Striking Out ALS: A Hero's Tale by Ethan D. Bryan

Author:Ethan D. Bryan [Bryan, Ethan D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Memoir
Publisher: eLectio Publishing
Published: 2013-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

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1http://electiopublishing.com/article/92-titles/current-titles/121-tales-taylor-3

2 I’m pretty sure the “cosmic tumblers” phrase comes from another W. P. Kinsella work, The Iowa Baseball Confederacy.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Dave Williams from Logan Valley Christian Retreat sent me a message.

The Willams’ family is going to Game 7 of the World Series and we will reserve a ticket for you to go with us, so start praying for the Cardinals to win tonight and the World Series to go 7 games. You and Jeff can ride up together. I was at Busch last night, back at Logan Valley tonight. Go Cardinals!!

Talk to you later,

Dave

I’ve heard those words before.

Last year, when it looked like the World Series would be returning to St. Louis for game six and possibly a game seven, Dave contacted me to let me know I could join him for game six, even though I would secretly be cheering for the Texas Rangers to win. Mom and Dad said they would buy me the ticket as a Christmas gift; I was ecstatic. Not knowing if my team will ever get back to the postseason within my lifetime, I looked forward to the excitement and buzz of being present at the potential final game of the season. However, a couple of days before the game, there was a death within my church family while my pastor was on sabbatical. I was asked to conduct a graveside service at precisely the latest time I’d need to leave to drive across the state to the stadium. I tried to think of a way where I could be a faithful presence at the funeral service as well as make it to the game, but time was simply not in my favor. I told Dave to sell my ticket and invited some friends to my house to watch the game on TV that night.

This time, when I got the message, I immediately cleared my calendar of anything resembling “real” work. And this year, for the first ( and only ) time in my life, much to the dismay of my numerous Royals’ friends, I actually cheered for the Cardinals.

Last year, I met and interviewed Les Norman for my first book. Les played in a few games with the Royals and has an amazing story about his only extra-base hit, a game-winning RBI triple the last time the Royals were in serious contention for post-season play. The year I wrote the book, our children attended the same school. His sons and my daughters spent many afternoons on the playground after school playing tag, digging holes, swinging on swings, and sliding down slides. Les has a brilliant baseball mind and will submit his resume for managerial positions when his sons are in college. 1 I was grateful for the time to ask him questions and learn more about this amazing game. I sent Les an email asking him who he was pulling for in this year’s postseason.

“Tigers and Giants. Cards are lucky to even be here.”

To which I replied, “I can’t pull for the Tigers, even though Miguel Cabrera’s Triple Crown is a good story.

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