May 30th, 2008,  a Friday

Have you seen the World Series Women's Softball Tournament going on right now?  Of course, you haven't.  Who, you say, watches "girls" softball on tv anyway?  In small doses, I do.  I'm sure these ladies are the best there is at that wild underhand roundhouse style pitching.  Or hitting, even though it seems a lot less exciting with that big colorful softball and what seems like a miniature field on tv.  And their speed is not blinding but in context with their throwing skills, they do seem to get around the bases.  And there are two big time Arizona schools in the tournament.  No, that's not why I watch.  It is so much fun to enjoy the girlness of it all.  I'm sure they warm up before they take the field, but all I can think about is how much time they must spend getting ready.  Since there isn't much opportunity to watch girls playing softball prior to the big tournament, I am curious to know if they always wear that much make up or if they are influenced by the presence of national television cameras.  You gotta hand it to them.  Their mascara never runs when they sweat so it stays where it belongs from first pitch to last out along with the eyeliner and eyeshadow chosen for this special occasion.  There's not much they can do with their outfits since they have to wear the school uniform, but they make up for it with hair accessories.  No gloomy baseball caps for these girls.  Where else can you see long hair (lots of "blonde" long hair) pulled back in a ponytail with a sparkly headband and a ribbon?  And, of course, there are the earrings, nothing dangly, just the posts.   Do you think the NCAA regulates things like hair accessories and bracelets?  Do you think this was contemplated when Title IX was first envisioned?  But you gotta love these girls.  They swing with all their might and when they get the big hit, they bust out into a huge smile and practically giggle all the way around the bases.  The girls on the bench jump up and down and shriek with delight and run out to greet their teammate with open arms.  When things are going badly, the girls in the dugout whisper and sometimes even cry or at least look a lot like they are about to.  The rally caps are very creative (girls obviously spend time contemplating the rally cap as a fashion statement) and I especially enjoyed the way one of the girls wore her mitt on her head during a top of the seventh rally (they only play seven innings so that was like the ninth).  I know guys may do the same thing, but the way this girl's glove just fit on her head perfectly was a thing of beauty and makes you wonder if it was a factor in selecting the glove in the first place.  Even though it should be obvious that I love these girls and respect the level at which they play the game, I'm bound to get lots of mail about this (ok, maybe I won't but that is what the big boy bloggers say because lots of people post their opinions because so many people read their blogs).  But girls will be girls, and I say more power to 'em. 

On a somewhat related note, an inspirational speaker was presenting his thoughts to a university graduating class.  He was, as expected, giving them advice going forward as they ventured into their post-education lives.  Find your passion, he said.  (Can't argue with that darned good advice.  It was the next part that threw me.)  It might take a while, into your twenties, thirties or even forties, but don't ever give up the search.  It sounded from other references in the speech like he meant that they should find what it is they love to do, as in a professional endeavor, and then really go after the dream.  He was a good example of this, having become a designer of video games and cool 3-D programs.  A lot was made of his parents allowing him to draw mathematical equations on his bedroom walls so as not to stifle his creativity.  But everyone will not be so lucky as to map out a path at such an early age and successfully follow the road in such a glamorous field with such a glorious talent.  I couldn't stop thinking about the message in those words and the opportunities that may be missed in their more obvious interpretation. 

Isn't it possible that many of the students listening had a great passion for learning and really enjoyed the education phase of their young lives for its own sake no matter how closely it related to their eventual careers?  And then you would hope they would find a passionate relationship that would lead to a lifetime of commitment and maybe a family.  Maybe being a mom or a dad would become the most passionate thing in life, far more important than career or professional accomplishments.  Or maybe they would volunteer for worthy causes in the community with a passion for service?  I just can't accept that passion is something you look for until you find it, maybe as late as in your forties.  Passion should be for living, in all possible ways, an ongoing thing, not something to be searched for and found at a particular moment. 

The irony of this was that the speaker has cancer, terminal pancreatic cancer, and has already outlived his prognosis by three months.  He became well known for giving his "last lecture" after learning of his dire diagnosis, his words reflecting the deep wisdom that can only come with the terrible knowledge that you no longer have a future.  His lecture was expanded into a book and has become a source of inspiration not only to cancer patients but to those seeking to find the "passion" and meaning in their lives.  After the recent commencement speech, to thunderous applause, he kissed his wife, picked her up in his arms, and left the stage.  His passion is now his life, what is left of it.  He commented that he would leave behind and be remembered by one of his most popular game inventions.  But I disagree.  He will be best known for figuring out the passion that is in every moment of a life.  He just doesn't know it yet. 

So here's to the girls who play softball with such style, and to finding the passion in everything we do.  It's contagious, you know.  Passion begets passion.  Now don't go taking that too literally.  That's not what I meant!

GR