An Open Letter to My Dad

Ok Dad, we both know this is going to make you cry, so go ahead and grab some tissues before you continue...

Got 'em?

Dad/Chuckie/Chuckles,

I have spent years trying to piece together a letter to you, but when it comes down to it, I just want to pick up a ball and our gloves and head outside. It was a staple of my childhood.

Actually, you are the staple of my childhood. From countless field trips to Thursday lunches (that chili and cinnamon roll was ridiculously good, right??). Hours on the couch watching the Mariners, and several more freezing our toes off in Pullman (Go Cougs!).

I love my mom, but I don't think it would surprise anyone to hear that I'm a Daddy's Girl. I can hang with the best of 'em talking baseball and dropping random stats (even erroneous ones like "70% of lead off walks score").

You've shown me how to work hard for what I want. You helped raise me to think for myself and focus on the present. You also taught me important life lessons, such as, how to properly place a needle on a vinyl record. And, a skill that certainly came in handy during college: how to shotgun a beer.

You taught me how to play ball. Not just the mechanics, but what the game really means. How to plan ahead for situations that might come up, and how to manage under pressure.

I remember the first time I was able to throw diagonally across the lawn. It arced...and I received a lesson on the shortest distance from A to B was a straight line. I think there were diagrams in the grass. But that's what I love about you. I speak logic, too. And I appreciate the lessons that I probably complained about in my youth. They're always here with me, and I have to smile when I catch myself passing them on to my students.

So, Dad, here we are on your 65th birthday. You once told me you wished you had drank more beer with your dad while he was still around. I don't think we will ever have that regret. Bottoms up, Chuck. (Haha, get it? Up Chuck?)

Love you always,

Your daughter

five seven five

Cold night, midnight sky

Angels shine in the bright glow

Stars already home

Angel Stadium of Anaheim, 2017

Spring Reset

A quick break from blogging and real life, and now back to reality. I was listening to Danny, Dave, and Moore talking to Mariner's GM Jerry Dipoto yesterday. He was discussing a young 1st baseman who has had a rough time keeping up with the major leaguers. The M's optioned him down to AAA to give him a chance to reset and come back to The Show stronger than before.

As Jerry talked, I thought about my own Spring Reset. February and March are historically difficult months. The kids at school (ok, us teachers too) go week after week without a break. On top of that, there's the joy of being single on Valentine's Day... This trip to Arizona each year has been my chance to get my mind right and ready to go strong through the end of the school year. 

Spring Training, 2017 did not disappoint. From the second we landed, Eleana and I made the most of our time. In 5 days, we packed in:

5 baseball games

A visit with my favorite athletic trainer (he's hiding behind the swarm of boys around E)

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers at Talking Stick Resort

Several awesome (and 1 super awkward) selfies

Karaoke at Ernie's with the best KJ in the land

A night partying with Patrick Warburton and his posse

Singing the national anthem

A ton of autographs (including Mr. Mariner himself, Alvin Davis!)

A bucket of beer at the Salty Senorita

A thousand laughs

And then Eleana hopped in an Uber and headed home...and things got even more wild.  

Most of you know that I don't back down from a dare...especially if there's a free beer involved. So when the host of a Seattle radio show dared me to fuel the rivalry between him and another Seattle radio host, I was all over it.

That might be an alternative fact.

A big thank you to everyone who made this Spring Break the greatest one yet.

Best old friends, best new friends, baseball, and beer... MLB is back!

Cheers to the 2017 Seattle Mariners! Play ball!

Songs for the Soul

A Thousand Ways to Get There

A thousand ways to get there

Underneath that clear blue sky

A thousand ways to get there

On the road until we die

Keep moving on

Keep moving on

South Mountain Road, 2017

3 Shades of Blue

Walking toward the ocean

Strolling next to you

Hand in hand we stride the strand

Wave on wave of blue

Ventura Pier, 2017

Talking to Strangers

Spoiler Alert: I like talking to people.

There's something to be said about having friendly conversation over the Starbucks counter while the barista makes my Grande Americano in a Venti cup, extra ice, 2%, splenda (in case anyone would like to buy me coffee). Or chatting it up with the bartenders at my local watering hole while sipping on my pint (in case anyone would like to buy my drink).

Barrelhouse 101, 2017

Anyway, all this to say, I meet a lot of new people every week. I learn about them, they learn about me. Sometimes I make up extravagant stories, sometimes I tell the truth (also filled with extravagance). I assume they do the same.

Did I ever tell you about the time I faced a Clone Trooper?

These past couple weeks, I decided to throw my hat...um, heart?...no, HAT back into the ring. (Maybe less of a throw and more of a soft toss.) What I got back was a lot of laughter, a lot of hope, a few free drinks...and repeatedly asked, "How are you still single?"

It made me think.

I know, I know. How could anyone with this amazing shirt be single??

I've been pondering this for days...and came up with nothing. I feel like there are books out there meant to guide me in an answer (suggestions welcome!). For now, I think it means a little more meditative thought, some personal reflection, and maybe a filter on which strangers I converse with.

Lean Forward

Sometimes it's hard to get started. We've all been in our comfort zones before, content to stay where we are. But is this what makes us happy? (Truth be told, beer does make me pretty happy...)

T Phillips Alehouse, 2017

    

I remind myself that I have a great life: a fulfilling job, friends in several states, my family nearby. I'm content. But I want more.

Rumi on point. 

This week has been full of opportunities for being bold. I grasped them each time and met them with a smile. I made new friends, I laughed and cheered. I savored special moments with the people I love, and I tried to make new memories with moments I loved.

Grandma Lee and Grandpa Bob, 2017

I was reminded today that all I need to do to get started is lean forward. Let the momentum move you.

All That February Stuff

I've always liked Valentine's Day. The happy couples, the sharing of love, the conversation hearts... Seriously, I used to* make up stories with my box of hearts. (*"used to" refers to last year's box). Anyway, I was looking forward to the day of hearts this year. I bought cute new leggings, cards to send to my friends. I even made an adorable gift to send up to my favorite little dudes in Washington.

Then February 14th arrived. And my Facebook feed was plastered with happy couples and super sweet status updates. I would normally "ooh" and "ahh" and comment on all the love I saw, but this year I felt something different.

I was angry.

I wasn't angry at my friends for being in love. I was angry that I had wasted so much time pushing people away. I was angry that I had chased after men who I knew were not going to get married. I was angry that I let another person's immaturity and selfishness make me feel like I wasn't worthy of his love.

Because I am worth much more than his love. You get in return what you put out into the world, so perhaps being bold is about putting my heart out there where it's vulnerable.