There really are too many things to write about right now.... I should have written yesterday...and the day before and the day before that and I would not have this problem.
God has given me some great relationships. Almost too many. I once said that I could spend a different day welcomed in a different house every day of the year. It is a tremendous blessing from God to have such relationships. The problem...I am really only capable of carrying on 6 or 7 significant relationships successfully. Which..from all relationship models is quite normal. Hoever, I do have relationships that for my own sanity are necessary to keep close. I had an opportunity this Sunday to spend time with 2 families that I consider helpful for my mental state. But...work obligations called me to umpire a Toys R Us event between two stores...Toms River and Freehold.
Well...I really wanted to hang with my two families...probably eating junk and watching “Band of Brothers”. But....I was pressured into umpiring and I went kicking and screaming all the way to “Skyview Park” which is by Vaughn and Bay Ave. in Toms River. Well...while I get there I get into people mode. I am not kidding you. I literally turn on all of my people sensors...I guess a smile gets printed on my face and I get a lot out of asking “open ended” questions. Questions that require an answer that will reveal some form of information about a person that I will store for later use. One of the silly skills the Lord has “cursed” me with. (I would much prefer being quiet and shy which is really what I am...despite what anyone thinks!) Actually....this information I gather has an atomic breakdown of eternity. I will forget your name way before I forget you have 3 children and dog that died from being hit by a green car on a rainy night in October...during the World Series. hehe...really....that is the stuff I carry....
Well....I show up at skyview...turned on to people mode,. and I had a great time. Toms River came out to win. They had try outs and practices and the Coach was very intense. Freehold...had matching shirts a cooler of beer and several players that looked like they had never seen a pitch in their life. I made sure I went through Freehold's 25 people and made a connection with each one. It was good because I established a relationship before they even came up to the plate.
Umpiring...well. Remember the Bugs Bunny cartoon with the Gas House Gorilla's? Well that was Toms River. No matter how far Toms River was ahead....they never let up....I had to even some things out with my foul ball calls and base running calls. Freehold...however despite being down 20 runs had a really good time. I was probably more of an announcer giving highlights and color than I was an umpire. It was lots of fun....and I probably have job building bikes in Freehold if I wanted.
But...I would have still liked to relax with my buds watching WW2 unfold....