Wow,..you brought back memories CADad!
I still remember when the LL All-Star announcement was made over the PA system at our dusty wind-blown, boiling hot, make-shift baseball park in Beale, AFB California.
To be honest, I wasnt really paying much attention & was busy running around the field after my oldest's younger brother and sister. But for some reason I stopped & looked over at him.
Things got quiet,... kind of slow motion-like ......and I just watched.
( sometimes some of life's best memories happen in but a brief moment )
There he was. My oldest stood ( hat too big, pants too baggy, dirty face ) with every finger, leg, & eyeball, crossed in hopes that he would hear his name called. I think he was around 9 or 10 at the time.
The coaches annouced each name,...one by one.
My son stood there, with is eyes closed,....just hoping and hoping and hoping.
At last,...he was the very last name called!
I saw tears on his face.
He was so dang excited I thought he might pass out.
( Just between you and me,
dont think he got it for talent,...but rather for " hustle " and " punctuality "
....Smooch to the coaches for recognizing " heart "!!! )
I betcha back then that kid would have slept in the dugout overnight if I had let him.
He'd sneak off to the ballfield every chance he got and I'd go find him ( his bike thrown against the backstop was a dead give-away ) and scold him for leaving the house.
He'd make any and every excuse to go back up to the " school " to get something important that he " forgot ". ( the ball park was on the way
) Have to admit, I fell for it the first dozen tries.
We moved from state to state and he heard his name called a few more times at ceremonies like that...Minors,...Majors.
He went on to play baseball in Hawaii at the highschool level for a few years and then was introduced to football & wrestling and a bigger passion grew.
Those were the days!
Now in the Air Force, and just recently back from deployment,...he still has that first All-Star pin up on his shelf here at home.
It was a brief moment, but a memory that has lasted a life time and is a little part of who he is today.
