A Moment

" Walk down that lonesome road - all by yourself.
Don't turn your head -back over your shoulder.
And only stop to rest yourself when the silver moon -
Is shining high above the trees.

If I had stopped to listen once or twice..
If I had closed my mouth and opened my eyes
If I had cooled my head and warmed my heart
I'd not be on - this road tonight. "

No idea who wrote that...but I was listening to some James
Taylor on my MP3 while golfing the other day and the
lyrics struck me...funny thing..Steve and I used to sing
this song, acapella, two part harmonies and it was always
one of my favorites of our material..I'd love to record it with
a choir...perhaps over the winter.
It will definitely be one of the tunes I keep on my playlist.
I have two and a half rounds of golf worth of songs on my
MP3 and I do beleive for anyone who has trouble with lack
of focus standing over the ball, I may have stumbled onto
something. I put my earphones in place before every shot
and it shuts everything else out...and I find it very soothing -
very relaxing...It puts me in the absolute best "place" I can
be to start my pre-shot routine..hell..it forces me to develop
and use a pre-shot routine and that in itself is a shot-saver.
Funny, how it happened.
The vast majority of the people you run into on the golf course
are good folks...well intentioned and out there for all the right
reasons - a little outdoor activity, fresh air, companionship,
and friendly competition. But...it amazes me how many
people who have golfed for many years, have forgotten how
impolite it is to talk while someone else is lining up a shot or
standing over the ball preparing to play. Over a recent two
week period in three instances I found myself in groups where
there was one individual who considered what he had to say
so important it couldn't wait until someone else hit the ball.
I may be more sensitive to these things - to any form of lack
of consideration of others - than some - certainly I know I
have less tolerance than I'd like - but the MP3 reduces
those kinds of distractions...and having a source of music
for four and half hours while golfing adds an element of
relaxation I've not before experienced. It is a terrific
thing.
Bridge tonight...gotta go....Leafs play tonight -
I hope I do beter with cards than they do...
Bless.
Don

It's Happening Again Again

The year is 2028.
Cars as we knew them back in the first decade of the new century
are no longer. Commuters pile into single seats built into the side
of the personal pods in which they live. The personal pods of each
individual of the household are attached by common areas for
cooking, eating, and what little communication they share.
Once seated in their personal pods, commuters simply dial
in co-ordinates for their chosen destination. In an instant they
are transported where they need to go - and in that instant
they are entertained by the news, weather, music or drama
that once took an hour to absorb.
It is definitely a new world in which we live...AND THE LEAFS
ARE GOING TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS - FINALLY.
Not to diminish the significance of the accomplishment - every
team in the National Hockey League International - all 486
teams in 56 divisions make the playoffs in this new, ultra
exciting era.
League Commissioner John Ferguson Jr. finally got something
right. A dismal failure as the Toronto Maple Leafs General
Manager, Ferguson was named President of the entire
organization when it became clear there was nothing remaining
for him the screw up. When the Leafs organization, once hated
for being the proudest, most financially successful operation
in a once proud league - had to be sold at auction - it was clear
that Ferguson's vision seperated him from all others - and there
was no where to go but the top. Under Ferguson's leadership
the league has finally adopted rules where no team is allowed
to carry more than two Canadian hockey players on their roster
- those Canadians are just too rough -too aggressive - and there is
no room for that in our game ! All those troublesome Canadian
franchises have been moved to Central and South America - so
players no longer have to deal with those harsh and cold, dark
winters - Oh, the Toronto Maple Leafs still exist - they just
play out of Nicaraugua..not hard to get a ticket these days !
But there is no question that Ferguson's greatest impact on the
game of hockey - what he will be remembered for most - is that
finally the league doesn't bother to keep score...adding legitmacy
to the new playoff structure.
Buckle up Leafs fans...dramatic changes are needed if promises
are to come true that this crew will make the playoffs - before 2028...
Sigh....
I'm a golfer..I love the game...lots of people love the game as much as
I do...but no one swings the club the same as I do..some hit the ball
further..some don't hit it as far...some putt better than I do - some
don't...I'm pretty good at it...I work at it...and I'm passionate about it.
The day someone comes out and decrees that there is only one way to
golf properly and that if you don't approach the the game that way
you are of limited value - much of the attractiveness of the game
will disappear...golf is like everything else we undertake in life - there
is no one right way...
Til next time - hittem long and hittem straight...and if you stand on
your head to do so...have at 'er !
Don