Friday, April 25, 2008
Next Phase
First – an obligatory blog disclaimer – This post may sound a bit whiny at times (that would be this particular’s day’s post – I know you guys don’t view the E-word author as being a whiner – do you?) and if it does, my apologies. Many of you face so much more than what I’ll express
here so please forgive me up front.
Second – My thanks for all the kind comments and best wishes in my last post towards Steven as he played in the District Tournament. Oh, and thanks for the understanding with respect to my good reputation as a High School Baseball Game Announcer and how it was unfairly and unduly defamed on our local ESPN Radio Station. I want everyone to know that my wife immediately put me into deep, intense “therapy” by, after conveying the aforementioned incident, telling me to “get over it.” Yes, the healing process has begun.
Also, my thanks to Brady for offering something even better than the wonderful “therapy” that my wife gave (free of charge as always) me, a trip to Switzerland and an abundant amount of “appreciation,” Swiss style. You can’t put a price on such an offer, especially as low as the dollar is lately against the Euro.
Oh, and thank you to Randy for suggesting and Josh for offering the services of the best (insert “southern word”) “dad-gum blogtigator” one could possibly have. Again, you can’t put a price on such an offer but I suppose one could be charged a percentage of the settlement should we win a lawsuit of significance.
And now to Steve-o. The good news is that Steven had to be at the High School this morning at 6am. The bad news is it wasn’t to catch the baseball team bus travelling to our next game but rather it’s to ride to Daytona Beach with the other 2 guys he sings with as their chorale trio qualified for the State Chorale Competition. Yes, we lost.
Steven played in his final High School Baseball game on Wednesday night as we lost the semi-final game 5 to 1 to Merritt Island. To put it in plain terms, MI has been hot coming into the tournament and we had cooled off just a tad and that in my estimation was the difference.
I’m sure this will be the second time in a few weeks that I will have to deal with the emotions that flood in from the thought, “There won’t be a “next season” or a “next year,” with respect to high school baseball or just being in “Public School.” I think the emotion I’m having if this is an emotion is “numb.” I just feel kind of (don’t forget my disclaimer if you’re sensing “whining”) numb. O.K, enough of that.
I’m sure this will be the second time in a few weeks that I will have to deal with the emotions that flood in from the thought, “There won’t be a “next season” or a “next year,” with respect to high school baseball or just being in “Public School.” I think the emotion I’m having if this is an emotion is “numb.” I just feel kind of (don’t forget my disclaimer if you’re sensing “whining”) numb. O.K, enough of that.
I could go through and chronicle the season and I may do that in my next post and for posterity’s sake, but for now, I think I’ll leave with a final thought and some pictures from Senior Day and his last away game in Palm (remember Greg) Bay.
After Steven had emptied his Club House Locker for the last time, he opened and walked through (it’s hard to type this) the gate that separates fans and parents from the players and coaches. He has opened and walked through that gate hundreds of times. We have stood on basically the same spot for 4 years, waiting for our son to come back to us after being on loan to Cocoa High and the team for a few hours each day, each season.
But this time we waited for the last time. He hugged all of us, we told him how proud we were of him, and then he asked us the question. His question after finishing a phase of his life and looking into the unknown for the next phase, “Dad, can I go to church with Zack?”
You know family, and again, we’re not the perfect parents and Steven isn’t the perfect son, geeze, who is? But there is something “right,” something encouraging when your son on the threshold of “legal adulthood,” asks, “Can I go to church.” If I remember nothing else about Steven’s last High School game I will always remember that question.
If you’re still here I’ll try to post some pictures for you. Thanks for reading.
No Steve-o here. I took this picture of the underclassman as they formed the line that we walked through as we escorted Steven on Senior Night. It was good that I was wearing dark sunglasses because looking at these boys made me choke up. That was until Steven started giving all of them the “Queen Elizabeth wave” as we walked through the line.
Here we are at Senior Night. From left to right: Steven’s Grandma, Grandpa, Steven, Barb, E-word guy, Coach Arnold, Ast. Principal, Mr. and Mrs. Holloway, their twin sons, Ryan, Devin.
The 4 Seniors – Stuart who didn’t dress for the game, Devin, Steven, and Ryan.
How about this for a game face? Steven at the Pre-game Conference with Coach Arnold.
Steven hitting at Palm Bay in his last away game. The next few pictures you may have to click on (if you can) and zoom in.
Steven playing second base with Josh (Big Country) Woods at first and Tyler (T.A.) Anderson at Short.
Steven on second base after an RBI single and moving up on the throw. Our first-base Coach, Coach Frifth, in the foreground. His favorite baseball mantra using his best Hispanic accent, “Hit dee ball.”
The “best” picture I have of Coach Gofarb talking to Steven and Sky (yes, his real name) during a time out. They are standing by the fence. Sky was on third and Steven was on second.
Steven being congratulated on his RBI single as well as scoring a run, with a high five from Coach.
Comments:
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Hey man, sorry about the end of the season and that they won't continue on.
Yea, right. Like you're going to show up on my doorstep.
My parents head out the door for Pepperdine next Tuesday. They're excited.
Yea, right. Like you're going to show up on my doorstep.
My parents head out the door for Pepperdine next Tuesday. They're excited.
I've been where you are with all the disappointment of the final game of the season and that chapter of life coming to an end. Life does continue and the following chapters can be as good, if not better, than the one you just closed.
Surely you don't expect anything from ME but sympathy after the depth of the whining I'VE done this week! :)
Stevem is going to be a fine adult. He's been taught and shown how to live by some of the best.
God bless your family.
Stevem is going to be a fine adult. He's been taught and shown how to live by some of the best.
God bless your family.
Cecil -
I know this is really hard for you, but you all, including you and Steven, will come out better than ever! Believe me.
Much love to you all!
Dee
I know this is really hard for you, but you all, including you and Steven, will come out better than ever! Believe me.
Much love to you all!
Dee
# posted by 
: 9:00 PM
: 9:00 PM
The tears I just shed as I read your post are because I too flood my thoughts with all of the times we spent on a baseball and softball field. Unless Brandon changes his mind next year or Britney makes the softball team this year, our ball field days are over for our kids. I just hope for grandkids that like to play and the health to be able to enjoy them.
It is a joy brother to read your posts about Steven and his playing times. Thanks for letting us in on it.
I look forward to meeting him the end of May. Thanks for your heart, your tears, and your sharing your family time with us.
It is a joy brother to read your posts about Steven and his playing times. Thanks for letting us in on it.
I look forward to meeting him the end of May. Thanks for your heart, your tears, and your sharing your family time with us.
Brady - Thanks Bro. I will consider that a challenge that someday I would love to be able to meet. Man, I wish I was going to "Jerry's Place" this year. Maybe we'll start a new string next year.
Greg - I remember you calling after Josh's final game, both as a player and then later as a coach when he took his team into the playoffs after many years of being away.
Judy - we all need "whiny weeks." Thanks.
Dee - Thanks and that is so true, especially for those of us in the Lord.
Keith - Well I'll pray that your ballfield days can be extended. Thanks for coming for the ride and we look forward to seeing you.
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Greg - I remember you calling after Josh's final game, both as a player and then later as a coach when he took his team into the playoffs after many years of being away.
Judy - we all need "whiny weeks." Thanks.
Dee - Thanks and that is so true, especially for those of us in the Lord.
Keith - Well I'll pray that your ballfield days can be extended. Thanks for coming for the ride and we look forward to seeing you.
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