The Pesky "Poll"

I have been a Red Sox fan for my entire life, and this past week Red Sox nation mourned the loss of one of its family, Johnny Pesky.  He had been a fixture with the Sox for more than a half century, so he represented one of those vestiges from my earliest childhood memories of the franchise.

The right field foul pole in Fenway Park bears the name of Mr. Pesky for reasons that have been disputed over the years; nonetheless, it was formally dedicated as the Pesky Pole for his 87th birthday.  After watching this man and his contributions to the Red Sox over the years, I have my own opinion about the Pesky "poll".  He loved the game of baseball and his beloved Red Sox, he valued the fans especially the young, but more importantly he remained humble throughout all his success.  Those are qualities that make him a Hall of Famer in any one's book!

Is this your first?

For those of us who have been fortunate enough to become parents, the anticipation and excitement associated with that nervous occasion is certainly unforgettable, and once you hold that little bundle of joy for the first time, every ounce of worry seems to be melt away.  Granted, the time ahead may present a host of other stumbling blocks and challenges, but few would deny that for an instant in time, all of life's issues are but a trivial concern.

My older brother recently told me a story which involved his "first" experience with impending fatherhood.  Long ago, in the days preceding "modern medicine", the labor room was off limits to everyone, except the key players: the expectant mother, the nurses, and the physician.  Everyone else was banished to the waiting room, and the news of the birth was then personally communicated to the father and others by either one of the nurses or the delivering doctor.  My how that process has evolved since those "olden days".

Well, on this particular occasion, my brother and father were evidently out at the local park hitting a few baseballs when the urgent call came requesting my father's presence in Labor and Delivery, so the local constable was dispatched to the ballpark to deliver the message.  Evidently, there must have been some urgency to the situation because, instead of dropping my brother off at home, my father elected to bring my brother along with him to the hospital.  In a bygone era, the nurses were quick to provide some short term child care in such circumstances, however, as you might imagine in this case, they had other, more important obligations.  So, the logical alternative became none other than the expectant father in the nearby waiting room, a perfect distraction for an anxiety laden individual.  Being the precocious son of a doctor, my brother acted cool calm and collected, as he witnessed this adult pacing anxiously about the room.  Evidently, my brother felt compelled to help provide some distraction for this man during his hour of need, so he broke the nervous silence with a question, "Is this your first?"  I can only imagine the scene as it must have unfolded in that waiting room from that point on.

When my brother shared this story with me not too long ago, I laughed until it hurt thinking of a young boy witnessing this adult and how did he ever come up with such an insightful yet quizzical question?  Life's true stories do provide the best entertainment, and this one ranks right up there.  As for my brother, I suspect that it was a first for him too!

Julia Child's memory lives on

Had Julia Child been living today, she would be celebrating her 100th birthday, and with her volumes of recipes,  one can only imagine the menu at her party.  Although cooking is not among my many interests, the end result of those efforts generally has me circulating in the kitchen lurking to assist with the "cleanup".  Regardless of one's aptitude for the culinary arts, few would argue that Julia Child brought a unique "flavor" to her craft that will be difficult to recreate.

Julia Child spent a lifetime mastering her passion for cooking and then bringing it to an audience of "hungry" followers, but what many truly appreciated about her was her witty and carefree style with her TV audience.  My brothers and I occasionally would happen upon her show and were routinely entertained, not for cooking at our age, but for her perpetual lighthearted humor.  Her demeanor reminded us of our mother who took a similar approach to life in the kitchen and elsewhere, and it has been because of these similarities that the memory of JC lives on in living color for us.

Yes, Julia Child brought us French cooking, but more importantly,  she showed us how to master the simple joys of life.  This has been the recipe that my mother mastered best along with this icon of the kitchen.  So, when I hear my mother's voice, replete with her positive outlook on life, I am reminded of Julia and that will always keep her memory alive for  me.  Merci to the ambassador of Bon Appetit!

The Newest Food Group

For years,  everyone has been made aware of the 4 major food groups i.e. dairy, meats, fruits and vegetables, and grains.  This, of course,  has led the dietary experts to tailor their educational programs to helping their clients make good choices based on the nutritional and caloric value of those foods, and as our understanding of nutrition advances, the experts typically modify their teaching to reflect the changing data.  Bearing that in mind, it's time to include another food group that many of us have known about for years, but because of the lack of evidence to support it and too, because of its inclusion in an already recognized group, it has been overlooked as a group unto itself.  It now time to give this group its just deserts.

It may not come as a surprise to anyone who grew up in New England, but the residents of these 6 states consume more ice cream per capita than anywhere else in the United States.  Ice cream stands dot the landscape from Connecticut to Maine and all the states in between.  Why, even the nationally recognized Ben and Jerry's ice cream producer is based out of Waterbury, Vermont, and in my opinion,  that location isn't by coincidence.  There are several theories circulating around the reasons for the "excessive" consumption, but one of them suggests that the long, cold winters are justification for the frequent indulgences.  Some contend that the ice cream made here in New England just is better than that made elsewhere around the country.  In either case, if you like ice cream, then you can find your own reasons to justify this tasty behavior.

Long before the age of evidence based medicine, much of the teaching and practices resulted from personal experience and accepted practices, as passed along from generation to generation.  Perhaps this is why New Englanders represent such a large group of ice cream consumers; it simply has to do with their history.  After all, much of NE is comprised from several of the original thirteen colonies.  However, for evidence proving that ice cream should be considered its own food group I simply say, if you are given the option of eating ice cream or something from one of those readily recognized food groups, whether you live in New England or not, most of us would choose ice cream, because there is always room for ice cream.  In fact, it has been my personal experience that it isn't just for dessert anymore either, and that's the scoop from here!

Sign here, please

Josiah Bartlett

If you have ever purchased anything with something other than cash, you know that there typically is a signature required to make your purchase.  Certainly, if you have purchased a home or some other large ticket item that requires financing, then you can appreciate the countless number of documents that have to be signed to execute the transaction.  As you can see, with one swift stroke of the pen, one's signature can carry a rather large responsibility.

Well, if it hadn't been for those brave signers of the Declaration of Independence, we wouldn't be enjoying the freedom and liberty that we Americans so value today, especially on this Fourth of July.  So, to the men who bravely dipped their quill pens into an ink well and set forth this proclamation that we could enjoy Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, I say thank you.  Although it took a veritable instant, the actions sanctioned by those men with a simple signature, forever changed the lives of the many who have followed.  Happy Fourth of July!

It's a 10

On the day after the Celtics lost to the Miami Heat with their version of the big 3, Mother Nature countered with one of this season's near perfect days.  Lately, New Englanders have been making good use of their umbrellas and raincoats, but in the wake of the Celtics 7th game disappointing loss, Mother Nature had the remedy for the pall.  She dialed up a perfect 10 today.

The future of Boston's big 3 may be in question, but their impact on Celtics fans is undeniable and that makes the day a 10 all around.  Thanks for all that sunshine from your fans who recognize and appreciate perfection!

Assigned Seating

Have you ever been to a formal, sit down affair with assigned seating such as a wedding?  If you have, then you know there are only a limited number of seats that you can choose from, once you arrive at your table.  Alternatively, the option of open seating presents the dilemma of choosing from all that available seating.  What is interesting, however, is how people tend to gravitate to the same seats, even when there is an opportunity to make a change.  Well, when I go to morning spin class, one would think that we had assigned seating for those stationary bikes.  On second thought, maybe we do, and permit me to explain.

I have been attending a spinning class at the local fitness club for a year now, and it has been my observation that the attendees typically gravitate to the same bike at the start of each class.  Whether this is due to being creatures of habit or because particular bikes may be more finely tuned, it remains a puzzle to me.  Regardless, when the instructor appears on the scene and opens the door, there always seems to be a mad dash for that favorite bike.  But after everyone settles in and the music starts, the real challenge begins.  Forty five minutes later, after a series of sprints and hill climbs, you feel like you had joined the peleton, earned some sweat equity, yet are relieved to be finished.

When it comes to spinning class, it has been my observation that it appears to be an open seating arrangement, but I can assure you that it's "ass-hind" seating only!