sea change

Somewhere along the course of the summer our boy picked up a glove and a ball and started throwing it around with anyone who would accomodate him.

He started following the Phillies (Go Phillies!) and asked for a jersey and a cap. And he still wanted to throw the ball. We read this book on vacation. And he still wanted to throw the ball. And then he decided he wanted to try baseball. Play on a fall ball team and check it out.

How could we not let him?

Turns out he loves it.

He loves practice. He loves watching games. And he still loves throwing the ball in the front yard.

Poor guy had to wait weeks for his first game (darn rain), and when last Saturday rolled around, he was so ready.

Ready to be part of it all.

 

When Callum first started practice, his coach got his name wrong a couple of times. This is not that unusual. His name is unusual, after all. Neel pointed out that this was a fresh start in a way. Nobody on this team knew him, and he could be whoever he wanted to be.

The next night at practice his coach kindly said, "I'm sorry son, I forgot your name."
    "It's Callum, but you can call me Cal."

Cal, huh? Somehow it suits him. And it works, out there on the ballfield. Baseball suits him too. I can't shake the feeling that we may have seen our last lacrosse game.

Comments

[Liz Romero]

Beautiful post, Lauren. And I totally GET Callum and his love of "the game." I played baseball and then softball (fast pitch - the closest a girl in the 70s could get to baseball) most of my childhood through my early 20s, then came kids and well, you know. The girls gave the opportunity to coach t-ball, coach pitch and then, you guessed it, fast-pitch softball. They did NOT fall in love with the game, much to my chagrin. And basketball, track, music, field hockey, swimming took over (much more interesting and fun to them!). Recently, 2010 in fact, I started a church softball team. Slow-pitch, co-ed, city league. SO much different. But at least I've been playing. And I still LOVE the game, even though I'm not as flexible or as fast or as fearless as I used to be. Go, Callum!

[Lauren]

Oh, Liz, thank you so much for your kind words! I remember you talking about your church team when we were in class. There's one girl on Callum's team, and she made me think of you!

[alfie]

I am amazed at how good his form is so early in his baseball career. That reaching across the body catch, his batting stance, even the last picture where he is tipping his cap (an important skill for a budding all-star). When he is ready to hire an agent....I'm just sayin'

[Mary Jane]

He looks great! A real Natural! And my god, how much bigger is he going to get? I can't wait to see him play.