Good news – I had no trouble sleeping last night. In fact I must have been in a really good mood while I was asleep. Barb told me this morning that I woke her up in the middle of the night, humming. She said she couldn’t tell what song I was singing but it seemed to be a “happy song.” There you have it “sleep fans,” some people walk or grind their teeth when they sleep but me, I hum. Does that make me a (rim shot please) “hummer?” I had a good reason to sleep last night, I was tired and I mean physically tired. For the 2nd day in a row I ran or as my son would say, speed walked 2 and half miles. The route I run is just down by our church along the “River Road” that follows the Indian River. Not only was this physically demanding because I’m old, fat, out of shape, and it was close to 90 degrees. I had to carry on a couple of conversations on my cell phone.
About a mile into my run Steven called on the way home from his guitar lessons. He wanted to know if I would meet him at the Little League Field to throw some BP (batting practice) to him. In between gasps I initially told him, “No.” When I got to my turnaround spot I guess the heat was getting to me so I changed my mind. I called him back (now going uphill and tired) and in between more gasps I told him to meet me at church. I could tell he was happy and I was happy as well because I was tired of talking and running at the same time.
Steven told me he was close to the church so he was going to meet me and run the last little bit with me. As I started to climb the last hill on the road that leads to our church he met me. Lately he has been calling me “Pops” and that was the word he used to “encourage” me as I sprinted towards the tree in our parking lot that marked my finish line. I couldn’t help but think how many times were left in which he and I would run together.
We arrived at our Little League Fields to a light drizzle. I could tell Steven was thinking I was going to back out but I told him, “Come on, I’m wet from sweat and it’s time to face the “West Cocoa Heater.” That comment brought both a smile and a roll of the eyes from him. It has been a long time since I threw BP and with 5 miles on my legs in 2 days it took a half bucket of balls to dial in the strike zone.
There were a group of kids with some coaches on the Major Field across from us. At one point Steven and me both watched as they took some infield. I know he was having a flashback moment as I was as well. We spent a lot of time on that field. We spent another fleeting moment together on the Senior Field and for a few moments, I was his Coach again. When we walked off the field he thanked me for taking the time to throw to him. I told him he was more than welcomed but I really thing I had more “thankfulness” in my (as well as a few tears right now) heart for God had given me one more moment with my son.
You guys have a good weekend.
