OH NO NOT I

~~~




Strange manpower situations in the Washington Nationals Baseball Club these days. They have two guys who can hit hard and cover first base well. Which one plays? The one who covered for them all last season, or the guy who is allegedly now fully recovered from that cringe play that shattered his femur two Septembers ago? What happens to the other? The outfield is a possibility, but it's already littered with talent. That's another sticky wicket. Maybe Dmitri Young could take over if/when Elijah Dukes gets himself into more legal troubles, and Nick Johnson could settle back in at first, but that's taking a rather dim view. A negative outlook is not attractive, and people tend to let one know when one's uncomeliness is hanging out. When it was recently noted in this space that these days are hard, cold days, the slapback was immediate and terrible. Never-you-mind that that kind of reaction is proof that folks are a bit edgy this time of year. Of course there are a lot of good things going on. Some of my favorite people were born in the dead of winter.




The mailbox is stuffed with gardening and bulb catalogs, and landscaping plans are open to all possibilities. So that's good. Nick Johnson is said to be healthy and running bases. Ryan Zimmerman's wrist is healing nicely from surgery. The Spring Training schedule has just been released.

The problem is that we're all too sick. At home, and in the workplace, people are hacking and coughing and rasping like the Black Death is making the rounds. Eyes are glassy and noses are stuffed. And yet we soldier on. The job gets done and the dog gets fed. Ellen caught the Ack, then it hit Ro. It is bashing at my gates right this moment, but I am fighting. We are a strong people, that's the point. Perseverance is the tool we use to trudge through these days en route to the sunshine, flowers, and batting practice of spring. Even in this uncaring environment, even if our lips look like molted snake skins and our skin looks covered in chalkdust, we will not only survive, but thrive. We will light warm fires and conserve body heat by sharing the blankets. Oh yes! We will persevere!