Out in California
Okay I am taking the plunge. It has certainly taken long enough. I used to blog on a consistent basis when I was at WUSA. But when I left the station I left my blogging desire there at the station. The Blog Master Rick Garner was no longer hovering over my desk demanding a blog entry and so I enjoyed the freedom.
But over time my little blog itch began again..and so here I am. A lot has happened since my last blog entry. We are in California and it’s the first visit here since we came for the funeral of our dear friend Rory Markas.
Just about every year we make the sojourn west to come see family and friends and to do a little business. This trip is no different. But it feels odd coming here during the heart of the baseball season and not giving Rory a call. The routine was always the same. I’d call and leave a message, and we’d trade voice mail messages. Eventually we would connect and we’d try our best to synchronize our schedules. Usually it would be a lunch planned along his route from the Antelope Valley to the ballpark in Orange County.
The lunch would include reminiscences of some dumb things we had done together years ago. We would catch up on each other, and get the latest updates on our families. Kate would ask him “When are you going to get married?’ Invariably I’d quiz him about the Angels, the division and baseball in general. He’d usually have some fun story about a player or a colleague to share. At some point he’d look at his watch and say “I’ve got to go.” His life was harried and fast paced, of course ours was as well.
I can remember every year when the schedule would come out, I’d look to see when the Angels were coming to Baltimore to play the Orioles. Then I’d start trading emails with Rory to figure out a plan, so we could go out for drinks or dinner while he was in town. The last time we did it, Courtney was along and the three of us had a great visit. Like always he made us laugh, and our rib cages hurt when we walked out.
So much has changed now. I don’t check the schedule. I don’t look at the box scores. I don’t even check to see how the team is doing in the division. It’s just too painful. I asked my sister while we were in L.A., so who is doing the games for the Angels now. ”I don’t know” she replied. She can’t listen, listening is a reminder of what we’ve lost. I still don’t know who is sitting in that seat. It would require a quick google search, but it too would be a reminder of what we’ve lost.
This trip comes 28 years after I had the happiest day of my life in California. The day when I walked down the aisle and married my wife. My good friend was there as best man. At the time our lives were right there in front of us.
Now 28 years later Kate and I are here to celebrate our anniversary. We hit Fisherman’s Wharf just a couple of days ago. In those 28 years I lost a good friend, and my mother passed away. We’ve raised two wonderful children, and they’ve gone out to conquer the world. On this trip we hit the Convalescent Hospital to see Kate’s mom. So much has changed, so much life has been lived.
LIfe is funny, you don’t really know what you have until it’s gone. But with loss comes wisdom. I embrace each day as though it’s special, because I know it is. We are staying at Kate’s sisters home and there is a great sign in the kitchen. It reads:
Work as though you don’t need any money
Love as though you have never been hurt
And Dance like no one is watching.
For those of you who have seen me dance, you know those three simple statements describe my life.
