Now that...that's cool

The accident that tripled or quadrupled my drive home last night precluded any writing. No big deal. Then tonight, it turned out Dad was passing through around 5 so we met to chat and eat. That was pretty cool. I am fortunate to have such a close relationship with Dad. I would have the same with Mom but people look at you funny when you show up at the cemetary with a pick and shovel.
So then I got home, sat down to check a couple day's worth of e-mail, and lo and behold...the softball team was short a player and wanted to know if I could play. Well, the game started at 7:15 and I got over there about 7:10. JJ said the 3 sweetest words I have heard in a long time..."Would you mind being the one to play shortstop?"
Now, some of you think I cannot count, but the truth is, some of those words are bitter. You play shortstop is sweet, however. That was my dream position back in the day.
THere is just something sexy about shortstop. In little league the best athletes were pitcher and shortstop. He gets more action than any position other than the pitcher and catcher and can have a tremendous impact on the game. A good short elevates a team, and a bad one...well, E-6 is a terrible thing.
Now, for those just tuning in, I last played pick-up games of softball around 20 years ago at a church camp. I last threw a ball around 20 years ago. Well, except for the practice a couple days ago that I wrote about. So this could be ugly.
We got 1 on base and then got 3 quick outs. Their first hitter popped it right to me. Well, not to me, actually behind me. I misread the ball horribly and managed to have it go just over my head. Grr. Not a good start. They scored a couple runs without me getting any action, then when there were two outs a guy hit a soft liner just over second base. I read his swing perfectly, ran, timed my jump perfectly, and for just a second felt like I used to as I made the final out on what was actually a somewhat spectacular play. A couple innings later I made all three outs, a couple on what would have been Texas Leaguers if I were playing shallower and one with a rifle throw to second.
On the night I was 3 for 3 hitting and made probably 10 - 12 plays, although I botched a couple of them and a couple more balls that, if I had a little more spring in my step would have been mine...overall, not a bad first outing. Got several compliments on my glovework which I thought was hilarious since I should have made at least 3 more put-outs...but I guess I can live with it.
But the best part was a feeling I have not had in a while...being a member of a team, relying on other people and them relying on me. I tend to want to do everything myself. I do not trust other people to do things or to do them right...so I just do it myself.
I take on responsibilities I shouldn't sometimes. I tend to prefer games that are one-on-one to team things.
You can't be that way in baseball. I took a lot of pride in playing a "smart" game. When the ball went to the outfield, I moved to the correct position to be the cut-off man. When a throw or batted ball went to 2nd or 3rd I backed them up in case of an overthrow. I was vocal in encouraging JJ when he was pitching or whoever was at bat. And it felt good. It felt like I belonged to something bigger than myself. ANd that...that's cool.