Month: October 2005 (Page 2 of 2)

Today has been a bad day. Fortunately I didn’t realize the Sox (Red) game began at 4:00, so I didn’t tune in until I finished my last email at 6:43. So, it’s over. The magical mystery tour that began last October ended tonight with a loss to another very good Sox (White) team. With their pitching, defense and timely hitting, they’ll be tough to beat. They also own the home field advantage the rest of the playoffs. After skipping one year after 86 years, it’s time to say again: Wait till next year…

No Red Sox tonight. Come to think of it, not much Red Sox the last two nights either.

Recently a acquaintance wrote, “you are a pretty fair man, bro.” I think “fair” was meant as “of reasonable judgement,” as oppposed to “fair” on the Excellent / Good / Fair / Poor scale, but I could be wrong. I believe being “a pretty fair man” is a, uh, fair description, but not a complete one. My self-assessment includes descriptors such as honest, smart, quick, funny, giving, emotionally closed off, immature, judgemental and shallow. I think those all even out to a C, C-.

I like to think I’m always trying to improve as a person, but in the day to day blur of life, I can’t say it’s conscious decisions to improve, but more unconscious ones fueled by simply trying to do the right thing in life. Besides, I always have tomorrow to be better, right? Well, no. Eventually there will be no tomorrow for all of us except vampires, and we never know when today will be it. I don’t know where I’m going with this, except to say try to enjoy every day, smile, laugh and love one another. There are magic moments in each day, but usually we’re too busy to see them. I’m going to try to be more open to them…

Earlier today I noticed my Megan just had a glow about her, so I told her she looked good and that she was a beautiful young woman. She kinda blushed. Who knows how that simple thing will affect her?

“You know we just don’t recognize the most significant moments of our lives while they’re happening. Back then I thought, well, there’ll be other days. I didn’t realize that that was the only day.”

Friday was an interesting day. Waking up without an alarm at 4:40am was probably a good thing and an indication my “body clock” knew what the day held in store. The sunrise Friday morning painted a picture that whispered, “an interesting day is on the horizon.” The week was a blur, beginning with a visit to a soggy Fenway Park Monday night with good friend Jeff. We manuvered (and when I say “we,” I mean Jeff) through traffic, parked for $20.00, and waited with other hopeful Sox fans under a spitting sky seeking refuge in the old ballyard.

We arrived right at the start time of 7:05, and had time for two $6.75 Harp’s on draught and a couple $3.75 hot dogs before they announced the game was off and would be replayed Tuesday at 1:05. On the way out of the garage, Jeff asked me how Richard Nixon compared to George W. Bush. Jeff’s a student of history and I’m his living artifact. I think I said Nixon gets a bum rap because of Watergate, and that diminishes the accomplishments he made, starting both the end of the Cold War and the beginning of China as a world economic power. (Side note: If we handle the China relationship right, we become productive global partners. If not, WWIII likely destroys life as we know it.)

So it was Game, Rinse, Repeat and we both were able to make it back to Fenway for the Tuesday matinee, won by the Sox. There, I admired the artistry of the mobile hot-dog vendor. Sadly, a tough young Toronto club took the next two games of the series, essentially allowing the Bronx Bombers to win their 8th consecutive AL East title. On Friday morning I was presenting to 100 or so co-workers, and used some Sox-Yankee fodder as a light opening. I knew it would work on these members of Red Sox Nation and a few subversive embedded Yankee fans. Fear is often interrupted by nervous laughter. At five minutes to my 9:00 presentation, I got a call telling me I had to be at a very important, non-negotiable “meeting” with Megan that very same hour. Enter rush of adreneline. I saw my new boss looking at me and I know she was worried. I guess my face says quite a bit at times. Once the session began, there were no thoughts of the scheduling conflict. I’d simply do my job and then beam myself 30 miles in time for the appointment. Everything went well, but in the afternoon I just began to shut down. A lingering cold, fewer visits to the gym, and 24/7 stress are taking their toll, but I do feel things are turning. In that early morning sunshine, I lingered on my porch and soaked it in. Another new day. Another reason to believe the future will be bright…and colorful.

* Led Zeppelin – The Rain Song