Monday, September 21, 2009

Back in the Saddle


Tenacity is a pretty fair substitute for bravery, and the best form of tenacity I know is expressed in a Danish fur trapper’s principle: “The next mile is the only one a person really has to make.”
Eric Sevareid

Last April I wrote a post about my youngest son, Ian, the high school baseball player. How he had endured an odd hip fracture while swinging the bat. Needless to say, it ended his season. Took him out for the summer as well, and required months of rest.

Yesterday, I sat in the bleachers and watched that boy come up to bat once again. His choice, he signed up for Select Fall Ball. No one else in the stands may have known, but I understood the anxiety he held standing in that batting box.

Poised in his stance, he watched four pitches -- all balls. He trotted to first base. Safely. No hitches in his step. Second at bat, the same - four errant throws and another trot for a free base. Third up? He swung and missed. Next pitch he fouled off into the parking lot. Then, struck out looking. Fourth, and final at bat for the day, he connected for a chopper to second. Safe at first on a Fielder's Choice.

Back in the saddle.

On the two hour drive home from San Antonio, he critiqued his play. Recanted the plays he'd made from the outfield - balls caught and throws made. Assessed where he needs to improve. Pleased his arm is back, even though he admits rust.

I reminded him that the kids he's playing with finished the season last spring and played all summer. Told him how proud of himself he should be for climbing back on the horse. He smiled.

Did I have that tenacity and persistence at 17 years of age? I doubt it. Proud of that boy, I am.

However, it does sit my butt back in the bleachers on weekends. I hate to say it, but I didn't miss melting into the metal in 100+ degree heat all summer. But I did miss watching my boy play.

Onward to next weekend's game, the next horse. And the next mile.

26 comments:

  1. Good for him for being back in action with fall ball! Sitting on bleachers on weekends forces my butt to slow down too.
    Wait does high school ball mean we will have to drive that far to other schools??

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  2. That's great. I relate to this post. I have two boys, not quite in high school, but they are both huge into baseball. Even without any injuries, I sense their apprehension every time they get up to bat. For them, there is always the risk of failure. You should be very proud of your son.

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  3. Good for "The Boy" How proud he must of been to be able to do something he enjoys and wasn't able too for a while. I know you tease but I am sure you are just as happy as he is.. "your good mother" is showing my friend as you drive him to where he wants to go.
    Have a great day.......:-) Hugs

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  4. A lovely post. Mine never played much sports, but I understand the watching at the sidelines thing very well as they've both just flown the nest.

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  5. I'm glad your son is back in the saddle, and hope his season progresses well!

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  6. That's just awesome that he didn't let his apprehension get the better of him ... that fracture must have really hurt, but it would have been a shame to let the memory of that keep him from doing something he loves. I had my first taste of this accidents in sports thing last week at Garrett's football game...another little boy got tackled and piled on, and then didn't get up. They're only six/seven years old, and my heart just stopped and I got that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. He finally got up, with just the wind having been knocked out of him, but I thought HOLY CRAP, we have another 13 years of this? I'm not sure I can take it! (I also had to leave the game early because it was so hot on those metal bleachers that I got sick...must remember umbrella and battery fan next time!)

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  7. Oh, that was great. Felt just like I was there, Jules. So happy Ian is back in the saddle and that you get to enjoy it.

    I remember my girls' time on the ballfields, which seemed constant, and my butt melting or freezing into the metal bleachers. Despite all the hassles of those days, I miss seeing the girls play, nervous and excited, tentative but ready, tough and ballsy. Yeah, I especially like that last one.

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  8. Love the quote and this story. I'm pretty sure you get some credit for his willingness to walk that next mile. Enjoy your time together.

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  9. Thank you for your following...I notice my very good friend Bernie has commented above...any friend of Bernie's is a friend of mine!

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  10. He sounds like quite a resilient guy. I also did my time in the bleachers with football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. You might say that I spent a large part of my life in the bleachers and I made so many good friends there. Glad he's back in the saddle.

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  11. Trust me, you will miss those bleachers some day. Our daughter played soccer all through high school - made varsity as a freshman. It was some of the best days of our lives. We have friends that we still see, and we all say how much we miss soccer. I went to the wedding of one of her soccer friends this last weekend. Bitter-sweet it is to see them grown up.

    Your son sounds like he has great spirit. Just like his mother.

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  12. Very sweet post! I can tell how proud you are of him. And he sounds like a strong-willed young man to hop right back in the saddle again. It was a great moment for both of you to share!

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  13. It's so nice to hear about kids like yours. Tenacity and a willingness to search themselves are so important. I'm sure his season will only improve!

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  14. I felt for you having to watch him get back into the game again after time out with injury. But he looks to be coping well and enjoying himself - that's what mums are for - to give quiet support and never to let on that inside they are pretty terrified. Well done both of you!

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  15. Lovely post, Julie. I could so relate to this. Week after week this summer I watched my son repeatedly go up on the starting blocks. My heart was walking outside of me and all I could do was watch it go. I don't know how these kids do it.

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  16. Wow, what a great kid! Congrats to him. And to you too, for sitting on those bleachers. I do remember my bleacher days, watching my son play little league baseball. I can just feel the chill in the air right now... I don't miss the bleacher part! ;)

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  17. Tenacity, indeed! For the love of the game. *sigh*

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  18. I've just become a "sports" parent. Coincidentally, I have planned to write about it soon.

    I can feel that you are so proud of your son, and I'm sure, your other son too. (Did I miss any other kids you have? :) )

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  19. For the opening quotes alone, your blog is worth visiting. But then, of course, you follow each quote with your own great heart and love, and suddenly I find myself rooting for a baseball player.

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  20. I am sure you are proud of him.. He is brave...

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  21. Great story...and what a great son you have! I can't imagine how you felt watching him play, that first time. I would have been anxious. Or how he must of been feeling his first time swinging. He is brave and you are right, tenacious!

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  22. Glad to hear that your tenacious son has recovered. I bet that is hot watching baseball there.

    My 8 year old son has already given up on baseball (much to my disappointment--and he was showing a lot of talent with it). He likes soccer and is trying basketball in a few months.

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  23. Hi Julie!
    thank you for your lovely comment and following the blog.
    now, you're going to laugh i've tried to understand the rules of baseball and never could..well..we don't have much the occasion to see a match here in Spain..
    and yes...you can be proud of your son! being tenacious at a young age is great

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  24. Yes, you have much to be proud of in him!!!! Such an inspiration to the rest of us of patience and perseverance!! I give a standing ovation to your son! ~Janine XO

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