So's I take the youngest to softball tryouts this morn. I show up, for the first time in my life, as a parent, NOT a coach! I'm just gonna hang out, enjoy this nice spring sunshine, say hey to the kidz I know from previous years. After about 15 minutes of leaning on the fence, watching a bunch of 10 and under girls standing around talking, and a group of five 30 something ladies, standing around talking, (the latter were the coaches) I grabbed a bat and asked them if I could hit some infield to them, while we were waiting. "Sure!" they said. So after about 20 minutes of infield practice, a coach walks up and asks me if I can pitch batting tryouts. It felt good to be back on the diamond, and they said none of them could do it, so I said "Sure!" Might as well get a little workout while I'm at it.
2 hours later, I'm sweating like a stuck hog, arm is shot, back is hurting, and I'm puffin pretty hard. I had 3 balls working to keep the pace up. And I'd seen nothing but little sissy girl hits all day, so I was always holding 2 balls in my glove while pitching. A little bitty one was at the plate. I send one right into her wheelhouse, and BAM! She lined it right back at my face! I got e'nuff reflexs left that I got my glove, with the 2 balls in it, up in time to deflect away from my facial features. However, while not paying attention to my feet, they both went in opposite directions. Landed on my booty pretty hard, but threw in a reverse somersault for good measure.
Afterwards, I was approached by 2 coaches who asked if I would help them. By now, I was sore, sweaty, winded, had dirt down my back and pants, and of course, in my gum I was chewing, So I said, "SURE!"
I love this shit!
And after all them touching speeches about how I would coach no more forever.......................
I'm back in the saddle again.