The Boys of Summer

My husband and I have found an enjoyable way to spend our summer evenings by watching the Leesburg Lightning play ball. The Leesburg Lightning are one of six teams in Central Florida and are currently number one in the league. The young men who play in this league are all in college but these are not their college teams.

One of the reasons we enjoy watching them play is that the players are all nice young men. When they stop to talk to you, they are polite and bright young men. They are respectful and look you in the eye while answering questions with "Yes, Ma'am" and No, Ma'am". Not that I am ready to be called Ma'am, but it is nice to realize that there are young men out there who have been taught manners. 

At one of the recent games, two of the pitchers were taking a break and sitting in the far end of the stands, near the bull pen where they should have been. We later learned sitting in the stands was a big problem when one of the coaches chastised them but for a few moments we were witnesses to a precious moment in life that won't be quickly forgotten. As these two young men sat there watching their team win, two young boys about 8 or 9 approached them. One of the boys asked the ball players if they could sit with them. The ball player answered yes. The second boy said he didn't want to sit but he would stand by the fence. Before you know it, there were a few more boys there and then questions started to fly.

"Have you hit a home run?", one boy asked. "How many runs have you batted in?"asked another. The baseball players answered and then asked some of their own. "Do you play ball?" "Who is your coach?" The crack of the bat interrupted them as the player at bat broke the bat. The boys giggled with excitement.

When the player at bat got a new bat and play started again, I asked if they would mind if I took a picture. The young men and the boys all agreed so I was able to capture just a moment in time of The Boys of Summer.

The Whole World Celebrates

As I listen to the breaking news that Osama Bin Laden is dead the tears are running down my face. I am not sure why I am crying since so many others are celebrating the news of his death.

I am proud of my country. It has taken almost ten years to finally capture and kill the person responsible for the largest tragedy in my lifetime. September 11, 2001 saw the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon, and the attempted attack on the White House that was prevented by American hero's on board Flight 93 that was supposed to be the source of destruction. Praise God for the safe return of the service members that participated in this historic event. Listening to the news, there are many countries that are supporting the actions of President Barak Obama. This one time, I am supporting him as well. 

These events make me think of my grandmother, Verla Walter Dietsch because she was so opposed to me going to Japan in 1985. She was very outspoken against Japan because she lived through the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the war that followed. She sacrificed and worried about her family and friends that were fighting. She never got over the feelings that event in her life created. She wrote me a letter while I was in Japan and told me her feelings and was so afraid that I would come to harm while I was there. I am glad that I was able to spend time with her in 1987 and talk to her about what a lovely country Japan was and how kind the Japanese people were to me. I don't know that she believed me but I tried. When I returned home in 1989, she was very happy that I was finally away from Japan.

I am wondering what is going to happen now. Will there be retaliation? Will we loose more service members lives? Will there be another attack on our shores?

There have been some heartwarming moments displayed on the news tonight. The crowd that gathered at the White House and sang. The people of New York who gathered at Ground Zero, the site of the Twin Towers to mourn again the ones who were lost and to celebrate that justice was finally served. I am struck by how patriotic everyone seems to be, right now, at this moment in time.

Compared to my grandmother, I have not had to sacrifice anything. Those of us who were not service members have not had to give up any comforts in order for Osama Bin Laden to be found. There are many families who have been harmed by the death or injury of a loved one on September 11, 2001 through the present date. While the loss of over 3000 civilians caused great media attention, the continued loss of service members have not garnered much media attention. As the mother of a service member, I am constantly aware of those losses because "there but for the grace of God, go I."

I cried because I was happy. I cried because I was relieved. I cried because I am worried that there will be more tragedy. I cried because I do not want to mourn the loss of any more service members during this war. Most of all, I cried because I could not hug my son who has been serving in the U. S. Army since this conflict began and he is not here, with me, safe at home. Even though America's biggest enemy has been killed, my son will continue to serve our country. I am very proud of him.

For my grandmother who died in 1999, I understand how you felt because now I have experienced an attack on our country. I wondered if you cried when you heard the news of Japan's surrender and then the end of the war. I hope to know that feeling, when this is really over.