Posted 3/10/23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. -Col. 3:23-4
Howdy all! I hope you have had a great week! Mine has been pretty darn good, if I do say so. Mom is stable for the most part and sleeping a lot. She was a little puffy yesterday, likely as a result of sleeping flat on her back too long, but she was about to get up for supper. She is an amazing woman…always has been. But her fight seems to never stop. I hope I get that from her when I grow up.
In a related matter, I am listening to Audible while I run these days. I am very much so trying to get ready for my 4 days of shark jumps in June. As I alluded to on social media and here, I am focusing on incline and stairs. Today I did an hour again at 15% incline at 2.5 lumbering miles per hour. It burns some serious calories for sure and works just the right muscles for 4 stinky days of stairs. So far we are at $150 raised on a goal with a couple of more zeroes on it. 🙂 Here is the link if you would consider helping me fight this disease: LINK You know, inflation even hurts research and caregiving support. They could use the help and I would, as always, be super appreciative. 🙂 Anywhoooo…tin cup down…I was on the dreadmill listening to a really cool audiobook. It is called The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O’Neill’s America by Joe Posnanski.
John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil Jr., in case you were unaware, was an amazing person. He was the first baseman for the extremely talented Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. He later managed the team as well. He was instrumental in founding the Negro Leagues Museum in KC. The best way to describe this man is he was a spokesman in the likeness of Yogi Berra for baseball in general and the Negro Leagues in specific. Here is a video about this wonderful man:
One thing that struck me about O’Neill, among the many, was his storytelling. He knew soooo much about the league and about baseball in general. (He was also an amazing talent scout). One story that jumped out at me was more of a quote. In the before mentioned book, Buck was discussing Earl Wilson, an amazing African American player in his own right. Wilson was the first black player to ever play for the storied Boston Red Sox, joining the team in 1959. He was in the league for over 10 years, amassing 121 wins and nearly 1500 strikeouts, but Buck wanted to talk about Wilson’s hitting. See, Wilson, despite being a pitcher, wanted to hit too. In his career, Wilson had 35 HRs, a tremendous number for a pitcher but not much for the rest of the players…. In the same timeframe, according to O’Neill, he only bunter 22 times and each time against his will. Buck asked him one day “How did you hit so many Home Runs???” to which he replied “I swung hard, Buck!”
Friends…I am not an athlete. I used to pitch in high school and wasn’t all that good. Today I sit here typing with a dad bod that screams “Get up and exercise…you have a 4 day run coming soon!!!”. This morning at 5, I got in a good workout again….but I am still not a talented athlete. I look more like Kevin James than LeBron. But one thing I want you to know. Just like Earl Wilson, I. Swing. Hard. If trying hard brings this disease to an end a minute faster, sign me up. Like one of Buck’s best friends Ernie Banks would say “Let’s play two games today. It’s too nice a day for just one.” (Article about this saying, which became synonymous to Ernie) I leave next weekend for DC to meet a bunch of legislators, to advocate, and help with a very peaceful protest over Leqembi’s coverage by Medicare. It will be peaceful…no Viking hats nor storming the hill…but I can tell you this…I will swing hard.
#EndALZ
(Note to those who know me well. I am a lifetime Cardinals fan, obviously. For me to quote Mr. Cub Ernie Banks and one of the pitchers for the Tigers who beat us in the 1968 World Series, you can tell I mean what I say here. 🙂 BTW…we beat Wilson in Game 3, but McLain was too much for us in the series, even with Gibson on the mound… ) LINK
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