The Boys of Summer Meet the Field of Dreams

If there's one thing my father-in-law and his brother Joe loved (besides their wives and kids, that is) it was baseball! Uncle Joe coached baseball for decades. And I have more than a handful of pictures like this where the brothers are at Witter Field to "watch" an Assumption High School baseball game. Surely not there to supervise my hubby and his coaching skills, right?

Today, when I saw Uncle Joe was dressed in that same red Rapids baseball jacket as he lay in his coffin, I lost it. Another boy of summer has moved on to the Field of Dreams.

It was surreal to have almost a repeat of 2 weeks ago when we laid his wife – Aunt Janice – to rest. At her funeral it was nice to see dozens of Austin relatives we hadn't seen for quite some time. Today it was more of a "this is not how we should be getting together again" vibe. Lots of tears.

Still it was a nice service. Jim did the readings again and both he and Clay were pallbearers. Casey drove over from Minneapolis as well (Carter had sleet going on down in Dubuque to prevent his travels).

So after the sad stuff, we were blessed with some smiling time with our big sweetie grandpup Rey – and the humans Casey and Clay too.

I unfortunately had to finish my work day with some meetings. But I could hear three of the four brown-eyed bandits talking and laughing down the hall in the livingroom.

That, my friends, are the moments we need to cherish. Those are the memories that make us one day say, like today, "Remember that time we did this with Uncle Joe..."

I might just have to step and tell November "Move over, Gratitude Month. There are things happening every month that make us grateful."

Hug your loved ones!

How Bizzaro

I sort of feel like I am in my own Bizzaro World -- the comic strip where everything is opposite. (And I'm not talking about the current Brett Favre on-again, off-again retirement saga either. Though that would qualify.) Bizzaro World illustrates my opposite Sunday and Monday (except for the part where I was very busy both days).

On Sunday, I pretty much was standing all day -- with little chance for escape -- and today, I was seated at my desk most of the day -- with little chance for escape. Both days ended with America's favorite pastime.

On Sunday, we had a special Sunday School cleanup day planned. Optimistically, we had hoped our grand reorganization of supplies, etc., could be done in a few hours. It took more like 5 or 6. I'll give Carter credit here for behaving very well and even helping a bit. After we felt we accomplished enough there, I stopped at my store and did some grocery shopping. Then headed home to cut the front the lawn. Somewhere in that process, I ran out of gas, realized our gas can was empty, too, so had to run to the gas station.

About 6:45 p.m. I realized I hadn't sat down since breakfast, except to drive. Not good. I told Carter, "Let's find something good on TV and just sit for the evening." We saw that the movie Eight Men Out was on, so watched that. Carter was curious about the back story on this when we watched Field of Dreams not that long ago.

The history on this is still a bit complicated for a 10-year-old but he had a good grasp of it. So much so, he now understands why Daddy's favorite ballplayer, Pete Rose, will not make it into the Hall of Fame. He was seriously bummed about that -- probably mostly on Daddy's behalf.

Today was just one of those crazy Monday's at work, unexpectedly filling in for someone who was gone, so just steady busy. I did get out for a 10-minute walk mid-morning, but that was my only real escape besides bathroom breaks. As it turns it out, I had to bring some work home but I am going to do what I can during commercial breaks. Carter and I have a date to watch the All-Star Home Run Derby. Go Justin Morneau!

If you build it...

After yesterday's Arctic Blast, Carter and I decided to snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie last night. Since we've been in the sports mode this weekend -- between soccer and the NFL draft -- I decided to get out the "Field of Dreams" DVD Santa left in Jimmy's stocking.

If you haven't seen the movie (and you've been living under a rock), the story follows an Iowa man (played by Kevin Costner) who hears a voice telling him, "If you build it, he will come," then envisions a baseball field. Costner's character doesn't know who "he" is but still decides to act on his faith. He tears up half his corn crop to build the field. Eventually, Chicago White Sox players banned in the 1920s from baseball for throwing the World Series to win gambling bets -- more accurately, their life-like ghosts -- showed up to play. The movie is about faith, mending relationships and, of course, the love of baseball.

I wasn't sure Carter would grasp the "8 men out" story line, but he really, really enjoyed the movie. And he really, really wants to know where those players go when they go back into the cornfield. "What's out there?!"

The movie got me thinking about acting on faith. I sometimes wonder if I shut up long enough to even hear the voice. And when I do, is it really the voice or am I feeding it its lines? Pretending its Thy will when it's mostly my will. I believe what I say and do is with the best of intentions (most of the time). I have faith I am doing the right thing and it's right for everyone. Do I believe others are doing the same or do I question them and their intentions?

A friend of mine (and former boss) reminded me often that we have to "assume the positive." Before feeling targeted or victimized by some decision at work or church or wherever, we have to assume the decision-makers are acting with good intentions for a positive result. Not always easy to do.

We had a lengthy Sunday School meeting today about how things are and aren't working with our new rotation model. As one of the leaders, I knew going into the meeting that I needed a thick skin and positive attitude. Turns out I needed a little of both. Also turns out, by assuming the positive (don't you love the phrase "constructive criticism"?) I could accept what they had to say and realize we are all after the same goal -- to build it (an inviting learning environment) so they (the children) will come. This is our field of dreams. Now we just have to fold our hands, close our mouths and listen for the voice...