A couple of thoughts regarding Memorial Day and The Indianapolis 500.
Juan Pablo Montoya is a most deserving champion, earning his second victory and Roger Penske's sixteenth. After Simona deSilvestro clipped his car under caution, it looked bleak for Montoya, who made the first restart from 30th place. It shouldn't have even been a restart- 32 drivers drove intelligently, but Takuma Sato had to drive like...Takuma Sato. Three wide in the first turn of the first lap...really? Sage Karam, who is the next big star of IndyCar, paid the price.
Montoya threaded his way through the field, landing in the top 5 by the next pit stop. He stayed somewhere close the rest of the day. He willed his way in, the most telling moment in the last ten laps, not when he passed Will Power, but held off Charlie Kimball, who had the momentum, the speed, even the track position, but not the guts to press the accelerator the rest of the way to the floor. Had Montoya fallen to fourth, he might have gotten back to second place, but not won.
IndyCar put on great shows. NASCAR has a fan base, but IndyCar has the technology, great personalities, and the absolute best shows. Make sure you don't show the races somewhere a little more accessible than NBC Sports Network: people will actually enjoy it.
-Memorial Day is the day we remember those who gave their lives in service of our country. Most people agree that combat is where lives are given. What about the people who die years, even decades later?
I had a brother who served in Vietnam, even earned the Bronze Star and Silver Star in combat. While there, he was exposed to Agent Orange, even telling stories of how it was dumped on him in the jungle.
He came home and started a family. With his wife, they raised two daughters, both college graduates. He was a solid citizen, doing what had to be done for his family.
Then the nose bleeds started. Not just nose bleeds, what seemed to be fountains.
The diagnosis was an Esthesioneuroblastoma. A cancer not directly linked to Agent Orange, but the diagnosis is within the differential. He survived simultaneous chemo and radiation at Level IV. Perspective on this: there is no Level V. He used the instincts that were developed in the jungles of Vietnam. I must survive. I am coming out the other side, no matter what.
Eventually, the cancer won.
At his memorial service, a DVD of photos included pictures from Vietnam. Someone asked my sister in law if any of the servicemen in the pictures were there. My brother was the only one to make it home.
I was eight years old when he came home. I am acutely aware of how fortunate I was to have him come home. I got to grow up knowing he my brother, not just a picture of someone I never met and remembered. A large number of people my age never got that opportunity.
Say what you want, he gave his life for the United States of America. He is part of what Memorial Day is all about.
If you have a veteran who walked the same path, Thank you.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Random Thoughts- Mother's Day 2015
Some random thoughts while waiting for my daughter's next performance in a theater, somewhere, some time. After enough days in any theater, they all look the same...
-I would like to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all Moms. It is a calling that is underappreciated in our world which values Size 0 models and corporate success. The job has no monetary pay, and has requires a large number of menial tasks. Each day has it's measure of moments that can be treasured, or stir life shattering heartbreak, sometimes in the same moment. It is life in a fallen world.
Medically speaking, the pain of childbirth is equivalent of having twenty bones fractured at the same time. Rarely has a mother remembered the pain when they saw the baby. It is a remarkable connection from the first moment. I have been honored enough to witness it twice in my life.
I wish to acknowledge my bride of 24 summers and a lot more winters. She has been a wonderful wife and mother to our two teenagers. She is everything I ever wanted in a wife and mother, and I hope we made a great Mother's Day for her.
I hope you did the same for your mother.
-A very good finish to the Grand Prix of Indy. Graham Rahal showed a flash of brilliance, and probably would have chased down Will Power. Graham has lived with the expectations for a long time, and it would be an excellent tribute to his dad, Bobby, and Jim Trueman, who gave Bobby a chance and his Indy win, if Graham could start living up to what he is capable.
-I had to sit out the last week umpiring so I could do a bit of transporting my daughter to her theater commitments. They did a wonderful job this weekend and still have performances next Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm going back to the field this week, because the commitments are less, and the need is great. I am getting more and more comfortable with the job. I believe my performance is worthy, and I'm honored to do it.
-So...am I off base?
Medically speaking, the pain of childbirth is equivalent of having twenty bones fractured at the same time. Rarely has a mother remembered the pain when they saw the baby. It is a remarkable connection from the first moment. I have been honored enough to witness it twice in my life.
I wish to acknowledge my bride of 24 summers and a lot more winters. She has been a wonderful wife and mother to our two teenagers. She is everything I ever wanted in a wife and mother, and I hope we made a great Mother's Day for her.
I hope you did the same for your mother.
-A very good finish to the Grand Prix of Indy. Graham Rahal showed a flash of brilliance, and probably would have chased down Will Power. Graham has lived with the expectations for a long time, and it would be an excellent tribute to his dad, Bobby, and Jim Trueman, who gave Bobby a chance and his Indy win, if Graham could start living up to what he is capable.
-I had to sit out the last week umpiring so I could do a bit of transporting my daughter to her theater commitments. They did a wonderful job this weekend and still have performances next Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm going back to the field this week, because the commitments are less, and the need is great. I am getting more and more comfortable with the job. I believe my performance is worthy, and I'm honored to do it.
-So...am I off base?
Sunday, May 3, 2015
At Least the Track is Open
Random thoughts while seeing how long sunburn can actually hurt.
-The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is open for practice. Speeds were in the 226 range, with a familiar individual at the top of the list. Juan Pablo Montoya, my choice to win both ends of the Indy double this year, topped the charts with a host of Penske and Andretti drivers right behind. It will be interesting to see how this comes together. I love the month of May.
-I umpired my first game on a full size (60-90) diamond last week. Must have been credible bec I got compliments from both dugouts.
A couple of big differences between the 12U on the 45-60 diamond and 14U on the 60-90 diamond. One is that the 12U has been playing on the small diamond the whole time, so I believe I will call a tighter strike zone than I will on the 14U, who are new to the full size diamond. I called both tight and the 14U game was a lot better game, but would have been more encouraging for the pitchers. They are all much more accomplished on the small field, but are still learning on the big field.
Second, the level of effort is much higher on the big diamond, and that is a learned effort. Kids needs to learn what it really takes to play on the large diamond because they learned what to do on the small field. They just kick up the level of effort and intensity as they go along.
-My daughter, the former softball player, will be performing with The Pioneer Drama Troupe in Anne of Green Gables. Performances are May 8, 7 pm, May 9 at 2 and 7 pm, May 15 at 7 pm, May 16, at 7 pm, and May 17 at 2 pm. Performances are Scheduled for the Greencroft Senior Center on Greencroft Avenue in Goshen, IN. If you are in the neighborhood, please spend the $5 per person and attend a performance.
Umtil next week...
-The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is open for practice. Speeds were in the 226 range, with a familiar individual at the top of the list. Juan Pablo Montoya, my choice to win both ends of the Indy double this year, topped the charts with a host of Penske and Andretti drivers right behind. It will be interesting to see how this comes together. I love the month of May.
-I umpired my first game on a full size (60-90) diamond last week. Must have been credible bec I got compliments from both dugouts.
A couple of big differences between the 12U on the 45-60 diamond and 14U on the 60-90 diamond. One is that the 12U has been playing on the small diamond the whole time, so I believe I will call a tighter strike zone than I will on the 14U, who are new to the full size diamond. I called both tight and the 14U game was a lot better game, but would have been more encouraging for the pitchers. They are all much more accomplished on the small field, but are still learning on the big field.
Second, the level of effort is much higher on the big diamond, and that is a learned effort. Kids needs to learn what it really takes to play on the large diamond because they learned what to do on the small field. They just kick up the level of effort and intensity as they go along.
-My daughter, the former softball player, will be performing with The Pioneer Drama Troupe in Anne of Green Gables. Performances are May 8, 7 pm, May 9 at 2 and 7 pm, May 15 at 7 pm, May 16, at 7 pm, and May 17 at 2 pm. Performances are Scheduled for the Greencroft Senior Center on Greencroft Avenue in Goshen, IN. If you are in the neighborhood, please spend the $5 per person and attend a performance.
Umtil next week...
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