May 1, 2012

Gathering Dust...



"Gathering Dust"



Not sure how Thing #1 would react seeing a collection of his old wooden bats relegated to a laundry bin in the garage, gathering dust.  Actually, I'm not sure how "I" feel about coming face-to-face with this spectacle while searching the garage for an elusive case of Diet Peach Snapple.  But the reality of the situation is not only do I need to hit the supermarket to replenish my beverage of choice...but Thing #1 is about to hit life full throttle, and it's totally of his own making.  I have mixed emotions, but pride is definitely hitting clean up this season.

I'm not sure anything can connect with my heart more directly right now than a bunch of dusty old bats.  Actually, for those who know me, it's surprising that MOI would treat prized baseball possessions like this so non-chalantly.  At one time I would have gold-plated them and erected a shrine to Thing #1's baseball career...because it was just THAT all-consuming.

This is the path of a kid who started out in t-ball on a sweltering hot summer's day, and reluctantly donned the oppressively hot catcher's gear ONLY because no one else would...and HE wanted to get the game over with so he could go to the pool with a bunch of friends.  A kid who ONLY made the junior high team thru the good graces and pull with the coach of a family friend.  A kid who would have made it to first base alot quicker if ONLY he could get that whole gangly body of his moving in the same direction and a straight line.  A kid who morphed into a young man and top-notch catcher, and signed to play college ball with Penn State (not so surprising since he came home from the hospital in a Penn State one-sie).  As a proud mom I will tell you he was named MVP two years in a row, and team captain his senior year.  It wasn't easy.  He required Tommy John surgery during his sophomore season and fell off the radar which lead to some serious questioning of himself.  But in typical Thing #1 fashion, that kid landed on his feet thru hard work and a sheer stubbornness that still can cause me to want to ring his neck at times.  After college, Thing #1 was signed with the Phillies and played in their minor league system.

And then...Thing #1 surprised us all during Spring Training and hung up his cleats.  Yep, the thing that defined both him and ALL our lives for so many years got relegated to the garage and began to gather dust in a laundry bin.  It was as if our family had been thrown out at home plate, and it was a LOUSY call!  But in typical Thing #1 style, he had already decided it was time to brush off the dirt, and head to...law school.

It's been three years.  And in two weeks...Thing #1 graduates from the Dickinson School of Law at Penn State.  And just to prove he is still batting in his typical clean up spot...he has already procured himself an associateship at a law firm.  He's landed yet again on his feet.  He's not a "kid" anymore...he's definetly an accomplished young "man".

I look at this laundry bin of dusty bats and my heart swells at both all they represented and all they do NOT represent any longer.  And I am surprisingly happy they are gathering dust and no longer  hold such a prominent place in our lives...because life goes on.  That law firm got themselves not only a fine young man and promising lawyer....but also a 6'5" ringer for their law firm softball team!  A shrewd and cunning legal maneuver I would say.

Proud of you kid young man...


--Mom


31 comments:

  1. awww, things change. we have bats and gloves that i just can't part with!!

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  2. Perfect post and photo for PHC. Congrats to your young man and his accomplishments in life.... starting with what was learned on the play field.

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  3. Aww, this brings tears to my eyes. My son will be 16 on the 5/12 and I'm already thinking that I only have 2 more years with him before he goes to college. It's clear you are so proud of your son. What a decision he made. Congrats to him.

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  4. Beautiful story and very nice shot to represent this milestone in both Thing #1's life AND yours! Congratulations :)

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  5. What a wonderful picture and a fabulous story to go along with it!

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  6. What a wonderful post MOM and your photos always look like art. Congrats to Thing #1.

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  7. Kathy, I don't know you or your son, but your beautiful story made me cry. I don't know which touches me more, his accomplishments or your pride in them. Thank you for sharing it. What an awesome photo-heart connection!

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  8. This is fabulous! The photo is so cool, with the perspective you chose and the processing. But your story just grabs at the heart. Beautifully written. Congratulations to your son and to your family!

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  9. Wow! You must be so proud of his perseverance! What a beautiful, heart-felt post!

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  10. Your post brought tears to my eyes.. What a proud mom you are. And your photos pretty darn good also..

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  11. Kathy, this is sooo sweet. What a sweet story and I can only imagine you and your better half's hearts swelling up with immense pride over Thing #1. Congratulations to the three of you! No, to your whole family!

    And, I'm glad to see you back! I was starting to miss you. :) xo

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  12. hi Kathy...what a wonderful post and photo! I can tell from reading your post that you are one very proud mother....

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  13. very heart felt.. sounds like life is going to hand out some new photo opportunites for you and your family... enjoy them.

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  14. awww--love your post and your photo. Congrats to Thing #1 and kudos on the associatship! Your Heart Connection is great - it makes me teary in a good way♥

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  15. Fabulous image, I love the pov and the B&W. I love your words too, beautifully written and so heart felt. Congrats to your son, he sounds like an amazing young man.

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  16. Woe, first off, this picture is incredible. Love it. Anything baseball I love. Second, I Had NO idea your kids were that old. You do not look like you are old enough to have a child graduating law school! Wow! Congrats on Law School - that is quite the accomplishment to say the least for your child!

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  17. As always, I love your stories - what a great connection and how proud you must be!! Not just of thing #1, but all three!!

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  18. Aww what a wonderful story the pulls at the hearts strings of a mom. Sounds like you guys did very well.

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  19. Beautiful story and wonderful photo. Awseome photo-heart connection

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  20. Beautiful post and great image. Thank you for sharing both. - Susan

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  21. life is an adventure..congrats on your boy growing up & hoping he is just as successful in his new arena!

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  22. Oh, such a wonderful post. I understand since I am the mom of a baseball player. He still has it in his blood. He was never the team captain or even a starter, but outside of high school has exceled and continues to be around the game ... managing and umpiring. Like your "Thing" he always lands on his feet with everything being an adventure. Today, after only playing four rounds of golf, he is on the greens with a U.S. Senator. Baseball players are unstoppable. Congratulations. I know he will do well in whatever he does. :)

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  23. Such a fantastic story. You know what I get from this is a story of a young man who is growing and evolving, and who knows who he is and what he wants. It sounds like he doesn't need the baseball bats in his life anymore, what they've taught him and you all has been integrated into who he is as he moves on. Thanks for sharing this lovely story in the Photo-Heart Connection.

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  24. I love both, story and picture.

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  25. What a sweet story about a young man and the path his life took. Love how the photo connects.

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  26. Love the details your captured within this photograph along with your post. Thanks for linking up

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  27. wow a great shot and a great story you have done well in raising him and he has done well in living as he has be proud mama

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  28. Oh my heart! It is a brave thing this "being a mama" - such a roller coaster journey. I have a soon to be 16 year old, an only son and, well, while I feel like I've come this far, roller coaster ride and all, I still have a long way to go! Thanks for sharing this story! :)

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  29. Beautiful!!! The photo and the story! You have such a gift of writing from the heart!!

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