In-between…….

Kinda interesting…… Dictionary.com tells us “a person or thing that is between two extremes, two contrasting conditions, etc.: “

So, reckon that is us, the now. Birth is an extreme to death. First grade is an extreme to the graduate’s tassel. Young adult is an extreme to parenting, but, some indulge simultaneously. Parent is an extreme to grandparent.

Interesting story line on Bryan Gumbel’s “Real Sports” regarding Matt Bush, a now Texas Ranger relief pitcher. I’ve not seen it, but wanna/gonna. 1st round draft choice of the San Diego Padres in 2004, $3.15 million bonus baby.. His Major League debut came 12 years later in 2016. Long Minor League trek hold him up? What happened in-between?

Lots. Alcohol addiction for one. Before he ever took the field as an 18 year old wonderboy – he was suspended for a fight outside an Arizona bar. Played a year or two in the minors, broke his ankle.. Couple years later Tommy John surgery.. Intoxicated, was arrested for assaulting two high schoolers… some time later, threw a baseball at a woman’s head, banged on her car window after accusing her of drawing markings on his face. Somewhere along the way he switched from shortstop to become a pitcher.

Out of baseball altogether in 2009. Tampa Bay gave him another chance. A year of Single-A, followed by a year of Double-A.. followed by when he drunkenly ran over a 72 year old man, leaving him critically wounded – sped away. 51 months in prison – the $3.15 million reduced to a checking account balance of $600. “I forced myself to think about it (the accident) every day in prison because I deserved to suffer.”

After prison, was working for $8.05 per hour at a Golden Corral.. A Rangers employee discovered him there, remembered.. While wearing a GPS tracking device on his ankle – had a tryout right there in the Gold Corral parking lot.

Twelve step meetings, beginning to understand addictions. “One good decision at a time.” Sober since 2012. Wanted a zero tolerance clause in his Texas Ranger contract. May 13, 2016, Major League Debut – twelve long years later. Wow, the in-between.

61 innings last year, 61 strikeouts. Thus far this season, he’s pitched 4 innings and has struck out 8.

I hadn’t meant to get so wordy on Matt the baseball player, but I thought it really fit the definition of in-between a person or thing that is between two extremes, two contrasting conditions, etc.: “

Continuing with contrast – I’ve been periodically visiting at an assisted living center. Twenty years olds may look at 40 year olds and be sad for them. 40 year olds, same about how they might feel about 60 year olds. Me, sad for the Assisted? Yes, but – also happy. Many never get to experience their age.

I hope that’s coming for you, for me. There is one helluva lot I can no longer do that I usedta – and I can do quite a bit that many of the Assisteds can’t. I know, the Good Lord willing, that's coming for me - slowing down, occasional confusion, falls, meds, frailty, etc - thus, the hopeful bright eyed bushy tailed outlook today. Until then. The in-between.

While I slip, occasionally mope, grump and groan, again – I try to remind myself this is the now, between two very contrasting conditions. Seems to lend a greater appreciation for every Monday, sunrise, yummy dinner, weekend, kiss, hug, sunset, now I lay me down to sleep.

I appreciate the now. The in-between. I know Matt does as well. Love, Victurd