07/12/01 - 11:20 pm

Dear Alicia

Sis, I know that a lot of my recent letters to you have focused on the negativity and generally bad atmosphere that exists in the present world, but hopefully today, that will change.  Sometimes, not often, I am thankful that your beautiful soul remains clean and untainted by those elements of existence that do not reflect well on the progression that we as a people have supposedly made.   Your vision remains that of innocence, sweetness and purity, but alas, in order to understand why things are as they are, we have to look closer and see things that we may not want to see.  Lately, those kind of thoughts are the ones that have occupied the majority of my mind  and rants, but I figured its time to let a little sunshine into the darkness, because it’s usually not hard to see the bad, and you have to try and see the good, but in these three instances, the warmth, caring and general smiley feeling cannot help but overwhelm the norm. 

Dateline: Seattle Washington, July 10^th 2001 – The Major League Baseball celebrates its 72^nd annual midsummer classic, the All-Star game.  Usually, this is just an exhibition to showcase the best of the best in the first half of the season, failing to provide any spark or excitement, but allowing most involved to see their favorite players, relax and enjoy the break afforded to them.  This year appeared to be different, with a couple of minor twists.  Two of baseballs ambassadors, Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles, and Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres, would be making their final appearances.  The two have been mainstay All Stars throughout their career, Ripken appearing 19 times, Gwynn, 18 times, and their accomplishments, statistics and records could fill up several of my journal entries.  So in their final appearance, it should be no surprise that they ended being part of the showcase, the spectacle, and the magic of this wonderful Northwest evening.  It all began in the bottom of the first inning, when Alex Rodriguez, the starting All-Star shortstop, came over and pushed Cal, the starting third baseman, over to shortstop to play.  Ripken played nearly his entire career at that position before moving over a couple of years ago.  Cal, ever the sportsman, would not go at first, but at his coaches urging, he did move over and play his 3 innings at his natural position.  It was a great show of sportsmanship and class in a profession that has seemingly lost those characteristics due to skyrocketing salaries, overpaid crybabies, and players who follow the dollar rather than their loyalties to a team.  Then, in his first at-bat, on his first pitch, Cal sent the ball, and his lasting memory and image, into All-Star history by hitting a home run into the Seattle sunset.  David Mamet or Ron Shelton could not have scripted it better.  Whether or not it was intentionally “grooved (laid out there for him to hit) or not is a moot point.  They are professionals, they are athletes, and for one evening, they were the role models that they should be.  The honoring of Gwynn and Ripken in a ceremony in the 6^th inning was just the icing on a beautiful, and memorable cake that reflected all of the good things that sports and the spirit of competition can represent. 

Then there are those little things, around us in our everyday life, that we may take for granted until we absolutely need them, but we thank our lucky stars that they are there.  I mean, good friends, and helpful strangers.  
Dateline: Mission, Kansas - July 12^th 2001 Today, my car decided to take yet another of its now fairly frequent 6-month sabbaticals.  Around 11 am (yes, I woke up later than I wanted too) I was on my way to have the car looked at since it had been acting up on me, but alas, the white beast was going to have none of that.  I turn the ignition, and hear that sickening groan, followed by clicks.  Now I don’t know much about cars, but silence and clicking are never good signs.  So after about 10 minutes of trying and a few minutes of pacing frustration, I call my friend Jeff (a whole other story onto his own right sis, remind me to tell you about him sometime, he is indeed one of a kind), who is a new father, and currently job hunting.  Without hesitation, he offers to come over, bearing a tow rope, jumper cables and his usual cover all emergency repair kit (you name it, he probably has it, and people call me a pack rat, sheesh) I then set about to calling car repair places to find one close while waiting for him, and calling work to let them know that I was going to be in just a tad late, if at all, based upon whatever was wrong.  After a few conversations, it sounded as if the resolution to my problem would be quite simple, a nice gentleman named Les from my local Advance Auto Parts informed me that it was probably just a battery (which it was) and that he could fix it, or replace and guarantee my alternator (the other possibility) if that’s what it was, since I bought it from them.  To condense this tale a bit, Jeff comes over, we jump-start my car, converse a bit, then I head off to the car place.  Upon arrival, I get the most personalized service that I think I’ve ever received from anyplace even remotely automobile related.  It’s so rare to see people who genuinely love their job, and love doing it, to the point that Les, and his co-worker Randy do (they were discussing the latest Nascar race with a great passion when I finally left).  Never fear sis, the touch of angels can be seen in the grandest, and also the most surprising places.

Finally comes the most recent touch of sunshine, which I believe warms my heart more than anything has in a long time, for several reasons.  The obvious reason being that Kat thought it up, solidifying and confirming my belief that you are missing an angel up there, because she is amongst us down here.  Her latest miracle of brilliance apparently came to her amidst some feline inspiration (the full story).  Dateline: Sunnyvale, California, July 12^th 2001  - In short, she along with Cameron and their friends, are going to develop a scholarship fund in Jean’s name, at her alma mater of Santa Clara University.  This scholarship will allow for students to travel to France to study and for French students to come here; Kind of a foreign exchange program which will promote societal cultural awareness along with educational growth.  It is a fitting tribute to a great ambassador, friend and person.  A great idea, humph, she sells herself so short some times, it is truly a stroke of beautiful brilliance, a fitting tribute, an act of love which will live on for ages, and continue to keep the spirit of a wonderful soul who was taken too soon for our sake, but is now gracing up there somewhere with you, please say hello, and that those who loved him miss him, and those who never got to meet him are saddened by that fact, but touched every day by the lives he touched.  The Jean Michael Vertut Scholarship Fund, perfect angel, truly perfect.  Maybe I need to get a cat too. 

Image and background courtesy of Rayoflight (a really cool looking site)

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