Caleb Lloyd is the Man

Forgive me for currently thinking that Caleb Lloyd, after catching consecutive home run balls last night at Great American Ballpark,  is about the luckiest dude I can think of right now. I'd content myself to catch one ball at a Major League Baseball game. Foul ball. Batting practice. Third out fly ball. Heck, at this point I'd settle for the ball boy tossing me one he misplayed off the bat of a no name number 8 hitter because he's too focused on the hot chick in the 10th row talking on her cell phone ignoring the game.

I've come close only 1 time at a Major League game. Few years ago the Whitlock clan gathered for a Reds game. We had fantastic seats on the 3rd base side, maybe 20 rows up. I was so jazzed. As the game began and I settled in with my hot dog and beverage I made it a point to give Caleb's friend, our guest, a head's up. This was her first baseball game. She needed to know we were in a prime location for wandering baseballs.

First pitch, foul ball. Right to me. Correct that. Right at me. As Caleb says in the video, 'it hurts.' Bounced off my hand a few rows down, claimed in a mad scramble by some guy I'm sure took it home and added it to his collection of home run balls autographed by Hall of Famers - all collected on the bounce from some poor schmuck who'd thought himself too cool to bring his glove, or too slow to get his hat off into to use it as a net. This, after all, is what my brother-in-law informed me I should have done. I'd have been content if Denise had reached over and caught the ball for me, as unmanly as that may have been. At least it would have ended up on my bookshelf and we'd have had a story to tell.

Only other time I came close was at a Louisville Redbirds (old AAA team) game. I think Denise was with me that day. What I do remember, clearly, was having a foul ball drop in slow motion into the empty row in front of us, reaching out to claim it - only to be shoved out of the way by an eight year old kid whose face was caked with chocolate ice cream and cotton candy. He carried a distinct pickle smell as well. I do not like him. He has my baseball. Somewhere. Or not. May have traded it for some fried cheese.

I understand that I'd be far healthier and of much more use if I was content. I see videos like this one and I do applaud young Mr. Lloyd. Good for him, I think. I see videos like the one below and I think, 'Man, what a story for  those guys! Can you imagine the next family gathering? The next birthday party? It almost makes me cry. Of course, as Emily would tell you - most everything makes me cry these days.



In the past couple weeks as I've transitioned from training runs to fitness runs, re-gained a couple of pounds, and described my Flying Pig experience a few dozen times contentment has not come easily. I was way over my goal. I writhed my way through excruciating cramps because I was less informed than I'd thought. A day I'd waited on like a 5 year old waiting for a fish to bite let me down. I'd not driven half way back to Georgetown before my mind was wandering to the next one.

When it's been drilled into your head all your life that your first words were 'not me,' that you had to literally be carried to and put on the school bus not on the first day of kindergarten, but every day of kindergarten, and that your general outlook on life makes Eeyore seem like captain of the cheer squad contentment doesn't often make the list of adjectives employed in your description.

Contentment, I think, has mostly to do with gratitude. The ability to not just recognize, but enjoy and appreciate what's good. Right now.

So, here's 10 things I am grateful for in this moment:
1) Caleb Lloyd's smile. Triple dog dare ya to watch that video and not smile yourself.
2) Sha La La (Make Me Happy) by Al Green. Been in my head all day. Awesome song.
3) Thinking about the fact that it's been 25 years since our prom & high school graduation and that every time we enter a room together, I'm still with the prettiest girl in the place.
4) Strawberries from our back yard.
5) 'Crab' meat wrapped in bacon at the Asia Royal Buffet. I am pretty sure it's not crab meat. And, I don't really want to think about where the bacon came from. But. Well. I like it.
6) Getting $.80/gallon off gas at Kroger. What a fun surprise.
7) New jeans.
8) Being the proud papa of new high school senior!
9) Philip Phillips being in tonight's American Idol finale. Say what you want. I like the show, and I like him.
10) Neutering. Quite possibly the best idea for a pet anyone ever had.

Ah...now I feel quite content.