I am so fortunate that I have some flexibility with my job, and I work remotely on Tuesdays. Today, this gave me the opportunity to go and watch my dad play softball. He has played softball/baseball for close to 60 years, and it has been a passion of his for as long as I’ve been alive.
My dad turned 77 years old yesterday, which was March 15. As I look at his life, I am so proud that he is still remaining active and participating in a sport that he enjoys. I truly enjoyed watching these men play ball. This is a 70+ league, and my husband and I were talking to some of the men who were sitting in the audience. I enjoyed hearing some of these men reflect on their younger days when they could hit home runs and run fast. They talked about how much they enjoyed playing, even now in their golden years.
At one point, I got a whiff of the cigarette that someone was smoking. I usually do not like that smell and get very agitated; but today, it literally took me back to my childhood days when we would come out and watch my dad play baseball. It was a huge part of his life, and sometimes we would go as a family and watch the games. I remember playing in the sand and the playground, and I remember that smell of cigarette smoke around the area so vividly. I also saw my dad chewing bubble gum, and that was another memory of my childhood. Dad always had a bag of Dubble Bubble chewing gum in his baseball bag. He just looked so young chewing his bubble gum and sitting in the dugout. It made me so happy!
Not all my memories of watching Dad play baseball were good ones. I remember that baseball was my dad’s passion, even more than being home with us. In my much younger years, my dad’s life was literally work and play. He went to work and then went off to either baseball practice or a game. After his games, he would stick around and drink with his friends. So baseball games weren’t always a fond memory for me. But many years later and seeing how my dad no longer put that first in his life, I can truly enjoy watching him play. Back then, he stuck around with friends to drink. Now, he sticks around to talk to his friends about Jesus; maybe he’s even counseled or prayed for someone at some point.
Today I found joy in watching Dad and all these older men play like young men. Several, including my dad, can still hit that ball so hard! My dad and others are not supposed to run because of their leg injuries, so they have “runners” come in for them after they’ve hit. But even in that, my dad was a bit of an overachiever today. After one of the times he bat, he actually ran! And even though he wasn’t supposed to be running, I couldn’t help but get a little emotional and choked up. There’s my dad – he’s 77 years old, and he’s running to 1st base! He’s doing something that he enjoys! He’s staying active and healthy! He’s alive and breathing and living his best life! I find joy in the opportunity I had to watch this today! I don’t know how long I will have my dad here on earth, or how long he will have me. But today was a special memory that I will always cherish. I saw Dad having fun!
FindJoy 