Griner Released

Today Joe Biden negotiated a deal to release basketball player Brittany Griner from prison in Russia.

This afternoon I finished James Patterson's book on the Kennedys. The last line in the book was a quote JFK made on Oct 26,1963, less than a month before he was assassinated: "A nation reveals itself not only by the people it produces, but also for the people it honors, the people it remembers."

More from the Patterson book: JFK Jr.'s plane crash was the seventh Kennedy-related plane crash since WWII. Others included Joe Jr's, Kick's, and Teddy's. That doesn't include boating accidents, car crashes, or skiing accidents. I didn't realize Jackie was only 64 when she died from cancer. Jackie had expressly forbade Caroline and John John from taking flying lessons, though in college John Jr. took lessons in secret. John had been mesmerized by flight all his life. As a boy he loved riding in the helicopters with his dad.

Golf this morning, then home. Then I drove to Chattanooga to cash in the voucher I'd won for a free set of tires. Didn't stop at Buccees.

Had a nice phone call with former Mitey Mite coach Sharon Langley. She's cancer free, which is a tremendous answer to prayer. She's feeling better than she has in years, though she has covid right now. She said every time she gets covid, it's less severe than the time before.

This morning's foggy round:

1. Good long drive. Good 6 iron just short of green. Two cruddy chips, but then sank a good long putt.

2. Hit a 5 iron off the tee that disappeared into the fog. The professor (above) hit the fairway.

3. Cruddy tee shot. Decent chip.

4. Terrible tee shots. Playing partner JeeTee hit his tee shot to about 3 feet of the hole.

5. I hit a great, straight 3 wood that rolled off the back of the green.

6. Drive off tee felt good. Neither one of us could find our tee shots (below). My hybrid went far but left.

7. Pretty good drive off tee. Nice hybrid that went left again. Great chip to the fringe. I was putting for par on the longest hole of the course. Didn't make par.

8. One of my best drives ever, long and straight. The prof popped up his drive (below). Okay 7 iron that sailed left, as it was below my feet. Decent chip.

9. Real good 3 wood off the tee, long and straight. Good chip onto the green. Tricky downhill putt. I hit it soft and just missed. A good finishing bogey.