I do believe in the unseen hand. Yesterday, I looked at the home run picture, knowing that I would use it in my personal blog. But somehow it just didn't seem to be the right day. Instead I took my direction from another blogger and wrote a piece on items that I've had for a long long time.
Now I know why....
Susanna rounds third base being heartily congratulated by her head coach during the Hawaii tournament last March. She's just hit a home run off the right field scoreboard against the University of Georgia. It will be the only home run that she will hit during her successful senior season. Like most of her softball pictures, her feet are off the ground, she's always flying.
And then....
Last night, I heard from one of my 'Canada Cup buddies' Erwin, that his colleague, Ben, has passed away from complications from lung surgery. Last month. I saw Ben last month at Canada Cup. I took this picture which I included in my previous post. Likely one of the last pictures taken of him. I made a project of taking each of their pictures, saying I would include them in my blog. After I took Ben's picture, he looked at it and said with a sigh "Well now, that's probably as good as we are going to do" That was on June 30 on the first day of the tournament. I returned with a friend the following Saturday July 7 and wondered why I didn't see him there. Figured I just missed him as I doubted that he would miss that important day of Canada Cup.
From his obituary in the Medicine Hat News from Alberta:
Since discovering Softball City in Surrey, softball became his true passion and every spring and summer could be found at the ballpark. Ben became a fixture at the park, offering his knowledge and love of the game to the coaches, players and parents who welcomed him as one of their own, including inviting him on trips to many out of town tournaments
He certainly was welcomed by myself, as the parent of a player who appeared at Canada Cup and played with some of his Canadian favorites. Rest in Peace Ben! I always appreciated your insights and opinions as well as your warm welcome. To borrow a phrase that I suspect I will be using more and more throughout my life....see you Ben on the other side...you can give me the latest scoop on Team Canada
Softball picture from goducks.com used without permission
1 comment:
These photo's of ours can mean so much . . .
I am sure you are glad that you got that photo of Ben. You would have been so sad if you had lost that opportunity.
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