The Old Ball Game

We, myself, me Pops, and me Grandpa Joe, all lived within two blocks of the Shop, the old barn where we worked when we weren't telling tall tales. It wasn't unusual for any one of us to head home for this or that reason during the work day.

Joe left for his house on some errand early one afternoon. About ten minutes later, the phone rang. "Bill, I think Joe's collapsed out on Hancock street," a worried neighbor told him.

Dad bolted from the Shop. He was quickly on Hancock, but could see from well back it wasn't his father laying along the curb. Still, whoever it was ought to be checked. Me Pops went up to him. 

The man on the ground was face up, staring into the clouds. "You okay, fella?" Dad asked him.

"Oh yeah. I'm just watching the ball game," the guy answered. 

"Ah. Well, who's winning?" Me Pops returned.

"I don't know. I just got to my seat." About then an ambulance pulled up. Apparently Anxious Neighbor had, rightly, already called one. Dad had done his duty, so he stepped back for the EMTs to do theirs.

A Beautiful Thing

While I was at Sunday Mass with The Ohio Cosgriffs in Newark this past weekend an unfortunate thing happened. The Deacon, Deacon Patrick to be specific, had a seizure while delivering the homily. He had turned towards the altar while preaching, yet when he turned back to the congregation his face went blank. Deacon Patrick stood in the pulpit staring into the distance until a Medical doctor attending Mass went to check on him, along with the priest who sat nearby and a couple other congregants. They led him gently from the altar and through a side exit. Within minutes an ambulance was heard, taking the Deacon to emergency.

It turns out that the poor man had a history of seizures. While I don't know his current status it appears a safe presumption that he's okay. Yet at the time, the unknowing congregation sat stunned. Within a few moments of silence my daughter-in-law Tarina began out loud, "Hail Mary, full of grace..." The rest of us soon joined in, as Tarina led us in three Hail Mary prayers and one Glory Be. Most everyone it seemed joined in the prayers. It gave us a chance to express our feelings, and the priest a moment to gather himself before continuing the Mass.

I told her afterwards that it was a beautiful thing for her to do. She shrugged it off as just something she felt needed doing. But I am very proud of her.