FRIDAY STIR FRY: WTF

 

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I just want to give this bunny a hug, but I can't because of social distancing. 

I'm sure I am not the only one experiencing pandemic fatigue. 

This is not what I expected in my retirement. I retired June 2020 when the pandemic was just a few months old. What I heard then from "experts" was this would last about a year, especially if we got a vaccine. Then everything would be back to 'normal'. I could spend time with my son and grandsons. I could spend time with friends. I could hang out without a mask at my local pub and baseball game. 

A year and almost six months later, we are currently in a major surge. Thanks Delta. 

My part of the country has been in the nightly news almost every night this past week. Yep, I live in the backwards Ozarks. I used to be proud to be born and raised in this part of the country. Not so much now. How did we become so stupid. Missouri is the Show Me State, meaning you have to prove things to us. But even though science has proved it, and hospitalizations have proved it, and deaths have proved it, many of my fellow citizens have kept their blinders on. 

I'm tired. I'm vaccinated but that doesn't matter now. Because so many people aren't, I am now more vulnerable. Not to mention my 5 and 2 year old grandsons.

Other countries would love to have even one free vaccine. We have three. What a selfish nation we have become.    

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Redtober

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I'm going to deviate from my usual writing related posts because -

The St Louis Cardinals are in the post season again! 

And they are my team.

But, wait just one minute.

I live in Missouri and we have another team in post season play. Congrats to the Royals. Although I'm a Cards fan, I'll cheer for the boys in blue. Until, that is, we should happen to meet again in an I-70 World Series. Then I'll be all red. And this time we'll win.

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I've been a Cardinal fan all my life. One of my earliest memories are of dad and me listening to the games on his transistor radio on sweltering summer evenings. And one of our first family vacations was to Busch Stadium to watch a game in the early 60's. Perhaps that's why they are my team; those precious memories from childhood.

Springfield is my hometown and although we are closer in distance to KC, our town is predominately red. It helps that we have a Double A Cardinal team here, but the history of the Cards and Springfield goes way back. You can see more here:   http://www.optv.org/programs/documentaries/springfield-cardinals/

There was a survey last week that stated the Cardinals and their fans are the most hated in baseball right now. Mainly because we are so good and the fans are so loyal. Well, excuse us. But, that's exactly the ingredients which make a solid franchise. So while you haters are sitting at home waiting for winter, Cardinal Nation will be savoring every bit of October. Because that's what we do.

Go Cards!

BASEBALL & LIFE

Baseball season has finally started! I love baseball. I’ve heard people say it’s a boring game. Not if you understand the intricacies of the game and the correlation between baseball and life. I can hear some of you right now. “What in the heck are you talking about?” Well, let me explain.

In a baseball game, you have several chances to get a home run. If you don’t hit it out of the park your first time at bat, you are given another try in a later inning. And then (if you learned anything that first time) you make adjustments in your swing. In life, we do much the same. If we don’t get what we want the first time, we make adjustments and most of us give it another go. And if we hit a home run, we might wonder if it’s a fluke or can we do it again?

Sometimes a player gets a hit and makes it to first base. Then, some decisions have to be made. How much of a lead do they take? Do they wait for the next batter to get a hit, or try and steal second base? Again, in life, sometimes we make it to first and it feels safe and we stay put. Other times we yearn for more. What’s it like on second base? Do I have what it takes to get there or will I fall short?

            As most of you know, I made it to first base with Avalon publishing when Editor Lia Brown asked for my manuscript. I sent it and patiently waited on first. Then Lia left Avalon and a few weeks ago I got my manuscript back with a rejection letter on top. I never made it to second base and while I waited on first, precious time was wasted. I should have tried to steal second by contacting other houses or agents.
           That was my first at bat. I’ll make adjustments and my next time at the plate, I’m sure I’ll have better results. After all, it's a long season and anything can happen.