Baseball, kinda!

Today, even though it was 95 degrees in the shade, my grandson and I took to the backyard and America's favorite past time, baseball! Armed with his "Star Wars" bat and ball the backyard was virtually a major league park. Well maybe not quite, but it was more than big enough to learn a little hand-eye coordination.
First Jeremy had to master the art of the grip. It really is not automatic. It takes a little bit of visualization and a lot of demonstration. Learning which hand goes on top and where the bat is held are two very important points in learning to swing the bat.
Second is the very uncomfortable adjustment to standing perpendicular to the pitcher. There is an urge to face the person throwing to you. The batting stance is an art that takes many forms as anyone who has watched professional ball players can testify. Pete Rose, before disgracing himself, was extremely successful even though he used an unconventional batting stance. Jeff Bagwell, a power hitter with the Houston Astros, spread his feet so wide you would think he would have no stride at all. To get Jeremy's feet pointed in the correct direction was as interesting as it was consistent with every pitch.
Third was the swing of the bat. Baseball teams spend hours, days, seasons, years trying to perfect the swing. One of the most difficult and athletic things a person can do is hit a round ball with a round bat while the ball is thrown almost directly at you. Jeremy loved to swing the bat. Sometimes he would be so excited and anxious that he would run at the ball in an effort to hit it.
Amazingly he actually hit the ball several times. His tomahawk swing was fast and always in the same place.
Hitting the ball was very exciting to him. He had a huge smile on his face, pleased with the result. Each time he hit the ball he would declare "I'm gonna hit it again"!
Many years have passed since I threw the baseball to my son. I had forgotten how sweet the feeling is to watch the eyes of one so young when they swing the bat in anticipation of hitting the ball. It brought back a flood of memories, not unlike the movie "Sandlot". Some young men grow up participating in many different activities. Baseball to those who live to play it has an addictive if not captivating hold on the imagination.
The smell of new leather, hot dogs, or grass can bring the ballpark into full view. Night games played in the Spring seemed to always have a special smell in the air. There is something about red dirt and green grass that makes me yearn for those days when the summer was spent with my closest friends doing what we loved to do most, playing baseball.

Today was a trip back in time!

Today my wife (Mary) and I had the opportunity to entertain our 4 year old grand daughter and our 3 year old grand son. Our daughter attended an event held for a friend and took the 1 year old grand daughter with her.
For me this was as terrifying as it was fun! I just did not know what would happen when the "mommy" would not be available. Now I know. They were great. We took them to the local mall because they both like "Arbys". There is an Arbys restaurant in the mall and mercifully there are other choices for g-ma and me. They both ate well and Mary and I were able to eat as well.
Following the meal were journeyed across the freeway to the movie "Ice Age, Rise of the Dinosaurs". Believing that this would be a huge treat we eagerly walked in and took our seats, popcorn and lemonade in hand. Everyone was enjoying the previews of movies to come, including the remake of "A Christmas Carol" with Jim Carey; A new Alvin and the Chipmunks show; and finally a new Disney 3-D animation "Partly Cloudy and a Chance of Meatballs". Both of the g-kids were in great spirits following these delightful previews. As the feature was about to begin we were prompted to put on our 3-D glasses to enjoy the full effect of the feature. This was quickly done and as the movie began both giggled with delight as they tried in vain to grab the images in front of their faces. Consuming treats and laughing all was going great.
Enter the dinosaur (T-Rex). Now we each had an additional body on top of our own. Slightly audible whimpers of "Is it over?" were repeated with regularity.
Well, the movie is titled "Rise of the Dinosaurs"! I thought maybe it would be along the line of "Land Before Time". No! We have flesh eating raptors, pterodactyls, T-Rex, etc. These were
even more exciting as they seemed to jump right off the screen at you. Covering their eyes, looking away, or removing the glasses altogether the rest of the movie was a great bonding experience!
Once the movie was over and the nice furry mammals were back where they belonged everyone agreed they had had a good time!
Actually movie or not, the chance to spend time with our precious grand children made this Saturday afternoon very special for g-ma and g-pa.

I already miss them!

Today is the first time I have ever posted on my blog! I'm not sure exactly what I want to say but I do want to express how thankful I am for my children and grandchildren. My middle child and her three children have come to visit while my son-in-law completes basic training at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. They left today to join him for the next couple of days and to celebrate my grandsons birthday. He will be three.
They left about five hours ago and I miss them already. I miss my daughter, whom I do not get to see enough. It pains my heart when I realize I have had precious little time with her over the past twelve years. She has accomplished many things during that time that make me a proud papa. I wish I could be closer to them geographically.
Family is what this life is all about. Don't doubt that for a moment. We are here to create and raise a cohesive family unit.
I am looking forward to their safe return for a couple of short weeks before they will need to return to their lives in what may as well be another continent.