A lie may take care of the present, but it has no future. ~Author Unknown
In case you aren’t familiar with it, the title of the blog is also the title of a baseball movie. Is it a great movie in the sense of movie greatness?? No. But it is a movie that gets to me every time.
I was over at G’s the other night and she was watching The Notebook with her daughter. They were both emotional wrecks throughout parts of it. The movie to me is a nice story, but it also further’s the hollywood romanticization that lies are ok to get what you want and that the end justifies the means. Yes, the two “true loves” end up together and that is nice and heartwarming in a way…and the division of their romance was helped by the “well-intentioned” mother. Yet…it leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
Yet here I am, bawling like at baby at this Kevin Costner flick. It’s effectively the last game for an aging star pitcher. It turns out to be a perfect game for him…and the film flashes back to his time with both his loves. Baseball and his gal.
Honesty doesn’t always pay, but dishonesty always costs. ~Michael Josephson
The story is about mistakes and redemption. It is about love and loss. It is about loyalty and committment….and it is about honesty. It is about team and individuality. The coming together of the all for a perfect moment…and the realization that the moment was not perfect as it was not fully shared.
Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny. ~Carl Schurz, address, Faneuil Hall, Boston, 1859
I was ok at sports, but never had these perfect moments in them; yet, I did have perfect moments in my life.
Two words were perfect for me. “I do” … uttered by X in sight of our friends and family. Two looks were perfect in my life. Those given to me by X and D, shortly after the aforementioned 2 words. Two screams were perfect…those first two that sprang from my new son’s throat. Two arms were perfect…as they reached out to me by Z for the first time.
Many perfect hot breaths that came from my children’s mouths as they snuggled against my neck. There have been perfect tears in my life, and perfect laughs and unmitigated perfect joy. I have experienced perfection in those things small and large and I am grateful for that.
When I sit here alone, and see movies such as this…I remember perfection. I feel lucky and lost. In those times, such as tonight, I become overwhelmed with the memories.
I saw my daughter this last weekend. We went shopping. Found some great boots on sale for her. It was perfect.
I’ll see my son again tomorrow night and most likely he will fall asleep on my shoulder. Perfection will touch me again.
Peace to you all.
The human story does not always unfold like a mathematical calculation on the principle that two and two make four. Sometimes in life they make five or minus three; and sometimes the blackboard topples down in the middle of the sum and leaves the class in disorder and the pedagogue with a black eye. ~Winston Churchill
The first screams are perfect. Really brave post, man. I think you’re putting the way you feel into words with grace and truth.
Thank you for the kind words. I don’t think these are brave….just honest. Hopefully there is resonance here with some.
This is a very thoughtful and well-written post. You acknowledge and express your feelings in a raw and honest way. Not easy to do, so thank you.
I love baseball movies but am not familiar with this one. I’m going to check it out.
Love the opening quote. So true.
Thank you Pat. Another one, Bang The Drum Slowly is probably my favorite baseball movie. Different than the one above, but beautiful characterizations of flaws reaching perfection.
I finally know someone who feels the same way I do about The Notebook – I haven’t seen For the Love of the Game, either, but I’m going to go look for it now!
Hope all is well with you -
DJ