18 Innings and Holding

Eighteen innings and then it stopped. Whew! The 3^rd game in the 2025 World Series was mind bending. At 1:00 a.m. its outcome was becoming lost on me. I did not care who won, only that someone did so I could go to bed.

I love our blue Jays, Canada's team, always have since the bygone days of Exhibition stadium when tickets to the August 3-week-long Toronto Exhibition included bleacher seats to watch a Blue Jays game. Once upon a time. The team was in its infancy. We always attended the yearly fair, with a game included, leaving when I could no longer hold our two-year-old son as he napped on my lap, his two older brothers nearby.

Game 3 was a shocker to all who watched. Had anything like this ever happened before? There were games lasting 12 innings that I recall but 18? I wondered. Whoever won deserved to win. They simply lasted longer with stamina, talent and other assists. The 'loser' would be devastated, But someone had to win and someone had to lose. It is that simple. Relax. .

The 'loser' in any run to a championship title, in any contest, did not fail. Someone had to win. When comparing schools in a high performing district, for instance, when mere decimal points separate one school from another, what are you saying to your children and their teachers when their school comes in last? Think very carefully. Each school has its own unique qualities. Numbers do not always tell the complete story.

There are 30 major league teams: 29 in the US and 1 from Canada. Two teams fought to get on the podium to play. Only one will win. Only one can win. It is devastating to those who lose. What could I have done to win? Nothing. You had. Think about what you have achieved. You made thousands of fans called people excited, happy and more just by watching you 'work'. The digital age has brought everything up close and very personal.

You began as a little boy playing, practicing on weekends and most days of the weeks for hours, weeks, months then years on end. (Who drove you?) Others helped you achieve part of your dream. There were thousands of other little boys showing up in baseball marathons in small towns, cities across both countries every summer attempting to secure attention and perhaps a lucrative spot in the minor leagues. Maybe a hundred or just ten boys will be picked from this vast landscape then nurtured by  scouts, baseball royalty. Getting noticed is the name of the game. But your talent is on display while your body is being torn and twisted this way and that to play the game you love. We love it too.

You reached your goal but then others surpassed you. Remember one important fact. Millions of others did not, could not handle the rigours of playing baseball- 9 innings worth or more. Bats and balls the weapons of choice of this game can hurt you! We are now seated in the arena eating hot dogs while being entertained by your efforts and talents having evolved over the years. You won.

The World Series is not for the faint of heart. One team won. The other, sadly, did not. But each member of the team won our hearts. Be very proud of your achievements. We are. A lot of jumping, hugging, tapping, thumping, screaming, smiling, crying and laughing resulted. This game of poker, chess and gymnastics bonded a nation or two. You did it 'cause you loved it. 

We sat and watched, entertained by incredible athletes doing feats of the impossible. It took superhuman talents on your part to get here. It was not easy. You hurt along the way. Had surgery, too.....Thank you for all of it. We applaud your return - next year.

"Thank you, Barbara"

I was never so happy to hear your voice, Barbara, that of a real life human being. The other, a virtual assistant, representing a competitor of your company made it very clear that to try and cancel an appointment was impossible. I had to enter my 'card' then listen to his list of approved choices, none of which applied in my case. This I would not do. What if I was a new client? I would have no card to enter. So now what?

The machine continued, trying to exact revenge upon a simple human being -me- trying to cancel an appt. What else could I do? In five seconds Barbara did what the virtual assistant could not. An appt. for 9:00 am Monday morning for company A was cancelled, quickly and effortlessly. I was ever so grateful. The human called Barbara had come to my rescue.. “Are you real”? I asked. “Yes, I am” she responded. Thank you so much for being human. She laughed. I was comforted.

This 9:00 am slot was a premium spot so cancelling it was uppermost in my mind. I was compelled- it was my duty, after all - to cancel this time slot so others could use it. Time is money as they say. Doing it Monday morning would be too late. Premium spots are premium for a reason. I was comforted in knowing there are real people answering phones, treating the customers as they expect to be treated. Do we not matter anymore?

The bothersome virtual voice kept asking me to enter my card. I had redialed thinking I might have missed my category somehow. I had not. I listened again to the list. All I wanted was a representative to come in with the customary "May I help you?” (Wishful thinking.) What games are being played here? What if your query does not line up with what is being offered from the official list given? Oh my.

Today's phones are incredible marvels of the modern digital age. Calling the customer for information will not be done. Don't be fooled, they say. Online is easy also. Yes, it certainly is - for companies in charge not necessarily us, their clients/servants. Why can't a call be just that a call? When the grid collapses we all suffer in a myriad of ways. 

While shopping for a few grocery items, we faced  the store's internal system collapse. It was not the first time, however.  Cash was king in that moment. I had it but the customer in front of me did not. I checked my wallet for the gold standard of all. It carried us both. A sigh of relief. The customer tried to figure out a way to repay me. Pay it forward I replied. The thought of trying to meet up in today's busy world seemed silly.We would spend money and time trying. It was no big deal. (I had not bought him a car.)

We all do things to help others. Other deeds rated higher than mine did that day. I helped out a friend who would eventually help out another in need. Barbara restored my faith in common sense that day. She was real and so was I. Something to think about. A comforting thought for the future. You restored my faith, Barbara.   Thank you.

Stuffing, a Dieter's Delight

I surveyed the landscape looking for that perfect loaf of bread. The bakery at this store was always a special place. Produce also illicited a happy response but today it was a fresh loaf of country artisan bread. The standard was quite clear. The bread was masking itself as a sourdough, the gold standard of all things bread..

As I waited for the bread to be sliced I was thinking: “What is taking so long?” Five minutes seemed a bit much just to slice bread. Then it hit me. It wasn't just any loaf of bread. It was sourdough, a bread so alive that it fought with the slicing machine. Eventually the object of my desire was ready to put into the cart.

When I arrived home I ate a few of the end pieces, slathered with grass fed butter, butter that promotes gut health. Imagine that. It was as delicious as any dessert. The slices were a challenge to separate, as if they had been glued together just after being sliced, a hallmark of great bread. Chewing had new meaning. The whole jaw seemed to be getting a workout like eating an apple would.

Tearing the small slices into smaller pieces before they were processed in my 2 cup food processor was a reminder that great stuffing was close by. Sourdough is the only bread I use for that delicious side dish, the main act in my dinner time world. With oodles of chopped celery, onions, cardamon, poultry seasoning, flakes of dried rosemary, diced dill with coarse salt and pepper, sourdough stuffing is king. An egg can be added to augment flavour and taste. And of course chicken or turkey broth or any stock homemade or not. A meal in one. Try it. (Leave the salty 'versions' where they belong.)

Treating the body to homemade stuffing is my dieter's delight. The homemade pumpkin or apple pie  will simply have to wait. Breakfast is just around the corner that perfect duo? And all of this at your beckon call in the magical kitchen where delicacies and good health are created.

I Miss Him So

It has been nearly a month since my precious Mr. Wiggles left us. It happened, shockingly, in front of me as he struggled to breathe. I did my best but my best fell short. I mourn him terribly, oh so terribly. I had been his main squeeze, while knowing his limitations in warm humid air. But when family came calling he became that energizer bunny. People and his cousin, Ella, were his game

I am slowly and methodically packing up gently used soft teddy toys to go. But Santa Clause, Lamb Chop, Saskquatch and a others will remain. (I'm part dog.) Chewy toys for beginner pups of all ages will join those softies, a parting gift to those abandoned without thought or care in shelters designed to care for these human-like creatures, waiting for those forever homes..Our first retriever had been an abandoned three month old allowed to run in a large city park surrounded by buses, cars and street cars. Who does that? Sick!

Our wiggler needed things to carry. It was his personality. Calling them by name made him driven to find what was asked. Coming home to him was always amazing. He was happy to see us every time. A soft teddy bear, his gift to us, usually greeted us in his mouth,  a hopeful sign we were here to stay. He thrived on company and the activity that it engendered. .... Oh how I miss him.

Two large retriever beds are going, too, from other loving members. It is amazing how things can accumulate, worn out but still usable and comfy for those rescue animals waiting for a forever home in a strange land. Even health products are going. Who doesn't need an ear cleaned, an ongoing problem for dogs with floppy ears. The list can be long.

Throughout this ordeal The Toronto Blue Jays, now champions of their division, kept me buoyed and preoccupied. But I am sad, nonetheless. Our Mr. Wiggles was the best, never gnashing or growling at anyone. Meeting a lookalike sister, recently, energized him as he spoke to her in his special way. She remarked that meeting him was a nice change, too.

I will get another. I need them in my life. The nicest people you could ever meet. Huggable. Lovable and irreplaceable creatures they are!

"Mr. Wiggles, I will Love You Forever"!

He is my precious wiggler enduring yet another condition, unheard of, during his later years. His breathing became raspy earlier this year then morphed into other problems. He certainly did not deserve it, no dog does. As I wrap my thinking around it all, I wondered till I wondered no more.

It all began this year, in February. His hollow sounding, croupy voice came out of nowhere. It took me by surprise. Cool air, a common thread at this time of year in Canada, soothed throat and calmed his breathing. Upon examination, the doctor asked me to time his respiration rate as he slept or napped. A rate faster than 30 beats per minute spelled trouble.  His was always lower and quiet. And so I watched, timed, counted and listened from that moment on till this day. How could I not perform this simple act while my puppy slept. I needed to know if things could get worse.

There were surgeries galore listed to ameliorate this larynx problem. All dispelled a harsh penalty: in one case, post operative death rate was 60%. No thank you. The dog had to be silenced for several weeks during recovery. Really? No barking for a animal who communicates through his barking? How do I explain this ridiculous notion to him.? 

No collar. That was easy. Immediately, a harness was bought and used immediately. No time like the present. A food stand was used to keep all his food at eye level preventing the strain on his neck, back, larynx. All were positive actions to be taken to keep that other thing from happening. Nothing heroic was ever undertaken, just easy, make sense ones.

Everything was going according to plan till an unexpected visit, recently, to the doctor to plan for his future turned dire. A few minutes after arriving home my dear precious wiggler, still wiggling as he always did, died at home desperately trying to breathe. Frantically I tried to get him back into the car to get him the lifesaving help he needed. But time ran out. My 86 pound Mr. Wiggles, died courageously, with me by his side. I am heartbroken and will be for a very long time....... Good bye my precious loving pup. The aching never stops.

The Body, A Miracle Machine

It was the year 1979. At the time, I thought his sudden birth was unimaginable. Yet, today, I wondered, had his early traumatic arrival saved his life? The study of preemies had not begun till !980.

I was talking to our newest member of the the mother-to-be group. Like me she was not much of a meat eater, relying solely upon fruits and vegetables to 'build' her baby. Protein is a primary body builder for the successful outcome in any healthy pregnancy we discussed till I had the epiphany.

As a mother to be in 1979, I was sick, every minute of every day, as I emptied the critical contents of my body's nutrients  down the drain. This constant 'flow' of food relived the stress upon my body, day after day, but did little to nourish the baby growing inside me, I thought. I worried, non-stop. But worry did nothing to change anything so I devised a simple plan: sleep whenever possible.

With two retrievers to care for, I slept when time allowed. Keeping food inside where it belonged became my top priority. Nothing else mattered or worked. Cravings of pickles and ice cream did not exist. Simple nutritious foods did, yet could not reserve a spot in my body. Violent episodes of losing food ruled the day. Today, the child of this pregnancy, my first, is a strong man, having beaten the odds of death when he was born 27 weeks into the pregnancy.

Little food remained while our son developed and grew inside me, I told 'Sally' (He is a strong man today.) For me there was no such thing as cravings. I simply detested most foods but somehow managed to eat some worthwhile products such as eggs, buckwheat kasha. Though very little food could be tolerate, my fetus managed to grow and thrive, I guess, because at birth the doctors remarked how big our first born was for being just over 3 months early. 

Three pounds, 2 ounce was the final score. I had managed to deliver a healthy, underweight preemie while discarding all food during this 6 month pregnancy. Remarkable! Mother nature knew what she was doing 'cause I certainly did not.

Had our son entered a healthier period of life after being born 13 weeks too soon? Who would dare say such a thing? Upon arrival, a preemie struggles to survive. In my case, our son struggled for 6 months in utero waiting to be born, from a diet of tiny morsels of food being lost within minutes of being eaten. Vomiting had served its purpose.

I knew then that any healthy diet helped  the baby. The terms of the stay meant nothing 'cause Mother Nature seemed to know what she was doing. Always has, always will.

Absolutely Thirst Quenching and Delicious!

The most thirst quenching, refreshing, delicious and satisfying mid morning snack, lunch or breakfast involves crisp cold celery with an accompaniment...... Years ago, the Medical Medium got the world juicing this innocuous vegetable that is a third party in the mirepoix involving carrots and onions for soups, stews and dips.

We juiced and juiced celery, buying 10 or more stalks, at a time, then. Some of us became tired of this trend wondering what to do with the fibre left behind among other things. Celery muffins? Cornbread? Or in my case, stuffing muffins. .. Healthy smoothies or juicing is not trendy. They are for real, energizing body treatments, saving us vast amounts of dollars not buying that latte, (Momsey does not drink coffee) hotdog or pizza slice at Costco in those early morning hours of shopping. Money saved is not just money saved but money invested, as well.

This morning I needed and craved celery. It was an emergency, too, for our Mr. Wiggles, this health detoxifier for us and them. Our dogs have had celery included in their diets for decades, an elixir must have for good health according to the Medical Medium. 

We have been dog owners for over 50 years, learning, early on, that sugar had no part in an animal's diet yet there it was up close and too personal in many dog foods back in the 70's when I knew nothing about dogs. Who was cooking/producing this garbage for our dogs? No wonder there is an expiry date on their lives of 10 years or less. There is a a breed living in Portugal, age 27. Imagine that! No dog food there, perhaps. What creature can subsist on junk for 10 years. A real diet is what is needed. There must be fake credentials, somewhere.

(Corn syrup does not belong in an animal's diet.) Our pets are not your guinea pigs. Was this simply a sick joke perpetrated upon us, unknowingly? But I digress. Today I was reminded of my own love affair with celery since I was young. This morning's celery looked so good. So I bought two stalks and processed one to be added, at will, on the food of my puppy. Then came its perfect accompaniment: a tuna sandwich! I was so excited about the lunch I was about to eat.

Celery is a great crunchy eating thing with tuna sandwiches. That is what I had this morning. Using  a certain brown bread is a must. And it fits right in. That carb profile matches certain fillings. Egg salad,  as does ham and salmon on brown or white. Pick the bread that works. But what must be included is the star: 2 inch celery sticks and carrots, too, with fresh and crunchy radishes. Oh my. such a delight. Chomp, Chomp and you're done. Lunch is done at an unbeatable price. Make a bunch with or without crusts and away we go. Satisfaction guaranteed. Freeze in small pieces and lunch is ready for the hot days of summer

Engaging in the long lost art of tuna sandwiches and others, if available, is simply wonderful. Have we  moved away from the lost art of making simple sandwiches at home? Cake anyone? Yes, of course. But I sort of had that first, didn't I?......Celery seems like cake at certain hungry times for me.

Use mayonnaise of your choosing. Mix some with a dollop of olive oil, the best in the world, add finely chopped chives, celery leaves with onion powder, or not, - olives - finely chopped, spinach?? A tiny food processor I use regularly for our Wiggler works fine to chop veggie add-ins for those magical sandwich moments. Devilled eggs anyone? Me, too.

With many teeth gone from our Mr. Wiggler he was looking at me quizzically wanting that which might be difficult to chew. I offered him the finely tuned celery sticks, I had been eating.. I held one as he meticulously and carefully chomped on it using the few front teeth with - two canines still intact and other 'helpers' - loving every moment.. Yet it was only celery.

Celery is so loved, needed and wanted in Momsey's life and my Wiggler's. Finely processed it satisfies and improves overall health. It is must in chicken soup, Chinese stir fries,. Its appeal is magnified, too,when sandwiches are present. With smoked meat, a very special treat, lightly steam in frypan with a mesh cover on top to steam slices of frozen rye bread with caraway seeds. Mustard anyone? Invite the celery sticks or coleslaw. Everything is welcome here. Especially the celery and mustard. Celery is never out of place.