Super

I ran into a friend of mine whom I had not seen in awhile. He’s a new father so I asked him about his children. He shared that his son is really into Super Heroes. Makes sense, as kids I think we all had our Super Hero stage. As a kid, my favorites were “Mighty Mouse” and “Aqua Man.” I would have liked to write that it was Wonder Woman, yet, that would not be true. She was too fluff and the lasso of truth....seriously....whoo.

What was fascinating, however, was that my friend’s son’s favorite Super Hero is Robin. I liked that he is drawn to the loyal partner, the faithful sidekick, the one not grabbing all the headlines.

As the buzz begins for this season’s summer movies, it looks like once again there will be an abundance of films based on Super Heroes. They will be there because people love those movies and they will bring in a lot of money.

What is our ongoing fascination with Super Heroes?

Is it our need to believe in a positive force for good?

In this post 9-11 world, do we need to know that good ultimately will triumph?

With so many so very afraid do we need to know someone has our back and we will be rescued?

There’s a great movie called MYSTERY MEN that features common persons claiming their own very personal super powers. There’s “The Bowler” and “The Shoveler” and “Mr. Furious” --- basic amateurs with a belief in what they can do.

The point is that “all of us are heroes and heroines if you catch us at the right moment.”

Be super today!

sj;

Have a ball!

Yesterday, a large, purple, rubber ball was in the front yard. It was wedged between the telephone pole and the hillside. By the time I checked again the ball was gone...I’m figuring the kids must have come to get it. Good.

Although it didn’t make the National Toy Hall of Fame until 2009, is there any better toy than a ball?

As a kid, if I had a ball to play with --- any ball --- all was well in my world.

If it was a “Superball” we would bounce it off the sidewalk to see if we could get it as high as the house.

The rubber balls in the big metal tubs at the store were perfect for kickball.

How great were the giant, red, rubber balls of elementary school gym class?

Tennis balls --- nothing better than opening that new can and getting that good bounce!

Any small rubber ball was built to enhance one’s fielding skills by throwing it up against the garage and catching it infinitum.

Growing up near fields and roads one quickly learned to make rules: “Any ball kicked that lands on the road is an automatic O.U.T.” If a ball went over the hillside and into the weeds one would yell, “Did you see where it went? Mark that spot so we can find it!”

Because I’m happy the ball found its way back home, here then a TOP 10:

10. Always put a found ball back into the yard from whence it came.

9. Always kick, not throw, back a wayward soccer ball.

8. Be the first person to buy a kid her or his first ball.

7. When asked to play catch....even on a Sunday morning after church...always say YES!

6. Be gracious to the kid who’s hit or throw breaks a window....doubly so if it’s your window.

5. Have at least one ball in your house.

4. If you are ever fortunate enough to get a baseball from a major league game put it in a place
of honor. Mine sits above my writing desk.

3. Make it a point to smell a baseball....sweet!

2. Know who the person is, or be that person, who has the needle and pump to fix when a ball
has gone flat.

1. Bouncing, shooting, throwing, catching, kicking a ball is great therapy!

Go outside and have a ball!

sj;