Letting my mind wander.

“I can't wait to show you where I grew up

Walk you 'round the foothills of my town

Probably feel like you've been there before

After hearing all the stories I've been telling you

For six months now.”

With where we are in our lives right now, heading back in time would be a welcome gift of knowledge and preparedness. Just the ability to anticipate would be more than a feeling of science fiction and more of a reality check. (If you are reading this in the future, we are in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic.) 

Growing up in St. Louis all those years ago, I remember introducing friends and others to my life. I wanted them to be excited about it, some were, most weren’t. I mean it was my life, not theirs—but as I look back on those times, they were ones that made me who I am. 

Going back and thinking about your life can bring memories of happiness and the days that really sucked. I would love to say that my life was one of continuous joy, but it wasn’t—-but all in all, I can look back as I approach another birthday, and know it could have been so much worse.

But what if? What if I could change some of the stories and make them better? Would I do it? Of course I would, who wouldn’t?

It might be the first girl I ever asked out; she gave me the equivalent of needing to wash her hair as an excuse (she actually was going to a St. Louis Blues hockey game—-the same reason I asked her to go out) but even though I “suddenly” came down with a bad illness for the next two days and missed school, I made it back and lived to tell. But I never had the guts to talk to her again.

Would I change that? No, because it's part of who I am. 

There is one area of my life I would change. I would want to know more about my roots. What makes me who I am today. My grandparents were around as I was growing up, but we never got into deep discussions as I believe that was not part of the normal conversation of the day. I do know some information about my family, but not enough to feel I had a grasp on what they went through as they immigrated to America to start their new lives. I know I can find out through sources such as Ancestry.com, but that’s not the same as being told by an elder.

I do believe in time travel, and I know the easiest way to do it. Often when I walk I’ll let my mind take me back in time, into the future and even spend a few moments, if needed, on what’s happening right then and now. It’s what I need to feel whole and for me it’s a way to visit those I have loved, lost  and  keep deep in my heart. 

The photo above was taken in a New York subway station. Although I didn’t grow up there, it reminds me that no matter what I do, or where I go, I will always have the memories to take with me and allow me to travel anywhere my mind wants to take me.

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A Football Life.

“They didn't let just anybody in that club

Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood

To get to wear those game-day jerseys down the hall

The kings of the school, man, we’re the boys of fall.”

Anyone who has followed my sports career knows it never existed; if there could have been a worse athlete, I would like to meet them and compare notes. Just like the movie Airplane, when Elaine is asked for “something light to read?” and replies “Uhh...how about this leaflet, Famous Jewish Sports Legends?” That was in reference to me. Check that I wouldn’t even make a fortune cookie.

But I did like sports a lot, and as I have gotten older, I recognize how gifted these humans truly are at their crafts.

But there’s another side to the story. It’s the athletes and families that devote so much of their lives to the sport, only to see them end one day. When it does, whether it’s pop warner, the minors or professional leagues---when it’s over, there is a huge void in their lives. Often times before they are prepared.

Many years ago I was fortunate to attend two different sales meetings where I met professional athletes. One was a speaker at a conference, the other at a bar where many of us were hanging out; both showed a side of life that left a big impression as this was easily 25 years ago. They had been at the top, and after the lights dimmed down….looked for what was next in their lives. 

The first was a meeting where Jim Plunkett, who rose to fame as the quarterback of the Oakland Raiders, spoke to our group. Afterward, I saw him walking to the lunch area we where we were to meet—-he was alone. I was actually shocked, so I walked up, introduced myself and for probably 15 minutes we talked; not about football, but about the time he left the field for the last time. I think he was surprised by the conversation---I know I was. We just kept talking until we ended up at the location where lunch was  to take place and shook hands. I was very honored he spoke with me, and happy he didn’t ask about my sports career!

The second person I met was Ron Greschner who played for the New York Rangers for many years. It happened at a bar where one of my “less-than-intelligent” associates, decided to get into an altercation with his personal body guard. Not that he needed one, I assume ihe was someone who was there to stop people from bothering him. Like me. Ironically.  I had no idea who he was, but I knew his former wife had been in one of the models in a Sports Illustrated Swim Suit edition. We didn’t talk about her if that’s where your mind was going---we talked about finance and investing. Specially about stocks and the market.  He was very well versed on the topic, and as I was leaving, I asked if he would sign a card, for my son. He said, “Give me his name and your address and I will send it to him.” By the time I arrived home a few days later, it was there. How cool is that?  You’re probably wondering about my associate? I don’t remember his name, but I do recall he was lucky to have lived through the evening.

The photo above is from the Iowa State v.Oklahoma game a few years back in Ames, IA. Knowing I was going to be lucky to be on the sidelines, I asked a friend which players I should be watching? There was only one name that kept coming up…his name was Baker Mayfield and he was quarterback for the Sooners. I also learned he was up for the Heisman Trophy which he won that year. That night, I was just a picture taker among many on the sidelines, but as I left the field at the end of the game--I realized this was my football life.

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There's a rainbow above us.

“Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high

And the dreams that you dream of

Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow

Bluebirds fly

And the dreams that you dream of

Dreams really do come true.”

I was not planning to start “Snap.Shot.” again, but now with time on my hands and thoughts in my head, it just seems like something I would like to do. If you would like to come back for the ride, feel free to do so, if not I certainly understand. But I am hoping you do.

We are in a time unlike anything we most likely have ever experienced; we’ve lived through 9/11, storms, floods, and fires (and of course, H1N1, Sara and others) but nothing like we have going on in our lives at this time. If this is the only time we have to do this, I am just fine with it.  Just as long as we can all make it through to the other side. 

Although it was nearly 20 years ago, the morning of September 11, 2001 was a day that stopped our nation and the world. The difference, if there was one, is we didn’t see it coming; it came and we responded. With the Coronavirus we were aware of it being out there, and had waited for it to make its way to the states. Either way, it is a very alarming situation and whereas we will work through it, it’s the unknown that has completely turned our world upside down.

Let’s turn this upside down and make it more optimistic. I think we need it right now.

After every storm, there is often something that comes after that is positive. Whether it’s neighbors coming together, friends and family reaching out, or just the world coming into view—-we will find the good from a bad situation. 

In one of my previous jobs, the company came up with a concept of helping those in need. Think about this. A catastrophe hits, homes are destroyed, people are displaced, and as the skies clear—-thousands of families need the basic necessities. In this case it was to have clean clothes to bring a slice of normalcy back into their lives. 

The area hit was hot, muggy and filthy from a massive hurricane. The idea that was brought to market quickly, “Loads of Hope” by Tide laundry detergent. It was an incredible response that took a decimated area and helped bring it back to life; although only one component to getting back on their feet, they had clean clothes and they were THEIR clothes. We all know how important that critical step is and Tide delivered it to them.

The photo above is more than it appears. Recently I was in Arizona and after attending a spring training game, the Cubs versus the Angels, I headed from Mesa down to Tucson. About 45 minutes from my destination I saw it on the horizon. At first I was not sure, then as I got closer and closer I witnessed one of the most vibrant rainbows I had ever seen. Moving closer, it got bigger and bigger. I was hoping for a pot of gold when I pulled over to take a picture, but all I got was an incredible image. For me, that’s even more valuable. (Unless there really was a pot of gold, and then I would have taken that instead.)

We are in a time that we really don’t want to be in. There is little we can do except do what we are asked to do; we need to stay indoors, away from people, and be extremely careful of spreading this virus accidentally to those who are most susceptible to catching it. But let’s remember the Wizard of Oz…behind the curtain is the real story, and once we know it, we will be able to look back and see that over the rainbow are better days.

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