The Best of Times
TV ClubHouse: archives: The Best of Times
Gail | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 03:36 pm     I thought I would start a thread about those really great times that happen to us occasionally. For me, today was one of those days. I work in an office with about 36 people - almost all Air Force and all except 4 are men. All summer long, I have been going to watch their softball games 2 - 3 times a week. I love watching softball. It's a sport that for some reason, you don't have to be the youngest and strongest to do well. All you have to do is have fun. I missed 3 games this whole season. And, many days throughout the entire season, there were only two of us cheering them on, shagging home runs and foul balls. I did double duty being the water girl, holding rings, and glasses, baking cookies, muffins, etc to make sure they weren't playing hungry. Our team is an "old" team meaning there is no one under 30 on our team in a place where most of the teams are loaded with guys much younger and stronger. We have also struggled all summer with people being deployed in the middle east, people retiring, and guys getting injured. With only 36 of us in the entire organization, trying to round up 10 healthy players for a softball team was really tough some days. We had guys playing hurt a few times because there was no one else to play. Last week, we made it into the playoffs. We squeaked in as the last placed seed. It was double elimiation playoffs where you have to lose twice to be out of it. On Monday, the playoffs started and we easily beat a first placed team from the other division. Tuesday, we lost our first game and came back a couple hours later to win against another team. Yesterday, we won the first game and in the afternoon, we beat the team that had beat us the day before. It was so exciting!! These guys played their hearts out. 3 of the guys that had retired were there with us playing. Today, in order to win the base championship, we had to win the first game, then turn around and play the same team again and beat them. It was two incredible games!! Everybody came out to cheer for both sides and the bleechers were full. Both teams were outstanding! This particular team beat us 3 years in a row in the playoffs. We won both games today! They were both excellent games and both teams played well. I can't even begin to describe what it was like going into the bottom of the 7th inning of that second game. The other team was home team and was behind by 5 runs and leading off with the bottom of their lineup. Our guys knew they had the game and just played so relaxed to get those three outs. When the last guy up to bat hit the ball, it popped up high to second base and towards one of our best fielders. That ball hung in the air forever and it was like slow motion coming down into his glove. I don't think any of us in the stands could even breathe! It was so exhilirating to be able to go out on the field and hug and congratulate these guys!! I loved being there to see them get the first place trophy and their 2002 Base Champion T-Shirts. These guys worked so hard all summer long! I thought my heart was going to burst from happiness for them. At that point, when I thought nothing could be better, they proved me wrong. I had to fight to hold back the tears when they gave me the one extra t shirt they had and told me it was for being part of their team. I'm sure I will have other moments in my life that will feel as good as this but for now, I will treasure this memory for a long time to come. Today was special! |
Alegria | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 04:25 pm     ((((Gail)))) that is a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing your joy and zest for life. |
Lancecrossfire | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 04:30 pm     Gail, that is great to hear! You have just described what competition and team sports is all about, and what it means to participate, no matter in what form that may take on. No matter the outcome of the games, your folks were a winning team. |
Tess | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 04:31 pm     Now that was a VERY good day! The way you write even had me holding my breath waiting for that last ball to drop. Thanks for giving everyone a little lift. |
Spygirl | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 04:48 pm     Wow! I am mushy today! I teared up!!! Gail, you are a great story teller. So glad it was a wonderful day. |
Faerygdds | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 04:54 pm     Right behind you Spy... I teared up as well... can I still blame my emotionalism on anesthesia, or should I just give in and admit that I'm a soft-hearted SAP! What a wonderful story Gail!!! |
Azriel | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 04:57 pm     Spy, you aren't the only one who teared up. That was so nice, Gail. I'm glad you had a great day and a wonderful memory to store away |
Gail | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 05:07 pm     If the truth be known, I think a lot of the guys there were tearing up too. |
Merlin | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 06:07 pm     I wasn't tearing up.........riiiiight! Anyone who has spent any amount of time around you would not find it suprising that these guys would had given you that t-shirt. You are a team player, no doubt about it. |
Halfunit | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 06:29 pm     What I like is that it made you happy and you passed that along to us!! |
Juju2bigdog | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 07:03 pm     <totes in and passes out crying buckets>
Wonderful story, Gail. Every now and then you get a day like that. Thanks for sharing. |
Twiggyish | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 07:19 pm     That's wonderful. What a nice gesture for you, too! =) |
Karuuna | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 07:25 pm     Gail! How wonderful it is to have all your caring and support returned by that wonderful gesture. You're one special and very giving person, and it's so nice to see you get the recognition and appreciation you so deserve.
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Kstme | Thursday, August 29, 2002 - 07:34 pm     Gail...That's FANTASTIC!!! Ditto what everyone has said...marvelous story! Thanks for sharing! |
Urgrace | Friday, August 30, 2002 - 06:45 pm     Thank you for sharing your fun day with us. How exciting! As a former softball player and grandstand warmer I understand your enthusiasm, and your story made me feel good too. The t-shirt was well deserved. |
Earthmother | Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 12:25 am     That's sweet.. I had a good experience today too. We started School on Wed. but one of my students didn't start until today (must have hepitis shots before entering). Anyway this is they younger brother of a student I had two years ago and the high school started a little late today so she came along with her mom to drop the younger brother off. This girl hated me when she was in my class. She was sure I was the witch that the house fell on in the Wizard of Oz. When she found out from the office that her brother was in my class she escorted him. She came in and gave me a great big hug and told me that she was loved me and I was her favorite teacher because I was so tough on her she has done very well in high school. I was really teared up and so thankful I never gave up on her (she wasn't a real easy kid to like, so it made it extra hard to keep on pluggin'.) Some days I ask myself "why do I even try?" and then something like this happens and I know why. So never give up on anyone!!! |
Whit4you | Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 03:22 am     Best day for me in the past few years is when the word "Temporary" in the 9-11 area last fall stopped scaring me beyond words. (Twas the point I felt strong enough to be ok with it being 'tempoarary' ) Sweet thread Gail ty..needed it. |
Wargod | Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 12:28 pm     I live in Southern California, near Edwards AFB. Also have several aerospace companies out here. I've been here most my life and have watched many planes, from the SR-71 to the Stealth fly overhead daily. We're also lucky enough to have had the space shuttle land here, and while I've never seen it land, we sometimes get to see them piggyback it back to Florida. Airplanes are exciting! When I was a kid, my mom would point out hot air balloons, my response was always the same, "oh, yeah, cool." (Note lack of enthuiasm!) Hot air balloons were not the same as the space shuttle, being piggybacked, doing fly-bys of the valley, LOL. Anyways, this morning there was some kind of hot air balloon type of show here. Something like 25 went up and floated through the air for a few hours. I had read it in the paper, and pretty much put it out of my mind. Well, I had to go across town this morning. It was one of those rare cases where I didn't have the kids with me, so was just enjoying the nice, peaceful drive. I turned a corner, and there in front of me were two ballons landing in the desert. For just a moment, that was the most serene sight I'd seen in ages. With the blue sky, the hot air ballons were just a rainbow of colors. For the first time in my life, I realized how cool it must be up in the air in one of those. I could imagine how free and peaceful it would be....how beautiful to float about the valley. It was just one of those moments that was absolutely perfect! |
Kstme | Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 02:07 pm     I LOVE this thread!! War...sometimes those hot air balloons can be as breath-taking as any jet or shuttle out there! How cool you got to see them this morning! Earthmother...as hard as teaching can be, it's rewards can be the most awsome you'll ever find! Kudos to YOU!
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Gail | Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 02:33 pm     War, I lived in Albuquerque for a few years and got to see alot of hot air balloons go up there. Now, living in Colorado Springs, I am lucky enough to see them here also. This is the time of year they start flying quite a bit. Last year, I was driving to work and saw one coming in for a landing. It is soooo slow and it looked like it was landing somewhere on Peterson AFB. I'm surprised we don't have more car accidents from people watching the balloons and not the roads. They are so peaceful to watch. |
Wargod | Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 02:46 pm     You know, Gail, its funny you mentioned car accidents. I had to catch myself from slamming on the brakes on a steet with a 50mph speed limit! LOL. |
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