There are many ways to define "after life"
By Fred Klein
For me it is being the oldest player in a highly competitive slow pitch softball league where most players are in their 30s and old is 50.
I am the pitcher and playing Manager for the Gotham Batmen and one of my teammates is my soon to be 50 year old son David.
The plan for this season was to have his son, my 18 year old grandson Jackson, play for the Batmen as part of a 3 generations unit, but the best laid plans were frustrated by Jackson's inopportune case of mono.
Then David went down with a fractured finger and then there was one. Little old Me.
The Batmen finished in second place in the regular season with an 8-3 record and won their first 2 playoff games to achieve the Division title. You should know that Whenever we win it is a thrill for me to scream "It's great to be young and a Batman!"at the top of my lungs immediately following the last out. Why? Because it just is! Fun is more fun when you win.
To give context, I (slow) pitched every inning of every Batmen game, walking only 6 all season in 15 games, while giving up less than 5 runs per game, utilizing a variety of veteran left handed tricks plus a hesitation pitch and knuckle ball.
Playing with house money, we played Tuesday against Brews On First, a team which beat us 5-4 in the regular season.
We got our revenge with an 8-5 win and I was honored to be presented with a calligraphed Game Ball from my Batmen teammates for my fielding and pitching. It is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Last night we played Chaos (9-2 regular season record) for the overall Championship in Central Park. 2 years ago we got to this overall Championship game and lost. So this was a rare second chance for vindication.
Well vindication it was as we won going away by the convincing score of 7-2 and I enjoyed the exquisite joy of being mobbed and piled on after the final out in the rush of victory and it was with extra special relish that I screamed "It's great to be young and a Batman!"
It's like I died and went to Heaven!
P.S. I was awarded a game ball again!
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Do you Promo?
By Corey Bearak
Gotham offers tremendous resources to members who seize the opportunities. It fascinates this observer who in our tribe uses the “devices” and how. I also enjoy using – and sharing information through these means. I welcome the feedback I invariably receive.
Today (aka “Promo Tuesday”), depending on your point of view, we look forward to and/ or endure a “flurry” of Gotham Promos from members touting their wares, services or expertise. I also find intriguing who posts Promos, the content of Promos and whether those who post weekly or twice per week try to differentiate their Promos. I know I pass if I read the Promo content previously.
On more than one occasion via email or when I see someone I suggest those who Promo to differentiate content.
I might also comment if I find the program good or suggest any tweaking I find makes sense. You might consider that. It offers another way to network, to meet and develop a relationship with a Gothamite you do not know or met but have not really interacted with much. Ponder the opportunities. Why not view Promos as an invitation?
Of late I post two times a week but with a different message each time. I aim each different Promo message I devise to get people to at least “look at what Corey says this time.”
Lately, I have reworked these Promos into LinkedIn posts. It enables me to get a second opportunity test a message since LinkedIn shares information on how many views a post generates.
So who reads Promos? Who should read promos? You know my recommendation.
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She's a zealot!
by Mitch Tobol
Here's a real life story...think about who's on what side when you read this.
A couple has been married for more than 30 years. They've always had political differences - she leans one way while he leans the other - but that never prevented them from amicably discussing polictics. However, this all changed during the recent presidential campaign...She has become a nearly fantical ______ supporter, reacting to any criticism, no matter how benign, with vitriol. She now hates the other side and regards people who share those views as simply contemptible. The husband is now weary - and frightened - of her diabtribes and no longer brings up the topic.
Who is she supporting? Does it matter?
The wife in this story is now intolerant of people who don't share her opinion. Her behaviors show she doesn't think her husband is worthy of respect and his reactions indicate he is moving in that same direction.
All of us, at the very least, need to respect one another enough to listen and try to understand. Be heroic.
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Validation
By Cayce Crown
Just recently, a woman I greatly admire - successful in business, family & spiritually-posted this quote on Facebook:
"The woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared person on the planet." - MohadesaNajumi
Heavy stuff, but its Weds, so we can handle it.
I am happy to say that as I get older, I care less and less what people think. I'm on my path and I know the way.
However, sometimes, every one of us can use a little reality check, so I surround myself with people whom I can trust to tell me their truth, not always my truth, but an honest, unmanipulative point of view.
It's invaluable.
So perhaps, I do, on occasion, require validation, but clear, open, untainted ideas, not random opinions of every trend, media outlet, acquaintance, and world leader.
I am intoxicated with the idea of being the "most feared person on the planet," because that is so far from what I am, and, though it sounds powerful, it would be a lonely place to live.
This is a bigger problem for women. As Najumi writes, "in a world where 1 in 3 women are victims of physical or sexual violence, 53% of young girls feel unhappy with their bodies and 65% have eating disorders, women suffer the greatest amount of insecurity, low self-esteem and a general lack of confidence."
So lets all take some time today to encourage any females you have in your journey, to trust their own core and not need to run with the pack.
"The best thing we can do is be comfortable and happy in our skin and in this way no industry, system or group of people can subvert our energies or try to break us down." Thanks, Mohadesa, that goes for everybody.
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Giving and Receiving
by Rona Gura
This blog was written jointly between myself and my daughter Sydney.
Me
Anyone who has read my blog before knows that my fifteen year old daughter, Sydney, is very involved in working with kids with special needs. She is Vice President of her high School chapter of Best Buddies, an organization that pairs mainstream students with students with special needs. As a result, she works every Monday afternoon after school at her Best Buddies meeting with her buddy, Craig. On her off periods during school she will go to Craig’s class to work with him, and spends some of her free time with Craig, having recently taken him trick or treating. As an officer of Best Buddies, she is also expected to be at officer meetings so as to help organize their Monday activities and works to raise funds for their activities.
In addition, Sydney volunteers during the school year at Camp Anchor, which runs winter programs for children and adults with special needs. On Monday afternoons, at the conclusion of her Best Buddies meeting Sydney goes to the Rockville Centre Bowling Alley where she works with special needs kids who are participating in the Camp Anchor bowling league. On alternate Saturdays during the school year, she dedicates her entire day to the Anchor program, getting on a bus at 8:45 a.m. and returning home at about 4:00 p.m.
As Sydney’s mother I am, of course, extremely proud that she is able to give so much of herself and her time. As her mom, however, I have to admit that I also worry about Sydney. I worry about Sydney having balance in her life. I worry about Sydney taking the time just to be a teenager. I worry about Sydney having sufficient time with her friends and activities outside of her time with her special needs friends. I wonder, other than knowing that she is doing something wonderful for others, what else does she receive from all of her giving and is it worth all that she is giving up?
Sydney
I don't even know where to begin describing all that I receive from my friendship with Craig and his classmates. Craig is one of the most amazing people I've ever met. Unlike most kids my age, he's not at all judgmental; he doesn’t care if I'm wearing sweats and look like I just rolled out of bed. He'll take the time to listen to all of my ridiculous problems and really try to find a way to make me feel better. The other day I was complaining to him about a teacher and his response was "You can't shoot her?" His response made us both laugh and even if it was only for a minute, I had forgotten about my problems with the teacher. Lastly, Craig is one of the most appreciative people I have ever met. The Best Buddies recently had a Thanksgiving party. When Craig got there, I could tell he was excited to see me. He handed me a huge bouquet of flowers. I asked him who the flowers were for and he said "The flowers are for you because I love you. " That was probably the nicest thing anyone ever said to me.
So Mom, while you see what I give to Craig, you don't feel all that I receive. And to me, it's so much more than I give.
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Thespians on a Plane
by Benjamin Geizhals
The flight had open seating. As we settled into the seats we had chosen, we heard coughing nearby. It was the young man in the seat in front of us. The young man with the eye patch. As he continued to cough, one of his colleagues asked how he was feeling. “Not so great. The medicine hasn’t kicked in yet...and the doctor isn’t sure whether it’s bacterial or viral.” Then, between hacking coughs, he added. “The doctor said I’m contagious.” We’re getting pretty concerned and I offer Flo a chewable vitamin C tablet. Flo is not happy. The coughing echoes through the plane as people file by and move to empty seats in the back. “At least the eye isn’t oozing anymore” said his colleague — clearly concerned about the well-being of his travel companion. Another friend, sitting across the aisle, offers a barf bag. Flo is getting more and more upset. We consider changing seats, but the plane is too full. A young women stops by the man with the eye patch. She considers the middle seat next to him, but moves on. Then it occurs to me. Have you ever left a bag on the seat next to you hoping that it would deter someone from taking your coveted space? This dramatic display fitting only in a quarantined ward in a hospital was a spoof. They were trying to save the middle seat. The plot was revealed when a person, unable to find another seat, came from the back of the plane and gestured toward the middle seat. As the newcomer settled in, the coughing stopped, the eye patch came off, and the sick passenger moved over to join other friends in the empty middle seat between them. As reality set in, Flo could not stop laughing. It was great theatre.
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Puerto Rico
by Nancy Schess
Bill and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary in Puerto Rico. We stayed at a beautiful hotel in San Juan, ate well, visited quaint neighborhoods, and enjoyed meeting local people. We even climbed around a fort or two.
Hurricane Maria washed that all away. I think about the people we met on the beach and at the hotel and whether they still have homes to live in, or even food and water to sustain them through this nightmare.
All of the news reports confirm that the devastation has been unimaginable.
We need to come together to help the people of Puerto Rico to be safe and rebuild.
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