Maddie's Mission

I'm 15... for a moment caught in between 10 and 20 and I'm just dreamin' countin' the ways to where you are 15 there's still time for you time to buy and time to lose 15... there's never a wish better than this when you've only got a hundred years to live As a young man I remember that itchy feeling of freedom that comes upon you when you are no longer a child, but not quite an adult.  The time when the world is filled with wonder and every opportunity remains within reach.  For me, that feeling uniquely resides in the eyes of a 15 years old.  You've entered the new world of high school, and the thoughts of college, a job, and a mortgage seem so far away.  During this time many of us tried to find a place where we could dream of tomorrow be it in our rooms, at a beach, or a friend's house.    Emma resides in this wonderful age and has found her place of freedom behind the steering wheel of a grey VW Passat.  No, she doesn't have

Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don't care if I never get back, Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don't win it's a shame. For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, At the old ball game. I can’t recall if it was the smell of freshly cut grass or the unique sound made when a baseball meets a wood bat, but as we climbed the stairs onto the field it was clear that this was a day to remember. Like most boys my age in California, I never heard of lacrosse, rugby, or that crazy sport those Europeans call football. I played baseball. Whether it was an organized community game, a pickup game before school at St. Angela’s, Over the Line with my two brothers at the park, or the non-stop two-seam fastballs that hit the garage door over and over and over, I loved the game. As a young kid my heroes were Davey Lopes, Steve Garvey, and Ron Cey. I remember sitting in the stands above Ch

Boy, you're going to carry that weight, Carry that weight a long time Boy, you're going to carry that weight Carry that weight a long time A recent blog comment from a dear friend got me thinking. The comment went like this: Hopefully, this family will see the people around them care in a way that they never even imagined people could care for them. A caring that was always there, but lost in the shuffle of every day life. Last Friday Maddie's 5th grade class attended Music in the Parks in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This is a competition between regional elementary, middle, and high school band and chorus groups which includes performances, an awards ceremony and a day at Hershey Amusement Park with all the rides and mini candy bars you desire. As with many school field trips, the day started early in preparation for the 1-1/2 hour bus trip to Hershey. By 1:30 the kids and parents were finished with in the park eating $10.00 hot dogs and standing in line for that ultima