Summer Vacation, Day 23: Wandering Mind …

Done with work for a better than a week. Tomorrow afternoon we head west. Tonight, the mind wanders, unhobbled, grazing freely where it will. Ah!

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Yesterday at the baseball practice, Trevor spotted a tiny sparrow (not one of the fat noisy English guys) hopping through the grass.

“I just saw a walking bird,” he said. “Why do some birds walk?”

“They walk when they look in the grass for food,” I said.

He climbed down from the bleachers and walked toward the grass. I watched older boys take batting practice.

Trevvy came back, looking slightly flush. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I guess some walking birds are walking birds and flying birds!” he said.

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I passed a car on the way home today missing an entire front fender and half the grill. As I passed I noticed the driver with her cell phone in her left hand, tight to her ear, and her right hand gesturing wildly in time with her fast-flapping lips. So: steering with her knees, or not at all? She’s done this at least once before, I suspect …

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The beans and sunflowers I planted late this spring have germinated and are growing nearly as fast as the weeds. That little miracle never gets old for me, any more than animal births. How is it that vegans aren’t bothered by eating sprouts?

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Wow, it feels good to be off. The Cold Spring Pale Ale is kicking in, though. Lil sleepy. See you soon …

Summer Vacation, Day 22: On Baseball

The regular season over, Bren’s baseball team (known as the Radiators for their sponsor, Roger’s Radiator Repair) practiced this warm, clear evening. The kids were loose, laughing, as were the coaches – and their relaxed demeanor brought natural grace and ease to every at-bat, every worm-burning grounder, every towering fly. The kids (several boys, one girl) were smacking the ball around the park, snagging and shagging on every play, diving and sliding – they left the field sweaty, skinned and smiling.

They never play that loosely in games … and for a guy like me, with little athletic talent, their happy-go-lucky exhibition was a wonder to behold!