Last night Mike went mall walking with me. Now those of you who know Mike know what a sacrifice that was. He detests shopping, malls, crowds. He enters a store and his eyes glaze over. He literally slows down his stride and looks like a zombie floating through the aisles of makeup and perfume. But for me, to get air conditioned exercise, we went mall walking. Then we ate at my favorite California Pizza Kitchen. And to top off the evening, we watched Game 1 of Playoffs for our beloved Florida League. Life is resuming back to normal (well, not the Mike mall walking part), and that is a joy.
For six seasons I have worked full time on the Florida League. Summer wood bat college baseball partially funded by Major League Baseball, for those of you who don't know. This fall, Rob and Stefano took over most of the operations, as we were focused on Mike's mother and father, and the wedding in March. Then as of May, I have been in touch with Rob, but that's about it. They have done FANTASTIC! I went to games at all home fields the first week, threw out the first pitch at All Stars, and have kept up via internet. And here we are, the playoffs. Wow. The General Managers, the league interns, the team interns, the journalism and broadcast interns, scorekeepers, trainers, umpires, stadium crews, the plentiful volunteers. And the absolute best coaches in the world. I stand by that. Such as Davey Johnson and Frank Viola. These guys are unbelievable. The 140 college players that traveled here to play this summer got an experience they will never forget.
Last night, Mike and I sat 80 feet above the ground, on the top level of the football stadium, the back of it is overlooking the field. Watching the game. This is like the view osprey have from their nests on light poles in Florida. We left in the sixth (my bedtime), but listened to the rest on the internet when we got home. Ended in the thirteenth inning, wild pitch scored a run. Oh my goodness. Loosing team packs it up for the summer, winners advance. Tonight starts the best of three series in Sanford and in DeLand. Thursday is our Championship in Tropicana Field. Here's our website: www.floridaleague.com
How different this season has been from the past six. And isn't this just a perfect sign of things to come... the chapters in our lives... each good. God is showing Mike and I that He has some ideas for us. Let us be still and listen.
