Baseball
Monday, August 10, 2020
Dear Marion,
Baseball. What has it meant to our family. Such a big question for me and yesterday I discovered it’s full scope. Your grandson has graduated high school during a pandemic. What has that meant for all of the senior athletes? They didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to their school community in the traditional way.
This summer, a tournament was put together so that the high school teams would have a chance to capture in some small way the season that was taken away. Just as the opportunity to advance and play in the Blue Claws Stadium arose a player announced he tested positive for COVID-19. The team would not be moving forward.
A few weeks later, a smaller weekend tournament took place with many of the same players. On the third day, a game under the lights kept me mesmerized as this promising pitcher threw the ball with such strength, precision, and passion. I was so close I could hear the effort it took to throw that hard and see the energy exerted. We all know first hand how much time and work it has taken to get to that moment on the mound. His close knit family supported him every step of the way and in this moment wanting everything to be perfect. Behind me a group of pre teen players and their dads were bubbling with excitement, knowing who he was and the promise of a potentially bright baseball career ahead of him. I remembered my son at that age and thinking then how sad I would be when he was the senior saying goodbye to Diamond Nation.
These games(too many to count) began when your grandson was 4 years old and prior to that I pitched many times to him on a field in Central Park, NYC. My memory was of his oh so serious posture and expression with this wide open field all to ourselves early in the day. Sports and later fishing were the only things to hold his attention. His days were occupied with catching and throwing footballs, soccer, hockey, basketball, tennis, lacrosse but by far baseball was his game of choice. At these games, there were many snacks consumed along with burgers and hot dogs. Often, thankfully, some loving moms baked delicious treats consumed in a gulp by these young players and their siblings. I just found one of your recipes for Brownies using Ghirardelli chocolate and instantly remembered how incredible they were and the smell wafting through the kitchen. Off on a tangent once again and of course it involved food. Back to the game….
Your grandson pitched next and while I was so proud of him I always feel a knot in my stomach when he is on the mound. He and the first pitcher both had a tough night and the game did not go as they would have liked but they did it. They went out there, they gave it all they had and they said goodbye.
For us, there is a chance of more games in college. Another opportunity to see our son pitch, play outfield or hit a beautiful pitch sending another runner home. I love nothing more than seeing him throw the ball from the outfield with such strength and precision unless it is stealing and running the base. At the moment when he plays seamlessly with his teammates it’s like a favorite piece of music has come to life, rhythm filling your soul. The boys tease me mercilessly for not “knowing the game” and they are right but I don’t really care because I get what I need out of it … the beauty of it and the joy that it brings them when it all falls seamlessly into place.
Last week, I spoke to a neighbor who just put their home on the market. They had done so much work again recently and it looks beautiful so I was surprised. Even more surprised when I realized how long we have been neighbors, the entire life of my youngest. They are ready for their next adventure. Another end of an era. So much of this year has made me take stock and pause: pandemic, black lives matter, women’s movement, violence in the streets of large cities. Where are we going? It’s sometimes simply hard to hold your head up and move forward. Change is good and sometimes fun but it is often difficult and unsteady until we find our footing.
Recently I heard on the news that quarters and dimes minted before 1963 are more valuable because of the silver used and its present worth. The coin expert showed one quarter from 1963 that is worth $5.00. This during a time that we are experiencing a shortage of change and are encouraged to use the change we have when we make purchases. I have also heard there is discussion to discontinue making and using change as part of our currency. Ugh, that may be too much change for me.
Talk soon,
Forever Yours
Quote
“In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity.”
Albert Einstein
German-born Physicist
1879-1955