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| October 2, 2007 NYC - Went to Church Today This is Trinity Episcopal Church, two blocks from ground zero in Manhattan, NYC. This was my first time back to NYC since the attacks. I have been here many times. While I have never lived here, I have worked here. Manhattan is quite familiar to me and there was a heavy anticipation coming here this time. So, I carried and emotional tension that was not shared by the people in and around Manhattan. They live with this every day. The site itself is an enormous construction zone with significant positive activity. It is no longer in emotional recovery, as I am. At the very least, the area is in a different emotional place than me. Having seen that, I hope to catch up. There is a sense of purpose there, unlike construction areas I have been on previously. The display of the American flag is prominent across Manhattan as I have never seen before. I have not quite sorted out what that means. There was always an edgy tone to the vibe here. But now, it has progressed over to a level of controlled anger that is a little difficult to identify. Manhattan seems to have worked through some of its grief, which I had clearly not done yet...until I got here. After 9/11, I chose this church as my conduit to help because they had taken on feeding and housing the rescue workers and they needed help. It was meaningful to me to sit here and reflect on what had happened. It remains beyond my understanding that anyone thought that destroying so many innocent lives would accomplish anything. There is the sadness that remains with me. Those people who believe that it accomplished something are still out there. Many people have told me that it would not help them to go there. Some have said it is too emotional to see it. I must tell you that it is not what it was after the attacks. It helped me to go there and see for myself. On the blur of 9/12/2001, Cheri and I loaded up and drove from Steamboat back to Dallas. If the world was going to explode, we wanted to be near our son. Seven days later, I flew with a small group of dads from Dallas to Boston. Remember that one group of terrorists took off from Logan Airport. Boston was so pained by that fact. It was the first time any of us had seen black-suited and masked soldiers with automatic weapons in an American airport. US flights had just begun again. At that point, the security searches were diligent and scary. Our group of dads attended a four game series between the Red Sox and Tigers at Fenway Park. None of us had ever been to a game at Fenway, but most of us had been to Boston before. We had planned this trip for over a year. Even after 9/11, the vote to go forward with the trip was unanimous. Our first game was Thursday night and it lived up to all our hopes, with an emotional and totally unexpected bonus. We all watched the news each day and Manhattan continued to smoke and smolder as rescue workers tried as hard as they could to find some hope. It weighed heavily on us all as we tried to have a good time. As you walk into Fenway, no matter who the Red Sox' opponent is that week, t-shirts with the slogan..."Yankees Suck" are everywhere. There are more aggressive messages on shirts as well. You get the idea. I suspect there is no need for me to explain the intensity of the Boston/NewYork rivalry. At the seventh inning stretch of any Major League Baseball game, everyone stands up and stretches. Usually, everyone sings along with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Occasionally, a ballpark will change it up and everyone sings "God Bless America," but most go with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." In one of the most stirring and stunning moments in my life, the entirety of Fenway Park in Boston stood for the seventh inning stretch to join in a particularly enthusiastic version of "New York, New York." I have never enjoyed a Frank Sinatra tune more. There was not a reluctant participant or a dry eye in the house. Grown men in "Yankees Suck" t-shirts sang their hearts out as tears streamed down their faces. It was so magnificent and I have chills just writing about it. The moment was repeated for each of my three nights there. I will never forget it. |
October 7, 2007 Volleyball and the South
We flew to Atlanta, Georgia. Then we drove a few hours. We had to hurry. The first volleyball game started at 6pm. We got there. I
had driven way, way too fast. Still we did not get there until after the first two points had been scored in the first game of the match.
I hate it when I am late.
Our niece plays volleyball for the University of South Carolina at Aiken. Missy is not actually our niece. She is my wife's first cousin's
daughter. That makes Missy a cousin, I suppose. You will read in things that I have written before that she and many others in the
family are my niece(s). They may or may not be that. She has always called me "Uncle" Eric. So have the others that may or may
not actually be my niece. I love them all, so what's it to you? Don't be asking too many questions. I bog down enough when I am
completely on my own.
In the two matches that I just attended, I love that the players make eye contact when offering congratulations after the matches.
There appears to be a genuine respect for the game and for the other players. In boys athletics, any congratulations has generally
become a token gesture with very little meaning. With the focus right smack dab on Missy, I really like this photo.
Volleyball stats are interesting to an old fat guy like me.
Defensively, there are Digs and Blocks. Total Blocks include Solo Blocks and Block Assists. Offensively, there are Kills, Hitting
Percentage (Kills that worked vs. Kills that missed), Assists and Service Aces. As in other sports with which I am much more
familiar, these stats are measures of ability and effectiveness of the player. Coaches and players pay close attention to the
numbers. Playing time may be determined by the numbers as well as subjective judgments by the coach. It is unusual for a player
to be outstanding in both offensive and defensive skills. The truth is in the stats. Excelling in Kills and in Digs and Blocks is rare.
My niece, Missy (12), holds several career statistical rankings at her university. All that means is that she is among the best
athletes that have ever played volleyball at USCA. She deserves mention when talking about any all-around volleyball athlete in the
Peach Belt Conference.
She is the only player in the PBC to be ranked in hitting percentage, blocks and digs. Last year, she finished fourth in the league in
blocks per game, second on the team in hitting percentage and fourth in service aces. On 9/9/2006, Missy notched a
"triple-double" against Presbyterian with 11 kills, 11 blocks and 14 digs. She has had 27 career double digit Dig matches; 34
career matches with double digit Kills. On this night, against a very formidable rival, Missy had 12 Kills, 3 Blocks, and 13 Digs. The
truth is in the numbers. She is a stud.
There are seven volleyball players in USCA history who have achieved 1,000 Kills
in their career at the school. Missy will be the eighth within the next few weeks.
Here comes the best part.
Since she was born, Missy has had a competitive intensity that has permeated
every part of her life. She is feisty. She is beautiful and smart. Her ability to love
and be loved by her family holds the same intensity as her athletic achievements.
My favorite moments with her are when her eyes sparkle, and I see her as a
trouble-causing seven year old again. It happens often. She maintains a healthy
view on athletics and their role in her life. Missy knew that her athletic abilities
could allow her to get a college education at a terrific school. She was right. Missy
will graduate in May with her college degree. Still, she will always struggle to beat
me at cards.
More interesting than volleyball stats to an old fat guy like me... is Missy.
We love you and we are very proud of you.
We flew to Atlanta, Georgia. Then we drove a few hours. We had to hurry. The first volleyball game started at 6pm. We got there. I
had driven way, way too fast. Still we did not get there until after the first two points had been scored in the first game of the match.
I hate it when I am late.
Our niece plays volleyball for the University of South Carolina at Aiken. Missy is not actually our niece. She is my wife's first cousin's
daughter. That makes Missy a cousin, I suppose. You will read in things that I have written before that she and many others in the
family are my niece(s). They may or may not be that. She has always called me "Uncle" Eric. So have the others that may or may
not actually be my niece. I love them all, so what's it to you? Don't be asking too many questions. I bog down enough when I am
completely on my own.
In the two matches that I just attended, I love that the players make eye contact when offering congratulations after the matches.
There appears to be a genuine respect for the game and for the other players. In boys athletics, any congratulations has generally
become a token gesture with very little meaning. With the focus right smack dab on Missy, I really like this photo.
Volleyball stats are interesting to an old fat guy like me.
Defensively, there are Digs and Blocks. Total Blocks include Solo Blocks and Block Assists. Offensively, there are Kills, Hitting
Percentage (Kills that worked vs. Kills that missed), Assists and Service Aces. As in other sports with which I am much more
familiar, these stats are measures of ability and effectiveness of the player. Coaches and players pay close attention to the
numbers. Playing time may be determined by the numbers as well as subjective judgments by the coach. It is unusual for a player
to be outstanding in both offensive and defensive skills. The truth is in the stats. Excelling in Kills and in Digs and Blocks is rare.
My niece, Missy (12), holds several career statistical rankings at her university. All that means is that she is among the best
athletes that have ever played volleyball at USCA. She deserves mention when talking about any all-around volleyball athlete in the
Peach Belt Conference.
She is the only player in the PBC to be ranked in hitting percentage, blocks and digs. Last year, she finished fourth in the league in
blocks per game, second on the team in hitting percentage and fourth in service aces. On 9/9/2006, Missy notched a
"triple-double" against Presbyterian with 11 kills, 11 blocks and 14 digs. She has had 27 career double digit Dig matches; 34
career matches with double digit Kills. On this night, against a very formidable rival, Missy had 12 Kills, 3 Blocks, and 13 Digs. The
truth is in the numbers. She is a stud.
There are seven volleyball players in USCA history who have achieved 1,000 Kills
in their career at the school. Missy will be the eighth within the next few weeks.
Here comes the best part.
Since she was born, Missy has had a competitive intensity that has permeated
every part of her life. She is feisty. She is beautiful and smart. Her ability to love
and be loved by her family holds the same intensity as her athletic achievements.
My favorite moments with her are when her eyes sparkle, and I see her as a
trouble-causing seven year old again. It happens often. She maintains a healthy
view on athletics and their role in her life. Missy knew that her athletic abilities
could allow her to get a college education at a terrific school. She was right. Missy
will graduate in May with her college degree. Still, she will always struggle to beat
me at cards.
More interesting than volleyball stats to an old fat guy like me... is Missy.
We love you and we are very proud of you.
| October 17, 2007 Two Wolves I did not write this. I do not know who did or I would give them credit. It was sent to me via email and is just to good to throw away. Also, I have never taken any photographs of wolves. So you get a recent, nice Denver sunset because the Rockies are in the World Series. It is a little random, but life goes on. One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence,empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed." |
October 31, 2007 Missy is a Killer
I wrote about my niece, the volleyball player, earlier this month.
Missy (#12) called the other night to tell me she got the 1,000th kill of her career.
You heard it here first.
Not many have done it.
She is a killer.
Way to go, Miss.
I will leave you this Halloween with a little Maui moonlight.
Missy (#12) called the other night to tell me she got the 1,000th kill of her career.
You heard it here first.
Not many have done it.
She is a killer.
Way to go, Miss.
I will leave you this Halloween with a little Maui moonlight.