Today was a 75-mile ride into Mitchell, SD and marked the crossing of the halfway point of my trip across the US to Portland, ME. As I fought my way through pretty much the same headwind pattern, at lunch I pulled out a Mountain Dew soft drink. From that point to the end of the ride, my mind wandered to my past.
First of all, I have not had a Mountain Dew in a LONG time but I can vividly remember when I had my first. As a little boy I played little league baseball in Ilion, NY. As a 9 year old I would watch the older boys play and after the game the winning team was treated to a soda at the snack stand and the feature drink was: Mountain Dew. I had not tasted the drink but I think more importantly in my mind I couldn’t wait until the next year when I was on the A team and after a Cardinal (my team) win I would then earn the right for a Dew!
That next year came, circa 1970, and after hitting a home run, my team won the game. I remember standing in line and being handed my first Mountain Dew, and how GOOD it tasted!
So today when I picked up a Dew (thinking it was a ginger ale) I chugged it just like 1970. And for the remainder of today’s ride my mind was occupied with all my baseball days. Before I knew it, I was at the hotel. My mind and energy were fueled today perhaps more than any other day on this trip. And thats what I love about sports, and this ride. There is always a moment where mind and body come together; and what is normally painful feels like euphoria and everything seems so right!
Baseball has played a major role in my life. My first baseball memory is of me and my Dad as he was hitting me fly balls. And then I remember all the games of catch/pickle/whiffle ball with my friends and brothers, how baseball has no clock and combines skill and thought which I love, leading my way through high school, providing me an opportunity to attend college, my Mom becoming a raging Mets fan, me wanting to play pro baseball and following my childhood hero Tom Seaver, me meeting my lifetime friend Slick at IC, me meeting my jersey girl Sue as I pursued my grad work at IC coaching baseball, me watching my kids and their friends play softball/baseball, and them seeing my passion for teaching them the game.
I can go on and on. But I feel my life is in the fifth inning (as is this ride). We are all capable of achieving so much as long as we are willing to have a plan, stay the course, not give up when things aren’t easy, and to see things through to the finish line.
So a can of soda got me thinking today, and helped me greatly. And just so you all don’t think I have lost my mind I took a couple of pictures of long horned beef steer :).
Mets Magic Number is 11!!!
DBS
For the Benefit of 