a ball field, and memories made

Sometimes on lunchtime

walks I just walk

and other times

I think of all the hours

I’ve spent here —

the proverbial “here” —

a ball field, and

memories made,

friendships found in
camaraderie, lessons forged

through grit and pain,

character of integrity

reinforced through

following Coach’s guidance,

remaining teachable,

knowing shortcuts now

meant shortcuts in all of life.

Softball wasn’t just a game

but a seasoned discipline,

a thrill of wind and velocity,
something to perfect,

an expression of skill,

one of my greatest

joys from 9 to 17,

one of the idols

in my heart I
eventually extinguished.

One obsession of many

which ultimately led

to a distorted

view of myself.

Who was I if not an athlete?

or so I thought then.

I can wander past

a diamond now

with warm memories

and hope the same lessons

for my own daughters —

—through different means —

soaring into well-deserved

successes and stretching
through challenges,

teaming with others toward

good goals, and

launching into more.