The Last Time

Thanks for sharing CD. So true! The “last times” are special ---but so are the “first times”. My son ended his baseball career this spring. He called this 4th of July on his way to a lake house in the mountains of North Carolina. Lake Norman I think. He seemed very happy when he said this was the “first time” he has been able to go on a non-baseball vacation. He learned to water ski and ride a tube which he had never done in his previous 24 years. I have enjoyed this summer as much as any. No baseball trips after 20 years of carrying or following my son around. At last I can do some “other” things ---- or maybe I’ll just do nothing. Those times were special and I agree with you that we need to never forget the last times and enjoy them while they “are”. However the memories become sweeter with age.
Fungo

CD

I know exactly how you feel. This may or may not be our last year to be baseball parents and it does feel a little sad to see this ride come closer to an end but I try to remember how lucky we have been to have been on the ride this long.

Right now I find myself already wishing that the spring was here and yet once it comes I'll want it to slow down and last forever. There is a chance that the college experience could last another year as Joe could qualify for a medical hardship. It is feasible that he could find a grad school looking for someone but I really don't know if that is a direction he will want to pursue once he graduates.

Not only do I hope I never forget the last time, I truly hope I can remember the whole time.

What beautiful reminders guys about the first and the last! We so often forget to appreciate both sides of the equation, don't we! We're so blessed to have such wonderful opportunities that we hate to see end.... yet those endings bring us new beginnings and new opportunities if we allow them to do so.

May all those boys who will play their last year on a college field soak up every minute! Mom and dad too! Regardless of what the future holds baseball wise, those years have brought priceless experiences to always be treasured.

CD - You can cry here anytime and we'll hand ya a tissue! Tyler has had a college career that all parents would miss and he's proven himself on and off the field. What more could a parent ask for.

We're all so very blessed around here!

quote:

May all those boys who will play their last year on a college field soak up every minute! Mom and dad too! Regardless of what the future holds baseball wise, those years have brought priceless experiences to always be treasured.

Very true Charlotte! Very great, and very wonderful experiences. As I approach our first college year since my son's collegiate career has ended, I emailed another mom who is a friend of mine and told her "isn't it STRANGE for classes to be beginning today at PSU and neither Joe or Brian are THERE?!?!?" I also told her I think I am in a serious case of "denial" and truly WON'T acknowledge that fact until I see a player behind homeplate this spring that ISN't #25! Yes....denial is a wonderful thing!

But the GREAT thing is...I have some "special" guys from this thread that I WILL be following, which certainly helps fill the void!

quote:

Originally posted by luvbb:

But the GREAT thing is...I have some "special" guys from this thread that I WILL be following, which certainly helps fill the void!

Honestly, I think as Fungo said, so much of how we adapt to changes (endings) is how we embrace what opportunities come our way. One of the good things I discovered this spring was being able to watch more baseball including friend's kids at all levels. I've gotten to do things I've wanted to for years!! Good things can happen!

CD and I were PM'ing about a week ago on this...it is amazing how time has flown...as it seems like yesterday we were engaging in a little "Liberty vs Coastal" trash talk in his son's freshman fall and wondering how it all will play out. CD's son is one who has worked his tail off to first get to where he wanted at a school...to working his tail off even harder to earn something not many freshman players get...and would not take "no" for an answer.

CD...and all the others gearing up for the "last time"...simply savor every moment you can this next year...and let the ride take you where it may.

Just to follow up on lafmom's comment, no crying or feeling sorry here. Gratitude is the word but good things seems to go by too quickly.

Fungo - we drive right through Lake Norman when we travel from Cleveland to Myrtle Beach. itsinthegame lives near there. It looks like one of the nicest areas in the country. I have always said it looks like the ideal water-skiing area. I can't recall a time we have driven by there and not seen several people out water-skiing. Also, FYI, it looks like a GREAT BASS fishing lake!

I dropped my son off yesterday about 1/2 hour away from home where he hopped a ride back to South Carolina with a teammate. That is the last Thanksgiving break while he is in college and soon he'll be home for his last college Christmas break.

We watched five Cavalier games together and spent much time with the larger family. He gained a few pounds while home so he was happy about that.

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:

We watched five Cavalier games together and spent much time with the larger family. He gained a few pounds while home so he was happy about that.

Well, to not totally derail this topic.... what are you going to think if you see your guy LeBron play for Cleveland a "last time"? I don't know if that's a serious possibility or not, but certainly been in the rumor mill hasn't it.

DOn't know if this will be "the last" college year of ball, but I am going to enjoy each game as though they are. "Time flies" is such an understatement. Really looking forward to the holidays with "little puma" and then to a great spring season.

quote:

Originally posted by puma1:
DOn't know if this will be "the last" college year of ball, but I am going to enjoy each game as though they are. "Time flies" is such an understatement. Really looking forward to the holidays with "little puma" and then to a great spring season.

All the best to Nick this year!

Let the chips fall where they may

This has been kind of a running blog so I thought I would update it. Fast approaching that last spring workouts leading up to the season. Spring intrasquads are now underway.

Mine has had some health issues to deal with since Christmas break. He had his wisdom teeth pulled over break and that caused him to lose 10 pounds at least. A few weeks back he contacted a severe strep throat infection. He went to the doctor and got two shots and a prescription for antibiotics and steroids. After about a week, he was still waking up with a severe sore throat so they sent him to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. He was subjected to some very painful procedures and they put him on very powerful antibiotics and steroids. He lost another 7 or 8 lbs with that episode.

Now the strep seems to be under control he still has been bothered by his wisdom teeth. He was sent to an oral surgeon in MB yesterday who said his cavities where the teeth were removed still have not healed completely and he still has an infection. They put him on more antibiotics and gave him a syringe for a vigorous cleaning regimine. If it weren't for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all this spring

Sorry to hear about the problems, CD.

And, I can't believe he's already finishing up.

Seems like he was a freshman just last spring.

Thanks FO - I really appreciate all your support over the years. I cannot believe it either and kind of why I started this thread.

I have always appreciated your humble attitude about things and tend to see the college experience the same way you have. There are some risks out there but the rewards have been unbelievable. All the best to Matt this spring/summer as I have always followed his career closely.

CD

Sorry to read of son's difficulties. Being on antibiotics like that can really wear you out physically. It might be helpful if he were to eat yogurt with "live active cultures" to help his body restore the helpful/normal bacteria to his body that inevitably has been effected by the antibiotic treatment he has received.

Hopefully drs have gotten to the "root"/source of the infection now and it will be fully irradicated.

Prayers and well wishes for a healthy senior season with many positive memories.

Holy mackeral, CD...that is A LOT going on with young TB. Praying for a full recovery.

CD - Tyler is one of those kids who always seems to battle against the odds. It doesn't matter if someone tells him he can't do something, if someone thinks he's not tall enough, if his hamstring continues to be symptomatic, or if he has these current challenges. He's one of those kids who just battles and proves he can do whatever he sets his mind too. I have no doubt that he will fight on for a terrific senior season. He's one of my all time favorite players!!

Oh, BTW CD and puma1, I'm picking CC to beat UK!

Thanks lafmom!! We truely appreciate your support! I'll be there, cheering my heart out for those that can't make it.