was only the third tallest, but it was the sturdiest of the bunch. It survived for over an hour and half!
Monday, June 6, 2016
Beyond expectations
My younger son has traditionally been a step behind is big brother in many ways. Since they spend much of their time together, it's easy to notice that he is much less developed. That is especially true in athletic events. He can be very clumsy (witness the staples in his head from two weekends ago). That said, he tries very hard and can often surprise us.
One such surprise came over the weekend. He is training for a three mile run that he must complete in order to enter the black belt training cycle for karate. He needs to do it in 30 minutes or less. In order to prepare, he is working on the "Couch to 5K" program that his mother and older brother both used to prepare for their events. Since the weather up until recently has been fairly poor, he has done most of his work on the treadmill.
He was scheduled for a fairly simple workout. He would walk for 5 minutes, run for 20, and then walk for the last five. We decided to go to the track where he will do his run to get him used to running outdoors.
Once there, I started to realize how hot it was. The thermometer said 72 degrees, but it felt much hotter than that on the track. He started off walking. We agreed that he really only needed two minutes to warm up and then he started into a jog.
As he rolled around the second lap, I realized that he was actually on pace to complete his target. I would announce the laps as they rolled past and tried to keep him focused. I even joined in on the last mile.
When the final lap came, he actually started off at a sprint! He closed with a strong finish and crossed the finish line in 28:49!! Not bad for his first full three mile run!
Needless to say, I am incredibly proud of my boy.
One such surprise came over the weekend. He is training for a three mile run that he must complete in order to enter the black belt training cycle for karate. He needs to do it in 30 minutes or less. In order to prepare, he is working on the "Couch to 5K" program that his mother and older brother both used to prepare for their events. Since the weather up until recently has been fairly poor, he has done most of his work on the treadmill.
He was scheduled for a fairly simple workout. He would walk for 5 minutes, run for 20, and then walk for the last five. We decided to go to the track where he will do his run to get him used to running outdoors.
Once there, I started to realize how hot it was. The thermometer said 72 degrees, but it felt much hotter than that on the track. He started off walking. We agreed that he really only needed two minutes to warm up and then he started into a jog.
As he rolled around the second lap, I realized that he was actually on pace to complete his target. I would announce the laps as they rolled past and tried to keep him focused. I even joined in on the last mile.
When the final lap came, he actually started off at a sprint! He closed with a strong finish and crossed the finish line in 28:49!! Not bad for his first full three mile run!
Needless to say, I am incredibly proud of my boy.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Jolted awake
It happened so quickly. In the flash of an eye, we went from laughing and playing to serious concern.
Over the weekend, we were up in New Hampshire at a resort spending time with my in-laws. After an action-packed day including a cruise on the lake, we were at a hotel pool which featured an indoor water slide. The boys were having fun inventing new ways to go down the slide. The adults were watching and giving out scores in a mini-competition. All of a sudden, my youngest slipped as he was on his last run. There was a loud clunk and he slipped down into an odd position in the water. He seemed to be OK, but as he swam to the side, he was holding his head. My wife went over and soon realized there was a gash to the base of his skull. It wasn't life-threatening, but it was something more than a surface wound.
My wife stayed with him as I raced to gather things and look for the nearest urgent care. My first immediate concern was for the health of my son and to protect my little family. I would give anything to keep them intact. Now that it's over, I can relax. In the moment, it was a vivid reminder of the thin line between happiness and tragedy.
Over the weekend, we were up in New Hampshire at a resort spending time with my in-laws. After an action-packed day including a cruise on the lake, we were at a hotel pool which featured an indoor water slide. The boys were having fun inventing new ways to go down the slide. The adults were watching and giving out scores in a mini-competition. All of a sudden, my youngest slipped as he was on his last run. There was a loud clunk and he slipped down into an odd position in the water. He seemed to be OK, but as he swam to the side, he was holding his head. My wife went over and soon realized there was a gash to the base of his skull. It wasn't life-threatening, but it was something more than a surface wound.
My wife stayed with him as I raced to gather things and look for the nearest urgent care. My first immediate concern was for the health of my son and to protect my little family. I would give anything to keep them intact. Now that it's over, I can relax. In the moment, it was a vivid reminder of the thin line between happiness and tragedy.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Forever young
A friend and I were recently discussing the way that certain places seem to have a certain "spirit" about them. Perhaps it is just that you feel more comfortable in some spots than in others.
One place where I feel a definite vibe is in Washington, DC. Maybe it's because I have a fair amount of history here. When I wander the streets, it can often feel as if I might run into that 21 year-old version of myself as I turn the corner. If I did, I wonder what I would tell myself. I think those formative experiences were so strong that it really helped propel me into the person I am today.
Life is funny that way. I often think about all of the decisions that have led me to today. Change a few here or there and my life is completely different.
When I was growing up, I thought that winters on the East Coast were brutal. There would be crazy levels of snow and we would be crawling out of second story windows to get out of the house. (Side note: that might have been true in Boston last winter!) My senior year of high school, I won a trip to DC with the US Senate Youth Program. Sponsored by the Hearst Foundation, it led us on a whirlwind tour that started out at Mount Vernon (George Washington's boyhood home) on a brilliant February day that was in the 70s. I got to meet famous senators like Alan Simpson of Wyoming and ask a question of Senator Al Gore of Tennessee. I had lunch in the Senate dining room with our home state Senator Matsunaga. We even got to meet President Ronald Reagan. I was standing so close to him that I could see the stage makeup he was wearing!
That momentous decision led me to Georgetown. Last year, the whole family was here for my reunion. It is hard to believe that it was so long ago. There are times when I feel like I am still there. Of course, more often I feel as if it was a different life. And it was.
I think if I ran into that younger version of myself, I'd try to tell him not to worry. I don't think I would spoil it by advising him one way or another. The mystery of not knowing what will happen in the future is part of the experience.
I'm already looking forward to my next visit here.
One place where I feel a definite vibe is in Washington, DC. Maybe it's because I have a fair amount of history here. When I wander the streets, it can often feel as if I might run into that 21 year-old version of myself as I turn the corner. If I did, I wonder what I would tell myself. I think those formative experiences were so strong that it really helped propel me into the person I am today.
Life is funny that way. I often think about all of the decisions that have led me to today. Change a few here or there and my life is completely different.
When I was growing up, I thought that winters on the East Coast were brutal. There would be crazy levels of snow and we would be crawling out of second story windows to get out of the house. (Side note: that might have been true in Boston last winter!) My senior year of high school, I won a trip to DC with the US Senate Youth Program. Sponsored by the Hearst Foundation, it led us on a whirlwind tour that started out at Mount Vernon (George Washington's boyhood home) on a brilliant February day that was in the 70s. I got to meet famous senators like Alan Simpson of Wyoming and ask a question of Senator Al Gore of Tennessee. I had lunch in the Senate dining room with our home state Senator Matsunaga. We even got to meet President Ronald Reagan. I was standing so close to him that I could see the stage makeup he was wearing!
That momentous decision led me to Georgetown. Last year, the whole family was here for my reunion. It is hard to believe that it was so long ago. There are times when I feel like I am still there. Of course, more often I feel as if it was a different life. And it was.
I think if I ran into that younger version of myself, I'd try to tell him not to worry. I don't think I would spoil it by advising him one way or another. The mystery of not knowing what will happen in the future is part of the experience.
I'm already looking forward to my next visit here.
Not being there
There is one major downside of business travel. You can miss certain important events.
My older son had a Little League game last night. It was a makeup for a previous game earlier in the season that was called on account of rain. He started this one out in centerfield, and my wife kept me informed of progress via text.
In many ways, it almost felt like a radio broadcast (minus the sound). I kept getting short snippets and updates.
The first was from the 3rd inning. She thought he had been pulled from the game. In Little League, kids are only guaranteed three innings and one at bat. He had batted in the suspended game already, so there was a chance he would be done for good if pulled. In her words, he was "not a happy camper..."
I can imagine his frustration. As you've seen from earlier in the season, he's already had many disappointments and adjustments. I was already thinking of what I might have to say when I got home.
Some time later, I heard the tell-tale alert for a new text. It was now the top of the sixth inning, and my son was up to bat! The texts started rolling in.
"Single" (My reply: "Yay!")
"Stole 2nd" ("How is he batting if he was out of the game?")
"I don't know. Little League..." ("Any idea of the score?")
"5-3 them. 2 outs. On 3rd." ("Go Twins!")
"He and Matt scored on a Kevin single. 5-5!!" ("Awesome! Bet he's excited.")
"Yes. 6-5 Twins...8-5 Twins!! Nolan double!" ("They are definitely the cardiac kids."
"9-5! Bottom 6th. Matt still pitching. Son in LF? I don't know..." ("You will have to ask him later what happened.")
"I will. He thought he was out of the game."
"2 outs. Still 9-5!"
"9-6"
"Just took Matt out. Put in Seamus." ("How many on base?")
"Loaded."
"Hit batter. 9-7"
"Game over!!! We won!!"
While I am glad they won, I am sad that I didn't get to see the smiles of joy and pride.
Maybe next time....
My older son had a Little League game last night. It was a makeup for a previous game earlier in the season that was called on account of rain. He started this one out in centerfield, and my wife kept me informed of progress via text.
In many ways, it almost felt like a radio broadcast (minus the sound). I kept getting short snippets and updates.
The first was from the 3rd inning. She thought he had been pulled from the game. In Little League, kids are only guaranteed three innings and one at bat. He had batted in the suspended game already, so there was a chance he would be done for good if pulled. In her words, he was "not a happy camper..."
I can imagine his frustration. As you've seen from earlier in the season, he's already had many disappointments and adjustments. I was already thinking of what I might have to say when I got home.
Some time later, I heard the tell-tale alert for a new text. It was now the top of the sixth inning, and my son was up to bat! The texts started rolling in.
"Single" (My reply: "Yay!")
"Stole 2nd" ("How is he batting if he was out of the game?")
"I don't know. Little League..." ("Any idea of the score?")
"5-3 them. 2 outs. On 3rd." ("Go Twins!")
"He and Matt scored on a Kevin single. 5-5!!" ("Awesome! Bet he's excited.")
"Yes. 6-5 Twins...8-5 Twins!! Nolan double!" ("They are definitely the cardiac kids."
"9-5! Bottom 6th. Matt still pitching. Son in LF? I don't know..." ("You will have to ask him later what happened.")
"I will. He thought he was out of the game."
"2 outs. Still 9-5!"
"9-6"
"Just took Matt out. Put in Seamus." ("How many on base?")
"Loaded."
"Hit batter. 9-7"
"Game over!!! We won!!"
While I am glad they won, I am sad that I didn't get to see the smiles of joy and pride.
Maybe next time....
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