During my elementary school years, I regularly purchased baseball cards from a small grocery store near Rusk Elementary School on the South side of Odessa, TX. If memory serves be correctly, the baseball cards cost a nickel. With the baseball card, featuring a picture of a professional baseball player, also came a rectangular piece of bubble gum.
I probably shouldn't say this, but truth be told, I was more interested in the bubble gum than the picture of the baseball player. Seven decades later, I only have memories of the experience. I don't still have any of the baseball cards I purchased, but the memories of the smell, and taste of the bubble gum continues to fill my head.
The General's sister's husband collected baseball cards as a kid and today he has a sizable collection of very valuable baseball cards. Perhaps, it probably goes without saying, that he was not eliminated from being the member of a little league team at the age of nine.
There is nothing about the game of baseball (soft ball or hard ball) that I enjoyed, so I was not heartbroken when I didn't make the First State Bank's Little League team at the age of nine. My twin brother made the team; I didn't. My mother was disappointed! In her defense, she only wanted what she perceived to be the best for me. How do I not applaud that kind of support?
My mother's posture was that if you were a normal kid, you would intuitively like baseball. Since I didn't, there was only one logical conclusion that could be made. I wasn't normal! That's kind of a bitter pill to swallow, but I managed to emerge with my self-esteem intact even though I am not a fan of baseball unless one of my grandchildren are playing.
That being said, it worked out okay. According to my mother's perception, I wasn't normal because I consistently had no interest in most sports. Tennis was the only game that I enjoyed playing. My mother also consistently told my brothers and me: "Sticks and stones may hurt your bones, but words will never hurt you". My mother was a loving and smart lady, but she didn't always get it right.
I didn't collect baseball cards, but during my younger years, I started collecting stories. The collection of stories is a hobby that I continue to enjoy. A high school English teacher insisted that our class memorize the poem: "Thanatopsis." The words of that poem still come easily for me to recite. The same is true of Robert Frost 's poem: "Walking Through the Woods on a Snowy Evening." I often recited the poem to my children when I drove them to school in Johnson City.
Tonight, I discovered another story that I've added to my collection of stories. I have not yet finished the book, but I suspect that I will do so before tomorrow turns into Monday. The story unfolds in a book recently written by the General's sister-in-law, Joni Topper.
I've known for years that she falls into the category of gifted and talented. She is an accomplished musician. She plays the piano and guitar exceptionally well and has the voice of an angel. Though I've previously read a short story or two written by her that appeared in previous publications, she has just published her first book. It will garner your attention from cover to cover and you'll be glad you invested the time to read what she has shared.
I can generally read three pages of a book and know whether it is a page-turner or not. Joni's book entitled: "The Power of a Well Placed Yes – God's Abundant faithful in a Small Church" more than captured my interest. It is extremely well written and the examples she shares about her faith walk and that of others tugged at my heartstrings.
The book is available through Barne's and Nobles and I gurarantee you won't be disappointed. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-power-of-a-well-placed-yes-jane-rubietta/1144998247
The book chronicles her story, that of her family and that of the First Christian Church in Johnson City. I can ensure you that your life will be enriched from the words she shares.
All My Best!
Don
