Softball: We, the Wounded (A Rare Appeal to Replenish our Ranks)
Dear People,
Chris Fure’s team shoved my own into the sordid ashbin of aerobic history, 15-6, and I can tell ya, it’s an odiferous and utterly contemptible locale in which to end your days. In fairness, nearly half of my contingent was physically battered in one way or another, and yet we were surprisingly stout in the face of it all. Indeed, Jeff W was on the mound the entire game despite his still fragile recovery from knee surgery, while Deb heroically agreed to play even though she was suffering from a pulled-spasmodic-lower-back-thingy. Yeah, we started off hurt, and hurt badly, and yet because the Lord is clearly indifferent to the imperatives of athletic justice, it only got worse.
For example, in the 4th inning Kira was calmly fielding a high fly ball to deep center right, when, for reasons I don’t pretend to understand, she suddenly decided to try and catch the orb with her totally exposed left shin. It was later suggested that this may have been a subconscious attempt to ‘balance’ the pain she was already feeling on her lower right chin, which, unlike her shin, had been pelted just minutes earlier by a wayward intra-inning throw. Perhaps, and yet as alternative therapeutic attempts at the harmonization of bodily sensations go, I think this was really ill-advised.
In any case, my knee, back, and shin were all in fine fiddle throughout the day, but when I ignored Pace’s frantic exhortations to run back and instead charged forward on Chris’ 4th inning blast to left—only to have it streak past my spastically outstretched arm—it was my fragile athletic self-confidence that shattered anew. Indeed, knees, backs, and shins can all ache to the very marrow of the bone, but rare is the tender ego that can ever respond to Tylenol. And therefore there will be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11, IF I get enough commits by this Friday morning…Raymond
PS: A Special Notice of Vital Organizational Import:
Given how many of our regulars have recently diappeared or been injured or whatever, and more distressingly, how many of our healthy semi-regulars appear consistently indifferent to my pitiful pre-match pleas, I have decided to open up the community to several more new players. In brief, it is time for one more round of robust organic renewal.
SO, if you know anyone who would occasionally like to play some succulent unaffiliated email-organized softball and you think they would fit in well with your fellow recreational loons, please let them know there are openings, or better yet, forward this email to them so that they can write me directly.
Finally: For those thinking of joining us, you should tell me a little bit about yourself (including the usual info, such as your approximate softball level and your favorite early-medieval athlete). In exchange, here’s a little taste of what we’re all about:
http://eslnotes.com/ray/6.html
PPS: If you’re one of those who I just added from my backup roster, do not be frightened. You never have to play or even respond, but if you’re still really convinced that just being part of this makes you unclean, I’d be happy to remove you from this list.
10/31/08
Softball: Clockwork
Dear People,
There will probably be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11AM, and as of now, there are still four slots left. Please note that if it rains a lot between now and then, or climatic conditions are ambiguous that morning, you will need to check your email. Remember that we are a determined and stoic people by temperament, so if it’s just a small risk of drizzly-pooh, we will not be deterred. Regardless, please be aware that it’s a bit tricky organizing these games when the weather sucks (both because I need to personally check the field conditions and because people are coming from all over the Bay Area), but I’ll do my best to get a final notice out by 10AM.
Also, be aware that this weekend is Daylight Savings, so you will need to set back your clock one hour on Saturday Night. If you forget to do so, you may end up at the park an hour early—alone, frightened and feeling like the chronological dufus that you really don’t want to be.
$3 for the field, assuming it happens/Happy Halloween to you and yours….Raymond 845-7552
11/2/08
Softball: Yes, we can, baby!!
Dear fellow stout athletes,
The contemptible rain clouds have parted, the Nexrad radar is dry, the sun is shining as I write, and best of all, I have never been prouder of a city park’s drainage! Yep, she is somewhat damp but basically unpuddled and best of all, yearning for the presence of our tiny little feets.
No excuses (lest you cause me unspeakable organizational grief) /Glory is ours/No shovels necessarySee ya at 11…Ray 845-7552
PS: If you didn’t set your clock back last night, do it now…
PPS: I need one more commit to make 20; Be a hero!…