Reasons for Sorrow, Reasons for Hope

    Maybe some folks are desperate. Perhaps there are billions? Some people in the United States are poor, or distraught (despite the millions of money they may have), with mental or physical issues, or problems outside of the norm. For instance, brain cancer. A dying spouse, or a loved one far away. Maybe there is a sailor on a ship for many months who is despondent, or perhaps someone in their home is being persecuted or displaced.

    Some people are hungry. I gave away an Army MRE (meal ready to eat) to a beggar on the street. He waits for our traffic to stop at some lights in the in the bigger city.

    We have many reasons to take great hope.

    Many.

    I can name many.

    I will later.

When I Feel Less Than, or Inadequate, it Should not Lead to Depression or Envy

    But it can. It does, for some moments. Or hours. Maybe days.

    However, some things will shake me from the doldrums. Others. A book. A song.

    Life and work, maybe family or wonder.

    I am not that bad.

    I can be really good!

    I can be high and hubristic.

    Not the best, prideful and pompous. Or more likely vain.

    Vanity, and wrong feelings.

    And maybe sloth and gluttony enter in.

    As we may be.

    This is how we can be. Could be.

    We are.

    I dance like a fool.

    I can think like one, too.

    We all do, and can.

    But: I may be redeemed.

    I will.

    And I will not think that that guy or that guy is so much better than me, and I less desirable.

    I am desirable, too.

A Favorite Author for Every Genre, Every Time

A Favorite Author for Every Genre,  Every Time, Every Place

    I asked a few teachers who their favorite authors were. English teachers. Henry David Thoreau, Toni Morrison. The English teacher from Peru was about... Juno someone? Well, at least a Dominican. But I think he is more into English. And Star Wars.

    When the two ladies asked me, I was kind of stuck. But then I replied: my favorite war author is Jeff Shaara. Yeah, that is an answer.

    But I have favorite authors for others things, all the other types.

    Right.

    Sci-fi? Arthur C. Clarke.

    Etcetera.

Patrick Corbin: One of the Biggest Losers of All Time, but a Champion and a Hero

    The Nationals, a franchise that I have rooted for since 1981, acquired this guy in 2019. That Nats had been good for a good stretch. He helped push them over the top. The regular season pitching was bolstered by him, they qualified for the Wild Card, he contributed to the team going on and on and winning the whole enchilada, the Fall Classic, the 2019 World Series.

    Yes! Corbin et al were champions! Scherzer and Strasburg were the workhorses, but Corbin was a big reason why it all happened. Clutch hitting by many Nats was key, of course, too. It is a team sport.

    Of course, we then lost Rendon, and I think Scherzer, and then Strasburg to injury, and Trea Turner, and Soto... Patrick stuck around and racked up lots of losses. Check for sure, but I believe he had the most major league losses three years in a row. Ouch. He was making millions, but his overall record was going the wrong way.

    Now, a couple teams later, he is more competitive and is only slightly below .500. I believe he is only 34, with some years to go. 

    113 wins, 146 losses for the career. Only 180 or so major leaguers have accrued more losses, decisions as the losing thrower on record.

    But I like the guy, and I will always be thankful for him.

    He likely made far more money before 30 years-old than I will make in my life. He is doing all right.

    Long live Corbin. Now get some wins.

    Blog on.

Future You Tube Cast— Map Looking

 I think I could lead it and get some viewers.

Blog it.

 Dixie Ault. Kind Sister, Faithful Woman, Mother and Friend

    I did not know her that well, but in many ways I think that I did. I grew up knowing her and all her kids. 

    An old family friend had just mentioned one her sons, Chris, one evening. She had passed the next day, or that is when I found out.

    I picture her in my memories from decades past: warm, loving, a great soul. 

    Her children bespeak part of her greatness. The eldest, Wayne, serve a mission in Japan, and moved to the DC area as a lawyer. Right? Then Chris, who perhaps stayed in Indiana and got into the coffin business. Right? Did he serve in Japan, too. I cannot remember. I thought that he was a wonderful baby sitter. Funny, classy guy. Maybe he served in Italy. Or was that Matt, who came next? I recall one of them showing photos and sharing memories and experience of the Roman peninsula.

    The last three I knew best. Tommy went to Taiwan. He loved it, he was blown away. He married a local girl from that island. Did he live in Paris, Illinois? Where I have family now? I bumped into him in Nauvoo, Illinois. That, maybe in 1997. Or 1998.

    April. A family and church friend who was my age. We hung out a few times growing up. She invited me to audition for a part in a musical our senior year. I made it and we did it. Amazing memory for me. Did she serve a mission? Hmmm. I think so? Man, my memory. Married and had kids. Like her brothers. Men and women of faith, like their mom and dad.

    Andy. We hung out quite a few times, upon him returning from his mission in Argentina. We later helped our friend Dave start up a charity. It did not last too long, But it helped some Guatemalan children have a better future.

    Dixie was part of our better past, present, and future. 

    She has now joined Curtis, another beloved part of my past, my hometown, my church, my life.

    Great and sweet memories trace back to the 1970s, and now on into the eternities.

    We love her, and everything that she was about. Family, God, church, and country.

    May we cherish her and her family forever.

Bryce is Coming Up the List

 There he is, tied at 68th all time. 388 career homers.

64.	Jim Edmonds (17)	393	7980	L	HR Log
65.	Manny Machado (15, 33)	392	8683	R	HR Log
66.	Graig Nettles (22)	390	10228	L	HR Log
67.	Johnny Bench+ (17)	389	8674	R	HR Log
68.	Paul Goldschmidt (16, 38)	388	9154	R	HR Log
	Bryce Harper (15, 33)	388	8164	L	HR Log
70.	Aramis Ramírez (18)	386	8986	R	HR Log
71.	Dwight Evans (20)	385	10569	R	HR Log
	Aaron Judge (11, 34)	385	5263	R	HR Log
73.	Harold Baines+ (22)	384	11092	L	HR Log
74.	Larry Walker+ (17)	383	8030	L	HR Log
75.	Freddie Freeman (17, 36)	382	9852	L	HR Log
	Frank Howard (16)	382	7353	R	HR Log
	Ryan Howard (13)	382	6531	L	HR Log
	Jim Rice+ (16)	382	9058	R	HR Log
79.	Albert Belle (12)	381	6676	R	HR Log
80.	Orlando Cepeda+ (17)	379	8699	R	HR Log
	Tony Pérez+ (23)	379	10861	R	HR Log
82.	Matt Williams (17)	378	7595	R	HR Log
83.	Norm Cash (17)	377	7914	L	HR Log
	Jeff Kent+ (17)	377	9537	R	HR Lo

He was at 84th when we checked in May of this year.