Friday, June 14, 2013

The Big Declutter: Day 4.5


Walking through my neighborhood in the early evening ...


Okay, so I sort of forgot to post yesterday. And it's not like I did too much anyway, but I did a little bit, and I should have posted about it, if only to make the point that doing a little bit a day is not doing nothing. It's doing a little bit of something.

All I did was recycle the collection of boxes that have been living in the cabinet under my bathroom sink forever. We don't have a recycling bin upstairs, so I throw empty product boxes into the cabinet and let them fester. (Fortunately, they don't actually fester. They just sit there.) So yesterday I took three minutes to pull them out and break them down and put them in the box I'm gathering the upstairs' recycling in as I declutter. That's it. Just a little bit, but something.

My decluttering project got interrupted this week by two writing assignments. One's here, if you care to look. It's about blueberries in North Carolina. Not too exciting, really, but it was fun to write. Another is about fathers and baseball. It's going to be posted on Father's Day, and I'll post the link when it's up.

Speaking of baseball, Will's team won its championship game on Wednesday night. It's been a good season, especially after his dismal basketball season with his lame basketball coach. His baseball coaches have been awesome. They're tough, but they also praise and they've taught the kids so much.

Here's my favorite coach story from this season. Two games ago, a kid on our team named Sam was at bat, and he got hit by a pitch. It wasn't an intentional hit--the pitcher didn't have the kind of control to hit him intentionally, and anyway, that doesn't really happen at this level of ball.

Anyway, the pitch knocked Sam's tooth out--a permanent tooth, I might add. The ump called time out, and Sam left the field, and somebody found his tooth (thank goodness). Sam departed with his parents to find an emergency dentist. The pitcher stayed on the mound, looking miserable. He really hadn't meant to clobber Sam. He was just trying to get the ball into the catcher's glove. At this level of ball, getting the ball into the catcher's mitt is a really big deal.

The ump called time-in. So one of our coaches, Coach Guy, ran across the field to resume his position as first base coach, but on his way, he stopped at the pitcher's mound and patted the pitcher on the back, like he was saying, "Don't worry about it, son--accidents happen." 

And then our head coach, Coach Stewart, who was coaching third base, walked out to the mound and shook the pitcher's hand. He patted the kid on the shoulder. No hard feelings. Don't let it throw you off your game. You're doing great.

I got a little weepy then. Because it's not every day you see such incredible displays of decency and good sportsmanship. It's not every day someone models that kind of stuff for your kid. I'm happy Will's team had such a great season, but I'm even happier that he had such great coaches.

9 comments:

Heather said...

That's a great story. I hope everything turned out all right with the tooth.

Jo said...

Mmmm, blueberries. Ours are flaunting their red, red leaves right now.
I think even tiny amounts of decluttering lift a little weight off the spirits and the house. I have been contemplating cleaning out my bathroom cupboards, for oh, about 6 months now... it is a little nagging annoyance at the back of my brain. Drives me nuts, but not enough to actually DO it!

Pom Pom said...

Yes, there are some baseball coaches AND parents who do not know how to behave themselves. I'm glad your coaches are gentlemen.
You'll appreciate this, after sitting in the dentist's chair for 2.5 hours and getting a new crown yesterday, I was munching Fritos and broke ANOTHER filling and now I have to go back and have yet one more crown. I knew you'd feel sorry for me.
I filled one garbage bag today! Now, to the Goodwill.

Angela said...

Oh that adult, 'professional' sportspeople behaved like that and displayed such decency. Hope Sam's tooth recovers, and ALL the team appreciate what happened.

Read your article, wish I could get to the blueberry festival!

Tracy said...

None of our kids have ever wanted to get involved in sports outside of school and I have always been a bit scared for crazy coaches. Those men sound like the kinds of people you want your sons to grew up like, ya know. How awesome that Will has been able to experience such a good example of positive community.

I reckon clearing out collections from bathrooms is not 'nothing'. That's the kinda stuff I just never get to so I'm applauding you!!

Everyday Life On A Shoestring said...

You make a very good point. Every little helps when it comes to decluttering and keeping the momentum for decluttering going!

Leslie said...

We were just talking about blueberries this morning, the husband and I, as we ate them with grapefruit. I don't remember eating them as a kid. Mike thinks maybe we didn't have them back then (snort)and I think they were too expensive. I don't know who is right but I am sure glad we have them now. Your beautiful pictures and writing make me want to come to NC. I've only been there once many moons ago. Great baseball story, too.

Gumbo Lily said...

I love blueberries and I don't ever remember eating them as a kid. I think Leslie's hubby is right....we didn't have them. Perhaps only people who grew them had them, but we didn't. We only had the fake ones in the muffin mix.

I hope Sam's tooth was saved. I felt bad for the pitcher and I am glad he felt bad about it. Some kids don't care. The coaches were gentlemen and fine ones.

~Jody

The dB family said...

Oh my heart! They do indeed sound like wonderful coaches!

I so want to grow my own blueberries. I LOVE blueberries!

Blessings!
Deborah