Ah, sweet rain! The sound is that much fuller and the smell that much fresher when you’re in a drought! After last weeks tornado sightings, horn blaring, and tree falling follies, the droning of this refreshing life giving entity brings melodious relief.
Amongst the calmness of this steady saturation, a timely brotherly battle is brewing. Most of you will be unaware of all the emotional eruptions that are smoldering just below the sweltering surface of this surreal arena. What can this battle be? The clash of the Carons and the Craigs displayed on national TV via the dueling of the Redsox and the Rockies (the amazing alliterations available has not gone unaware). Who cares? Huh! I do! Why? Well, as I wrote last week, life has its ebbs and flows (for you Chip and Doris), this game has become a way for us to have brotherly (?) banter as my world as a former Caron in New England clashes with my new world as a Craig from Colorado. So as emails and wages furiously flutter and fly across the nation between this newly formed band of brothers, Barrett and I sit expectantly in the middle watching the dispute unfold grateful for the distraction and discussing our own family feud in the meantime.
In a way, this Redsox/Rockies rumble has become the refreshing rain to end the drought of discouragement and welcomes a week of wild ravings. You know, God can use any measure to bring joy and laughter, I don’t believe in luck! Well, if I DID believe in luck, the Rockies would need a lot of it!!!
GO REDSOX!!
“I can’t believe you really made a sign!” said Barrett when he saw the red felted ribbon banded “Loser” sign on my desk as he headed to bed last Wednesday night after the Redsox won their first game. “I don’t remember that bet!” The next morning I left early for my 7am class but not before writing him a note saying why I know he’s not a loser and leaving the sign on my desk signifying that he didn’t have to wear it. (Ahhh….)
He greeted me later on that night when he came home with the sign proudly displayed on his marine chest! He told me of all the laughs, jokes, and invites to watch the game that he got! “I can’t believe how many people are into this!” He exclaimed! We laughed and he continued to wear the sign after each Rockies loss. People came up to him in the seminary hallways, in a Mexican restaurant in town, as well as on the sidewalk as we past them walking to church. They all smiled and it opened doors of conversation that would have not been there otherwise. People from church came up in droves laughing and shouting for the Redsox…of course with a little apprehension considering the heartbreaks we’ve had before. They came to our car window, grabbed me outside of the nursery, and joined in the pictures that Barrett took for proof. Too funny!
Well, Im sporting my Irish jigging, excitable, effervescent Papelbon T-shirt that my brother sent me as inspiration for this time as well as my Bo-Sox hat. I cut out the title from the local paper this morning and as I proudly displayed it to Barrett he smiled, gave me a hug, and told me congratulations and that he’s excited for me! What a great sport! I’ve enjoyed all of the conversations with random folks, jokes from friends, learning about each teams stats and histories, sitting on Betsy’s couch with Barrett explaining to her about each player while we both tried to get her to cheer for our teams, and the calls and texts from my vivacious brothers. But Im most thankful for my husband who displayed great enthusiasm and sportsmanship when he could have chosen otherwise. What a picture of grace and joining in others joy despite his own feelings and desires. Thanks Barrett! “Here’s your sign…”