8 Blogs In 8 Weeks #2

 A Public Service Announcement:

If you don’t own a recent Apple Watch or similar Smart Watch, stop what you are doing right now and go buy one.  Don’t even think about it, just do it.  Tuesday night, I was watching TV and in a flash had trouble breathing and felt ill….checking my heart monitor on my watch I found my heart rate out of sight.  I then used the Ekg function for 30 seconds and it informed me that I was in Atrial Fibrillation and should seek help immediately.  We all have the tendency to ignore our body’s symptoms but this confirmed that this wasn’t just some ordinary event…and the doctors in the emergency room confirmed so.  I am okay now after 4 rollercoaster days in the hospital, and some really good doctors,  but can’t help but wonder what would have happened if I had waited.  These things are not gimmicks.  In fact, after falling on my bike a few weeks ago, the watch detected it and started the 60 second countdown to calling 911 until I turned it off at 30 seconds mark. This stuff works!

Now, back to the originally scheduled Blog!

Have you noticed that hardly anybody talks to each other anymore?  We text, we tweet, we facebook, we email, we Instagram, wechat, and we do all other sorts of tech programs to communicate.  But it seems to me that we are avoiding talking to each other.   Yep, I LIKE to talk.  There is something about having a good conversation, verbally sharing thoughts, ideas, news, laughter and even tears that is so much more satisfying than writing a 15 word text or email.  Besides, a quick phone call is much more efficient than typing out an email, sending it, waiting for the other person to read it and waiting for them to get around to answering your simple question that could have been taken care of in far less time.  

Verbal communication requires that you not only talk, but that you actively listen to what the other person is saying.  Too many time we all spend far too much time thinking about what we are going to say next rather than listening and responding to what the other person is sharing.  And that’s what talking is….sharing in the other person’s life.

Here is the way it use to happen:  Phone call:  “Hey Joe, want to meet outside in 15 minutes and play catch?”  Joe answers: “Sure, see you at the field.”  End of call.

Today’s way its done:  Take out Iphone:  Type text..”Wanna play catch?” If Joe has looked at his phone at that moment:  types back..”sure, when and where?” Back and forth until time and place are determined.  And that is only if Joe happened to look at his phone…he might not notice that message for some time and miss out on a good game of catch.

I know that sounds absurd, but the same thing happens in both adult social and business communication and besides being inefficient, it exposes all of us to some just how little attention a lot us pay to the crazy variations and weirdness of the English language!  One of my pet peeves is the misuse of certain words, phrases and spellings of certain words.  When speaking, you can’t tell the difference in some of those words (even with my southern accent). 

Test yourself and see if you know the difference in the meaning of these words.  One thing is certain.  They sound alike but mean something totally different.  If you speak these words, you never make a mistake…if you only write them, I can guarantee your 5th grade English teacher would be horrified by what you have written!

There, their, they’re…..To, too, two….you’re, your, yore….right,write…wear,where….waist,waste….tail,tale….steel,steal…stationary, stationery…role,roll….real,reel….rain,reign,rein…peak, peek, pique…hole,whole…it’s, its….site, sight, cite…insight,incite….creak, creek…bolder, boulder…baring, bearing….bear, bare…canon,cannon….sole, soul…eight, ate…by, buy, bye…cell, sell…due, do, dew…I, eye…four, for, fore…here, hear….hour, our…no, know….night, knight…mail, male….marry, merry….meat, meet…pair, pear….mail, male…son, sun…one, won…wait, weight…. AND there are many, many more!

Hope you have fun with these words.  Yore? your? you’re? welcome…….For goodness sakes people, it is YOU’RE WELCOME not your welcome!!

Let’s Talk….Give me a call sometime!

And The Journey continues……

8 Blogs In 8 Weeks #1

 Over the last 12 years, I have written 75 Blogs!  Politics, grandchildren, observations, opinions (guided and misguided!), stories (and boy do I have stories) and even “The Real Story.  If you are interested in seeing those Blogs, they are listed on the right side of this Blog site..

Fo the next 8 weeks, I am going to be sitting in an infusion center for most of every Thursday, so I have decided to use the time for my most important therapeutic activity…writing.  Being the frustrated writer that I am, I will be using this opportunity to write about a lot of different subjects.

First though, a couple of housekeeping items.  I will be sending this out to my friends and family as well as posting it on Facebook,  I understand if you have zero interest in what I have to say, and respect your privacy,  If you would like to be removed from the list, please private email me back and I will remove you from the list.  If you are getting this through Facebook, and want to be put on the email list, please send me your email address.  If you don't want to see it on Facebook, please feel free to block me!  

Second, I love discourse.  If you disagree with me, that is totally okay.  You can either ignore me, delete the email or even write me back with your comments..just please reply to the email to me ONLY, so we don’t inundate others with responses. Or you can leave comments at the bottom of the Blog Posts.

I thought about what to call this series of Blogs…Considered  “Thursdays with Roy” as a nod to one of my favorite writers, Mitch Album, but I am not dying anytime soon, so I threw that one out and settled for the more mundane, “8 Blogs in 8 Weeks.”.  Oh, and one last thing….If you have a subject you would like me to write about, please let me know and I will do my best to inform, entertain and hopefully get everybody thinking,

So, without further ado, here is the first installment of “8 Blogs In 8 Weeks.”

With Election Day, 2022, rapidly approaching, it is a good time to talk about elections, why we should vote and what makes up the decision to vote for a certain candidate, party or, god forbid, a cause you are passionate about.

This week, I had a disturbing encounter with a young 20 something gentleman as I was purchasing the not so winnable Powerball ticket for this week’s drawing.  He asked if I was going to share the winnings.  Assuring him that my plan was to do exactly that and he could count on a fat envelope of $100 bills from me, I reminded him that we have to pay taxes on the winnings….and that  is when the conversation went South!  “The government is corrupt!”. “Nancy Pelosi is a crook and doing insider trading..” Nancy Pelosi is everything wrong with everything.”. I calmly asked where he is getting his information, how did he arrive at his conclusions and most importantly, DOES HE VOTE??  His only answer was he just “KNEW IT,” And although he has voted before, has no plans to vote and is not interested.  I then told him that if he didn’t vote, that in my view, he gives up the right to complain about the government.

And that, is the crux of the problems in this country today.  First, voting turnout is abysmal.  Second, most people don’t know what they are voting for.  If you are really engaged or want to be engaged and really want to have your vote count for YOU, then I think a logical way to make decisions is take the pure emotion out of the equation and places it squarely on the shoulders of your belief systems, your ideas, your ideals and ultimately what exactly is important to you.

There are many factors that influence your thought, including friends, family, race, socio-economic class and even public media and talking heads…BUT, what really, really matters is what is important to you.  The Brookings Institute lists 5 issues that are important to today’s voters.  I think there are several more, so I am going to list all of them that are important to me and you can gauge how you feel about each one.  Once you take 5 minute to think about each issue, look at facts rather than fairytales, decide what is most important to YOU and compare it to what the candidate actually says about that subject, and then the voting booth becomes very simple!

The Economy!!  It’s the economy stupid!!!!  Inflation, taxes, spendings, GDP, unemployment and job availability, cost of living….my rent or mortgage and cost of borrowing and even the return I am getting on the money or investments I hold.  It is a lot to think about and I never want to minimize the overall effect it has on your life.  However, is it the only factor to consider?  Is the size of your bank account the only factor in deciding your quality of life, your beliefs and your ideals?   If so, then find the candidates that truly focus on those things that you think will help the economy.  BUT…be honest with yourself.  Does trickle-down economics REALLY work..or has it ever really worked?  If you look at the last 50 years of this country, the economy has flourished under democratic control in terms of growth, deficit control, spending.  Look it up from reputable sources and quit listening to Fox News, obliviated politicians and talk radio shock jocks.

Abortion!  With the over-turn of Roe v Wade, many, many people are upset, crazed and distraught that we are going backwards  to the 1950’s and beyond in terms of women’s rights, body autonomy, severe government overreach and the overall right to choose.  And rightfully so!  A person should not be forced to do anything when it comes to their own body.  You can’t take my blood, my organs, force a procedure, cut off a limb, make me take medicine or do anything else with my body, so why should you be able to force me to have a baby I don’t want, and won't care for?  If our religion says that life begins at conception (Although SCIENCE will disagree with you’’)…then that’s YOUR religion and it doesn’t have any sway over the personal decisions I make about my PRIVATE being.  The government has no right to decide my personal beliefs, and ultimate fate.   Forcing 10 year olds to have a baby, endangering the lives of people with misdirected edicts and turning a callous head away from sensible decisions is absurd.  Calling people baby killers solves nothing but the urge to try to intimidate the vulnerable to your way of thinking.  Give it up already!

Climate!!  Yes, Global warming and climate change are really a real thing!   Permitting reform can can enable the clean energy revolution.  Certainly, it feeds in to energy independence and we need to be as energy independent as possible.  But, we are killing the planet.  I have grandchildren that need to grow up in an environment that is healthy.  Clean air, clean water, rising seas, natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods are all part of the climate equation.  To deny that this is an issue is sticking your head in the sand.  Climate deniers are the same type of people that never wanted to give up their horses for cars, their manual labor for automation and ignore the technological advances of todays information revolution and internet culture.  Move into the present century!

HealthCare!  This is an important one!  The United States is the only advavanced modern world country that really does not provide adequate healthcare for its citizens.  And sick people make up a sick society.  There is not an easy answer.  The Affordable Care Act, MIGHT have helped a little but it is truly too little, too late.  But all of the great minds in government haven’t come up with a better plan…although we have been promised one “next week” for a long time now.  I know a lot of people are very leary of having government control healthcare, but I am not suggesting total control.  I am proposing a logical system of checks and balances that puts the patient first, costs a fair amount and pays an equitable rate to those dedicated providers.  Medicare is a decent system to build this program on and those that are trying to eliminate Medicare, which we have all paid in to over the years is a good starting point.  But let’s do it for EVERYBOODY!   We need our Doctors, our nurses, our therapists and all of our healthcare providers to rise up and demand these reforms along with anyone else that believes that the very foundation of your health is the key to fulfillment. 

And while I am on it, stop the nonsense that Social Security is an entitlement.  I have been paying in to Social Security for over 55 years and that is my money that should have grown exponentially over the years.  Quit stealing from the Social Security Trust to pay for other things or give me my money back.  It is not an entitlement.  It is my right, my money and my investment.

Education!  Wow….when we were kids, I think we took education for granted.  Most kids I grew up with went to public schools,  We learned, we studied, we did our homework we played sports and occasionally even got in a little trouble.  Parents backed the teachers…we respected the teachers, they respected us and everybody worked together.  I am all for parents being totally involved in their children's lives.  But, let's let them live...let's give them some space, let's quit hovering.  Part of growing up is making mistakes...that's how we learn.  Little Johnnie and Sally will be just find if we guide rather than control.  

Was some of what we were taught in school a lot of whitewash?  Of course it was!  No matter what the deniers say, slavery was prevalent in the founding of this country. and we are still suffering the consequences of that horrendous fact.  Contrary to what the Declaration of independence and the Constitiution says, we were NOT founded on the principle of “All Men (and Women)  Are Created Equal” and to say so is folly.    And yes, The Holocaust really did happen.  Plus,  I have a little secret for you….Columbus did not discover America!  America didn’t need to be “discovered.”  There were already indigenous people living here for many many centuries before the Europeans and Asians figured out there were societies here.  To deny that we stole their lands and territories is not history.  And we have a Governor in Florida that flat out says that never happened.  Sheesh!   Those that don't study and recognize history are doomed to repeat the mistakes we have already made!

Equal Rights  and LGBTQ….(I hope I didn’t leave anybody out)  Such a hot button.  “Don’t Say Gay.”  “Quit indoctrinating my babies.”  “All Democrats are blood sucking demon pedophiles that belong to a Satanist cult.”  “Pizzagate.”  You are turning my baby gay.”  News Flash!  Nobody is trying to make your kids gay, trans, queer, bi or anything else.  The simple fact is there are ALL kinds of people that LOVE the way they want to love.  And they want to be left alone.  There are Mom and Dad families, Dad and Dad Mom and Mom, Mom only, Dad only...and none of them are wrong!  Kids are curious and much more intelligent than we give them credit for.  They can handle differences...it is our own prejudices that influence them, not the mere fact there are differences.  Why should you care if there are gay marriages, inter-racial marriages, no marriages or lots of different kinds marriage?  Why should your very fabric of being be threatened by something other people do in their lives?  Which brings us to.......

Racism, Anti-Semitisim, Anti-Asian,  Anti-Far Eastern and yes, even ANTIFA.  There is a growing subset of people(?) that believe that all of their problems are because of somebody that is not exactly like their skin color, their accents, their customs, their culture, their religion and that these "Different" people are the root of all the world's problems.  In this Country, with the exception of the indigenous people of the land, we are ALL immigrants or are descended from immigrants.  We are a melting pot and that is what gives us strength.  Draw from that strength, nurture the differences.  There were not good people on both sides during the demonstrations in Charlottesville, VA.  Our leaders need to condemn ALL acts of discrimination and denounce those that continue to display these destroying acts of gross prejudice.  And I, for one, will not vote foe ANY candidate that remains silent as they are complicit in the hate and the violence!

I can go on with this list forever, but am going to close with what I think is the most important part of the decision making matrix....The Crazies, The Election Deniers, The Truth Benders, and The Liars and The Threats to our Democracy!  To quote the former guy from one of his books..."If you repeat a lie often enough, everyone will eventually believe you."  This has been, is, and will continue to be his and his follower's guiding light.  Last time I am going to say this...The election was NOT stolen.  It has been counted, verified, audited, 100's of lawsuits, no evidence, no coverup, no cheating machines.  To tell me that they found 4 cases of over voting in Arizona proves there is overall fraud is like telling me its raining when you are pissing on my boots.  What a scary state we are in when the candidate for Governor in Arizona publicly says that once the Republicans win Arizona, they will make sure that a Democrat will never win another vote in THEIR State...we will just elect people to the state legislature that won't pay attention to the vote of the people and fix it however we want.  Or in Georgia, where if we don't like the results of the election, we will just let the legislature decide to cast Electoral votes how these select few want.  Back these people and Democracy is dead.  And no, ANTIFA (not really an organization but a movement simply meaning Anti-Fascism!), did not storm the Capital on January 6th.  It was the DJT crazies following his instructions to disrupt the government and begin an insurrection for his infantile ego.    What a world we live in when a carnival barking con-man can get the number of followers to believe in his lies, his conspiracies and his extreme self-serving hate for anybody that doesn't massage his fragile ego.

Finally, please, please, consider intellect when choosing your candidate..Being a great football player, Coach, Fake Snake Oil Salesman Doctor, Conspriacy theorist, non-thinking Neanderthal does not qualify anyone to lead.  It takes, intelligence, compassion, thoughtful, clear-headed people to take us into the next few decades.

That's my list for today...of course there are many other factors in deciding how to vote.  Please don't just choose one and run with it...consider all sides.  I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite people, Tony Kornheiser, of PTI  and ESPN and The Tony Kornheiser Show podcast (Shout out to all of The Littles) who said that if he ran for office his slogan would be a very simple one:  

"WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS!"

And The Journey Continues........

The Journey, Continued!

 In Decemtber, 2020, I wrote a post entitled, “The Journey” in which I told the story of my kidney disease, transplant and folllow-up.  This is the continuation and update to that post.

It has been 2 years since my transplant.  At the time of the operation, Doctors told us that there was a 50-80% chance that this insipid disease could return and attack the new Kidney.  Although it usually reoccurs within 7 months if it comes back, I was a little luckier that’s most.  It took 2 years!

A few weeks ago, I was feeling “off” and lab test numbers started going in the wrong direction.  After some prodding, I was admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital last Monday for further tests including an invasive biopsy.  The first news came back that I was in a moderate Kidney rejection stage…possibly treatable.  The next day it was discovered through further tests that the PGNMID -Progressive Glomerulonephritis with Monoclonal Deposits - had also returned.  Although I always tried to discount the possibility that the disease would return and look at the situation from a positive point of view, I was not destined to be the lucky one…you would think that since I can seem to never get a winning ticket in the Powerball lottery, I might be able to get one in the lottery of life!

So, after spending the week in the hospital receiving 2 initial infusion treatments for the rejection, we are back in Miami this morning receiving the 3rd infusion at the out patient clinic.  Each infusion takes 6-7 hours to complete.  Other than some nausea, my body seems to be taking it okay.  However,  The additional meds I am taking are a different matter.  Lots of steroids, no sleep, muscle weakness, shakes etc are no fun, but something to endure while, hopefully, the high intensity doses of anti-rejection drugs try to do their job.

Next on the docket is to figure out how to treat the PGNMID.  With my nephrologist, Marc Richards, the team of Doctors at Jackson Memorial/Miami Transplant Institute and advice from Dr. Nelson Yeung at Mayo Clinic, ideas on how to proceed are being formulated.  Unfortunately there is very little known about this rare disease and no set protocol on how to treat it. To answer the obvious question, given this disease, I’ve been told that a return to the transplant list is a no go.  I had my one shot and am not eligible for another kidney.

In all honesty, it is hard to stay optimistic when the odds seem to be stacked the other way.  However, I’ve been known to draw an inside straight and have the winning ticket on the long shot at the right time. (too many gambling metaphors?).  Maybe I can get lucky again!?!

So, getting well again is my only priority now.  With the help of my family (especially Connie!), the encouragement of my friends and colleagues, the smiling voices of our children and grandchildren and a lot of determination, we carry forward.  I will keep you posted as things progress, but don’t be afraid to reach out…if I am not feeling like talking and am behaving too much like a curmudgeon, I just don’t answer!

I am NOT looking for sympathy.  To say, “I’m sorry” is not needed.  However, if you are so inclined, prayers, good wishes and hopefulness are always welcome.

You are ALL a part of Roy’s Journey and I am so happy to have you along for the trip!

And The Journey continues………..

Back To Politics

It has been well over a year since I have written a “political” blog.  I have written about baseball, football, prejudices, turning 70 & my kidney transplant.  In fact, it was October 2020 when I wrote my “last words on DJT.”  

But…I can’t hold out any longer…so (with a wink to Keith Olberman)…here goes!

 

This week, The Department of Justice got a search warrant to search Mar-A-Lago, the “home” of tRump for missing Presidential documents including classified documents.  It has now come out that there is a mole in the tRump universe who tipped off the investigators that there were significant documents stored in tRump’s personal home, including in his safe, after he purportedly turned over all of those documents as a result of prior requests.  The FBI executed an unannounced, legal search and Republican world went bananas.

 

“I’ve seen enough,” Representative Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader, wrote in a statement that he posted online. “The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization.”

 

Ric Grenell, who served as Mr. Trump’s acting director of national intelligence, said that if the former president were to be re-elected, he must “clean out the FBI and DOJ.”

 

“If they can do it to a former President, imagine what they can do to you,” the Twitter account for the House Republican caucus wrote.

 

"At a minimum, Garland must resign or be impeached," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., wrote. "The search warrant must be published. Christoper Wray [sic] must be removed. And the FBI reformed top to bottom."

 

“This is what happens in Third World countries. Not the United States,” said the House Judiciary GOP. A Fox News commentator repeatedly called the search “third-world [expletive]” in a viral clip. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) likened it to what happens in a banana republic. 

 

Marco Rubio warned we were on track to become like Nicaragua and added, “Using government power to persecute political opponents is something we have seen many times from 3rd world Marxist dictatorships. But never before in America.”

 

Trump, overwhelmed with apparent self-pity, rambled in his 340 word statement, whining about the United States becoming a “third-world” country, pretending his other scandals weren’t real, complaining about Hillary Clinton, and marveling at the fact that FBI agents, looking for documents, even “broke into” his safe.

 

But, do you know what NONE of them, including tRump, said?  No one said he was innocent or not guilty.

 

No one tried to explain why the former guy had those documents in his possession.  It was tRump himself who signed into law  18 USC Code 207 so he could go after Hillary Clinton:

 

Whoever willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys, or attempts to do so, or, with intent to do so takes and carries away any record, proceeding, map, book, paper, document, or other thing, filed or deposited with any clerk or officer of any court of the United States, or in any public office, or with any judicial or public officer of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

(b)

Whoever, having the custody of any such record, proceeding, map, book, document, paper, or other thing, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States. As used in this subsection, the term “office” does not include the office held by any person as a retired officer of the Armed Forces of the United States.

 

So, to all of those supporters that are calling for war, demonstrating ad nauseum, and are indignant over the search warrant, I ask:

 

Does the law not apply to EVERYONE?  Is their lord and savior, Donald Trump, ABOVE the law.  “Republicans are the party of law and order” makes me laugh out loud.  Why did he not turn over those 12 or 15 boxes of documents that belong in the National Archives when he was asked to do so? It is rumored that the missing documents concerned nuclear weapons!  Was he going to monetize them for his own benefit? Was he going to give them to our enemies?  What, possibly, could be the excuse for not turning them over after it was found out that he didn’t follow the law to begin with?  The last traitors that stole top secret nuclear documents were executed in this country.

 

And, now, tRump is spreading the conspiracy theory that the FBI has planted evidence.  This seems to imply that tRump knows that he should not have those documents and is trying to shift the blame to the FBI.

 

And as long as I am writing about limitless hypocrisy, the former guy’s past quotes included:

 

“You see the mob takes the Fifth,” he said. “If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?”

Another time, he said, “Fifth Amendment. Fifth Amendment. Fifth Amendment. Horrible.”

 

Yesterday, in a civil trial deposition he took the 5^th Amendment over 440 times!  

 

I can understand when people support the Republican Party conservatism…even when I don’t agree with any of their positions.  What I don’t understand is how anybody can support this racist, misogynistic, Hitler loving, liar, cheat, crook, piece of garbage.

 

And The Journey continues…..

Glory, Glory!

 Glory, Glory to Ole Georgia!

 

It has now been a month since my beloved Georgia Bulldogs claimed the Football National Championship over the Alabama Crimson Tide.  For the first time in over 40 years, Georgia fans rejoiced in FINALLY reaching the holy grail.

 

Now, that’s not to say that Georgia football has not had success since the glory days of Herschel Walker, Buck Belue and Lindsay Scott.  The Dawgs have had multiple SEC Titles, many more winning seasons than losing ones, many bowl victories and countless Top 5 finishes.  BUT, the National title always seemed to be elusive.  Even in the fantastic 2017 season, the Title seemed to be in hand until the final minutes, when Alabama inserted Freshman Tua Tagovailoa into the game to throw the winning touchdown…breaking the collective hearts of thousands and thousands Bulldog faithful.

 

It was hard to believe that Coach Kirby Smart could continue to recruit Top 5 recruiting classes year after year and we couldn’t get over the hump.  Finally, in this 2021 Season, the Dawgs went undefeated in the regular season, only to lose to the Evil Empire in the SEC championship.  However, after vanquishing the upstart Michigan Wolverines in the Orange Bowl and Alabama beating Cincinnati in the other semi-final, the rematch was all set.

 

Most of the pundits said it couldn’t be done.  The first half was a defensive struggle as Alabama took a 9-6 lead into the locker room.  But the 2nd half was a different story.  While the Georgia defense still reigned supreme, Georgia’s offense relied on the big plays…Cook’s 60+ yard run, a long pass from The Mailman to AD Mitchell, Freshman of the year, Brock Bowers touchdown.  While it was touch and go for most of the fourth quarter the pick 6 heard throughout the land, by Keele Ringo capped the win!

 

Enough can’t be said about the Georgia Defense.  Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker continuously hassling Bryce Young, a run defense that was impenetrable, the field goal block by Jalen Carter and ultimately the highest-graded defense against an Alabama team since 2014.

 

I can try to convince you that I was calm and collective throughout the game, but that would be a lie.  I was yelling so much at the television, our dog ran in to the other room.  When Ringo intercepted the ball, I ran the entire length of the field with him.  Yes, I will admit, that tears of joy were streaming down my face.

 

The word fan is derived from the word fanatic.  I am a proud University of Georgia Alumni, a lifelong fan and some might say, slightly fanatical about the Dawgs.

 

And the Journey continues….

BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN!

Beezball has been berry berry good to me!  For those that don't remember, those were the words of Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live as he role-played a Latin baseball star.  But, with the Braves success in The World Series, I have been thinking of what baseball has meant to me.

As a young child, Baseball was THE sport.  Not the NFL, not NBA, not even College Football.  Every kid had a favorite team.  My brother, Alan loved The Yankees.  In fact, as part of a bet, he convinced our grandfather to send him to the Series in New York to see his beloved Mickey Mantle when he was 8 years old. I liked any team that was playing the Yankees but especially the Pittsburgh Pirates of Bill Mazeroski fame.

In backyard games, we could recite the full lineup of the teams (Especially The Yankees).  Our collections of baseball cards would be worth a fortune today if Mom hadn't tossed them out with the trash!  Dad would take us to Atlanta Cracker minor league games.  I especially remember that we would go to opening day for a number of years.  And, of course, we played Little League.  I was not very good at baseball, but was still out there every season trying to climb the ladder of leagues...Sally League, Southern League, International League and The Majors.  I never got further than The Southern League, but Alan was an International League catcher.  I remember his grand slam home run and even retrieved the ball he hit!

Then, in 1966, it happened!  The rumors became reality as the Milwaukee Braves moved the team to Atlanta and the recently finished Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium-an $18 million round multi-purpose stadium.  The Atlanta Falcons, an expansion NFL team, would share the stadium with the Braves.  This was the first major league team south of Washington DC and it became the favorite of everyone living in the Southeast.  A few years later, Ted Turner bought the team and beamed the games across the country on TBS and The Atlanta Braves became "America's Team" to those across the country that didn't have a local team.

I was there on Opening Night, 1966.  It was a momentous occasion and the stadium and the crowd were resplendent in all its glory.  Tony Cloninger, the previous year's 20 game winner was the starting pitcher and his battery mate was Joe Torre.  Lee Thomas at 1st, Frank Bolling at 2nd, Dennis Menke at shortstop and the great Eddie Mathews at 3rd.  The outfield was Felipe Alou, Rico Carty and Hank Aaron.  Cloninger went 13 innings in a loss to the Pirates, but Torre hit a home run.  Mathews made a diving stop of a well hit ball, and my Dad turned to me and said, "That's Major League!" I remember it like it was yesterday!

While the 1966 team had a few stars like Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron and Joe Torre, the biggest crowds came out when others teams stars, like Willie Mays, came to town.  In spite of having players like the great Hank Aaron in the early years, the team was mediocre and was very infrequently in the pennant race beyond July.  I remember going to games as a teenager where there were less than 1000 fans in attendance and we would buy 50 cent general admission and then try to sneak down to the good seats.  But, we LOVED our Braves!

Then came the 90's.  I had already moved away from Atlanta. but still checked the box scores in the daily paper.  (Yes, in those days, we still got an actual newsPAPER delivered to the house)  The Braves advanced to The World Series FIVE times in the 90's.  1991, 1992, 1995, 1996 and 1999.  They won the World Series in 1995 against the Cleveland Indians.  In either 1991 or 1992, I was in Atlanta because my Dad was having open-heart surgery and it happened to coincide with The World Series home games.  Because of my connections, EVERYBODY wanted tickets to a game.  Working the phone, I was able to come up with 12 tickets to a game and took brothers, friends and nearly everybody that hit me up for tickets.  

Unfortunately, the biggest Braves fan, my Dad, had surgery that day and was just regaining consciousness as we left for the game.  As he came out of the anesthesia, and with a breathing tube impeding his communication, he kept ringing for the nurse and pointing to the tv.  They finally figured out that he wanted the game to be turned on so that he wouldn't miss an inning.  Now, THAT'S a fan!  For years, whenever I visited with my Dad during baseball season, he had the Braves Game on the television.

When I think of baseball, I think of my Dad.  Baseball seems to enhance the relationship between a father and his offspring.  I have fond memories of taking my son to Fenway Park for the World Series in 1986.  While he was only 7 years old, I made good on my promise to take him if the Red Sox made it to the Series.  And then, I was fortunate to accompany him and his son to Elie's first Baltimore Orioles game in 2013.  And, although their team loyalties are somewhat off kilter, I have enjoyed watching my son-in-law and his daughter, Mara, bonding over their love for the Dodgers.

That brings us to 2021.  26 years since The Braves won a World Series and it was not looking very promising mid-season.  Injuries to their star outfielder and suspension to another major player and just plain bad luck as mid-summer approached.  But their GM went in to action, traded for 4 players, re-constituting their outfield and shoring up their pitching and The Braves posted the best 2nd half of the season of any other team.  A 3 out of 4 game dispatch of the Milwaukee Brewers and the Braves found themselves facing the dreaded LA Dodger in the NLCS.  Up 3 games to 1, flashes of 2020 appeared before our eyes....this was the same position they were in in 2020 and blew it to the same Dodgers.  But, not in the miracle year of 2021, as the Braves vanquished the Dodger and headed to The World Series against the hated Houston (Cheaters) Astros.

And the rest is history!  Tuesday night, November 2nd, Atlanta wins the 6th game of The Series to complete their improbable run to The Championship.  A total team effort with several great stories...their journeyman manager Brian Snitker, Mr. Brave Freddie Freeman, local boy makes good in Dansby Swanson (who grew up 15 minutes from the new stadium), unbelievable effort from their bullpen and a different star in each game with an unprecedented number of runs coming as a result of home runs.  And a fan base that is incredibly excited.

Damn, I almost forgot how much I love baseball!

Braves Win! Braves Win! Braves Win!

And The Journey continues........

One Year Later

 This Monday, October 18th, marks the One Year Anniversary of my kidney transplant.  I can't help but reflect on the journey that my bout with PGNMID, a rare kidney disease, has taken me and the hero that donated his kidney at the end of his life to help make my life continue.

Organ Donors are the real heroes!  I am here today because of one.  I am forever grateful and forever humbled by that.  After spending months on paratineal dialysis, where I hooked myself up to a machine EVERY night, it was a welcomed surprise call from The Miami Transplant Institute of Jackson Memorial Hospital on Saturday evening October 17, 2020.  As we hurried to Miami, a feeling of excitement but fear engulfed both me and Connie.  Since the Covid pandemic wouldn't allow visitors in the hospital, Connie dropped me off at the front door and drove the hour back to Boca.  I was admitted and finally operated on at 3 AM.  The hero was a 55 year old man who lost his life to a cardiac issue earlier that evening.

I often think of the family of my hero.  I know that other organs were harvested from him that evening and know for sure that his other kidney was given to a woman the same night I received mine.  I can only assume that his liver and possibly his lungs were also transplanted.  This hero saved multiple lives!  I hope his family gets some peace and satisfaction knowing that their family member has affected so many.  I also reflect on the courage of someone else who volunteered their live kidney to me, was tested and approved for transplant.  Although the transplant never happened due to the Covid pandemic, her selflessness and courage inspire me every day.  (She wishes to remain anonymous)

I also think of the Doctors, the Nurses, and all of the support personnel that has taken this journey with me.  My Transplant coordinator at MTI, the phlebotomists that have drawn my blood countless times for monitoring purposes and the patience they have all shown when I ask countless questions.

So, what has the last year brought?  After recovering from the operation, I have been able to return to as normal of a life as anyone else that is enduring this pandemic.  The anti-rejection drugs that I will be on the rest of my life works against the Covid vaccination, so I have to be extra careful with my exposure to others.  I mask everywhere and don't put myself in situations where there are large crowds of people.  But I work, I play and I visit with other vaccinated people.  We don't go out to eat unless there is outside dining, but frankly, I don't miss it!  Our travel has been limited to car trips, but I am sure air travel is in my future.

My new lease on life is a result of someone signing an organ donation pledge.  You can become an organ donor by designating that on your driver's license or as part of your living will.  Please consider what that would mean to the life and well being of someone else.

And The Journey continues.....