Menu Close

“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
Anne Lamott

“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
Anne Lamott

Category: Notes Anthology

Happy Birthday – Melissa

Today is daughter #1’s birthday. I still remember the joy I felt when the nurse announced over the intercom that we had a girl. (Those were the days when men were real men; suffering surrogate labor pains while pacing in the waiting room, filled with anxiety of not having any control.)

Melissa is enjoying success in her new career as a real estate agent. I am not surprised. She was subjected to rigorous training as a salesperson at an early age. Her first aspirations at selling were to be an Avon agent at age 3+. She (Miss Priss, as her brothers called her.) would go out the back door of our house in Abilene and run around to the front door and ring the door bell. Her brothers, usually Scott, would open the door and when she gleefully announced “Avon calling!” they would slam the door in her face. Today, as then, she continues to be undeterred in her efforts to make the sale.

Have a great birthday. I love you.

 

Progress

The last few weeks I have been working on the deck and carriage house. With Byron and the other Gabeharts help, we were able to repair and revise the existing deck. Yesterday the deck project was completed. I am pleased with the result.




Priceless

Two men on and two out. Jerod Crockett comes up to bat. He is determined and focused. Will he he get a good pitch? The crowd is calling for a hit. The third base coach reminds him of what is already swirling in his head … we need a hit! Come on Jerod! Team, Blake, Mom, Dad, Mimi, Meredith, Grayson …come on Jerod, get a hit!

The pitcher is struggling to find the strike zone. Then the proverbial “one you’re waiting on” pitch comes to the plate. There is that special moment that is frozen in time. Everything comes together. In a ballet of slow motion, the ball comes toward the plate. There is such clarity that you can almost count the stitches on the ball. Mind and body merge as all the hitting instructions and techniques are for a moment a natural reflex … there is no thought about how, it just happens. The ping of the aluminum bat. The ball is met with the heart of the bat and is sent high into the outfield. Run! run! Keep going! You can make it! Come on Jerod! GO HOME, GO HOME! SLIDE! SLIDE! SAFE! HOME RUN!

Celebration. Hugs. High fives. Good job. Way to go. JEROD JEROD JEROD!

Game ball awarded to Jerod. 

A dream of every ball player who steps up to the plate has now become an experience that will live in Jerod’s dreams. A priceless moment never to be forgotten.