As Another Ending Nears .....

Another "season" at work will soon be winding to an end. Have I really been through 41 of them now? The common thread about all of them is all the different people that have come and gone. I always am amazed as each season ends how it can be so noisy, hectic and crazy leading up to the final day and then suddenly one day it's done with just a few hours in between and you're standing there looking around and it all seems so peaceful. The transition complete .... Like the previous four or five months never happened.

And lately as a supervisor, I'll think to myself: "Whew, made it through another one." And at some point or points in the days and months afterwards, you'll look cautiously forward to the next one and literally experience the chills and think that you just can't go through all that swirling craziness again ..... But then the time arrives and somehow you do.

It's funny when everything settles down for the year, you have time to stand back in awe and consider the big picture. It often doesn't seem nearly as big when you're right in the middle of it. It's those moments where you're sometimes forced by circumstances to look just five minutes and/or five feet in front of you and find encouragement knowing that there's an ending somewhere up ahead. At least until you have to do it all over again.

And at times, you'll see the finished product in the grocery store and think: "Wow I had a part in all that!" And then realize just how many other people also had a role in getting it there.

Weekend Stuff

Watched the movie St. Vincent starring Bill Murray. I'm mostly a fan of older movies from the 1940's, 50's and 60's but every once in awhile find one from this or the previous decade that I enjoy. This was one of them. And there's a great video at the end where Bill Murray is singing along while the film credits roll, to Bob Dylan's song, Shelter From the Storm.

Browsing the tables of books at the public libraries annual used book sale and listening in as these two old guys are talking about things found in books ..... like an Ernie Banks rookie baseball card. I never seem to have that kind of good fortune. I wouldn't mind finding a Mickey Mantle rookie card. Or even a Bobby Murcer!!

This seasons Chargers seem just good enough to have a chance to win each game on the final play .... and then fall short.

Quick Notes

• I think that I'm becoming obssessed with capturing the perfect image with my camera. Never happy, always wanting something better.
• I hate the one game baseball playoff. 162 games to qualify and then for a team in each league it suddenly ends after this one game. Even after the first or second inning in some cases.
• I have these moments where I get caught up in the possibility of "the big one" striking at any moment. Could be 50 years or five minutes from now. It's the five minute possibility that worries me.
• Go for frequent walks. Most people that you cross paths with will smile and say hello. 
• Why is it that words can seem harmless and witty before spoken but as soon as they are spoken it's:  "Maybe I shouldn't have said that."
• Is it ever too late to become a poet and classic movie and art buff? I'm currently a wanna-be in all three fields. Maybe I'll take up wine tasting next?
• It's funny how I used to concern myself with how I was going to survive each year. All these years later and I realize that I've survived!! Quite a sense of accomplishment.
• Take a moment each day and quietly observe everything around you.

Quitting Time

A co-worker quit yesterday. No indication given beforehand that he was thinking that way. He had the weekend off and apparently decided that was it, he wasn't coming back. I think that you have to admire that. That's how I want to go out. Just decide one day that I've had enough. Maybe be standing there, not paying attention as someone is bitching at me and suddenly turn and walk away, get in my car and drive off. No retirement potluck. No cake and ice cream. No sad goodbyes. I've witnessed the parties and observed people making the rounds, going from person to person saying goodbye and have always thought that it all was so sad looking. Certainly not for me. I prefer to one day just be suddenly gone .... the subject of wild speculation and rumors.

P.S. .... David, I hope that you enjoy whatever is ahead for you. Be it retirement, another job, a retreat to a simpler lifestyle or whatever you might be looking towards.

Just For A Moment

While crossing a downtown street this afternoon, a pretty young 20-something smiled and said hello to me. I glanced around to be certain that she was smiling at me. Unless there was a ghost that only she was seeing, there was only her and myself. I instantly fell in love!! A second later the shooting pain pulsating through my foot and knee reminded me of how old I was .... Likely old enough to be her Grandfather. For that instant though, it was a nice feeling to be acknowledged. Just for a moment.


Autumn afternoons and early evenings. We are entering that greatest time of the year! It's the feeling in the air. Such a sense of surroundings slowly changing. I've always loved this time of the year best ..... always attempting to be aware and soak it all in.


Maybe this is true of all teams in baseball but the Yankees are the masters of leaving runners on base. They often threaten to score but rarely seem to get the big hit. Seems like they should be coming through at least once in four times in such situations but it feels much closer to once in twenty-five. On the other hand, the opposing teams seem to come through in these situations about 75% of the time. Makes for extremely frustrating viewing, especially after paying for the MLB-TV package and getting EVERY game.