Burying Grandmother

We braved the cold to bury my grandmother's ashes this afternoon at 2 pm. Breezy out at Crest Lawn Cemetery. We only lingered outside for about 20 minutes. 

My cousin Betsy organized the day. She drove down from Elijay. Her sister Becca was snowed in near Dahlonega. Her brother Drew brought his two teenage daughters from Sandy Springs. He works for a company that supplies butter to Whole Foods and other places. Ceil often buys his brand. Both his daughters row crew out on the Chattahoochee. 

My sister and brother in law drove up from Macon, bringing her friend along for the trip. My brother had only planned on joining us afterward at the restaurant, but must've changed his mind when he learned his wife had planned on joining us at the gravesite. Then for some reason he went straight home from the cemetery. He missed a sweet time of fellowship.

Afterward we warmed up at Maggianos at Cumberland Mall. Lots of flurries on the short drive over, we worried if the weather was getting worse. 

Lots of discussion at lunch about my grandmother and family history. Since she passed away in 1996, her obituary isn't online. Wish I'd made time to write up a tribute. 

The lasagna was delicious, baked in a sweet tomato sauce. Ceil loved her salmon and mashed potatoes. By the time we finished, the sun was shining off the Galleria office buildings. 

Ceil picked up dessert at Whole Foods. When we returned home there was a light layer of snow on our front yard, and on my car. Later I took a nice nap. 

The Braves had canceled Saturday morning's open house, so at least I didn't have to weather the cold for that. Instead I joined Ceil on a 2 hour Zoom call with our missionary support team. 

That didn't leave us much time to bundle up for the afternoon. I layered up: knee high Stance socks, Nike longjohns over my underwear, my heaviest pants, Nike belt, long sleeve undershirt, turtleneck, heavy quarter zip, my warmest high top Puma sneakers, wool overcoat, fingerless gloves, golf gloves, and winter cap. 

We attended the 10 am service, and stood around afterwards visiting with the Eartharts and Halls, whom we hadn't seen for several weeks. Lee, Reid, and I finally found a place to sit. Being out in the cold had tightened up my back, and is really hurting something bad. Leftover spaghetti for lunch. 

Anna hinted that they needed help painting, so of course C couldn't say no. Usually we rest on Sunday afternoons, but I have complicated emails to write and bills to pay. We have a bunch of decluttering to do in the two bedrooms upstairs and the downstairs office. The kitchen and TV area is a mess. Winnie wants to be walked. Monday I'm going to have to spend several hours fixing this phone mess that I'd put off the past two weeks, and maybe it'll be warm enough this week to get the oil changed in both cars - something I've been putting off for too long. 

M was in Athens for the afternoon minor league hockey game: the Athens Rock Lobsters.

Pancakes for supper.

Monday: my back is hurting pretty bad. I think it tightened up being out in the cold this weekend after being in the sauna all week. Slightly better this morning than last night. Gonna try and make it to the gym for the sauna, and maybe the treadmill. Got a couple of other errands to run as well. 

Rookies who outvoted future Hall of Famers for the Rookie of the Year Award, before Expansion...

1948  ML Alvin Dark.........Richie Ashburn

1950  AL Walt Dropo.........Whitey Ford

1951  AL Gil McDougald...Minnie Minoso

1952  NL Joe Black..........Hoyt Wilhelm, Eddie Mathews

1954  NL Wally Moon........Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron

1954  AL Bob Grim...........Al Kaline

1960  NL Frank Howard...Ron Santo

Young Dr Alex Gallimore knows Don Head and the Cheathams. He's a fan of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and the new senior pastor at SPdL.

DENISON: I have long appreciated the work of New York Times columnist David Brooks. I do not agree with all he writes, but I appreciate the reasoned way he seeks to advance his vision of American flourishing. He diagnoses our cultural condition: 

"Four decades of hyperindividualism expanded individual choice, but weakened the bonds between people. . . . As a result of technological progress and humanistic decay, life has become objectively better but subjectively worse. We have widened personal freedom but failed to help people answer the question of what that freedom is for. "

 

"The most grievous cultural wound has been the loss of a shared moral order. . . . Without shared standards of right and wrong, it's impossible to settle disputes; it's impossible to maintain social cohesion and trust. Every healthy society rests on some shared concept of the sacred—sacred heroes, sacred texts, sacred ideals—and when that goes away, anxiety and a slow descent toward barbarism are the natural results."

We want the benefits of consensual governance without the necessity of a consensual morality. But human laws cannot change human nature. At best, they can restrain some of us from harming others some of the time. They cannot produce the "shared moral order" that leads to the flourishing our Founders envisioned for us.

More About Sneakers

With all the repairs and renovations going on in our master suite, it looks like I will be getting my own personal shoe closet. The contractor was interested in exactly how many shoes I have, so I had to count. I know I just listed my shoes, but some were left out, and others listed twice. 

 

Nike waffle trainer

Nike KD7 (in box)

Nike Zoom Winflow running shoes (garage)

Nike golf shoes

Nike Panda Dunks

Nike Air Max 

Nike Hauraches (sell)

Nike Commuters

Nike Air Max Speed Turf black (sell)

Nike Air Force One (sell)

Reebok Zigs (garage)

adidas Stan Smiths

adidas golf shoes (car)

adidas Prophere (sell)

adidas SC Premiere black (sell)

adidas grey (car)

Puma RSX high tops (in box) (sell)

Puma RSX Emojis (sell)

Puma light grey (sell)

Puma golf shoes

Puma RS Dreamer basketball shoes (sell)

Hoka black

Hoka white

Hoka red

Hoka recovery slides

Cole Haan brown

Cole Haan black

Cole Haan blue (sell)

Cole Haan white (sell)

Brown leather driving loafers

Ecco loafers white sole

Ecco loafers black sole

Brown dress wingtips (in box)

Oofos recovery shoes 

Vans Ultra Range

New Balance gum soles

Crocs navy (office)

Crocs black (garage)

  

So ten Nikes, four Cole Haans, four Hokas, five Pumas, five adidas, one Reebok, one New Balance, two Eccos, two Crocs, one Oofos, one Vans, and two other pairs of dress shoes. 

 

38 total pairs of shoes. No Imelda Marcos am I. Three live in the garage and two in my car. Three live in their boxes. Need to sell eleven pair, maybe more. That leaves 22 to squeeze into this new closet, including the three boxes. I was thinking about keeping a few pair in my office, if I ever get it organized.

Over the past few years I've sold at least 29 pairs of shoes on Poshmark, and more  on eBay before that. Just took four old pair to Goodwill. That's at least 70 pairs of shoes.

Matthew is ordering an Atlanta Thrashers jersey, so we were texting about that last night. Not sure which one. Sunday he's attending the Athens Rock Lobsters hockey game, with his new girlfriend. I'm giving him a few of my old Thrashers bobbleheads that I can't sell. Today I found his old Thrashers coffee mug out in the garage.   

Thursday: productive but tough day yesterday. Still trying to figure out all the ins and outs of Gmail. Not like my old work email.

Friday morning I spent two hours at the gym, on the treadmill and in the sauna. A 12000 step / six mile day. Two people in the sauna were having a long conversation about cruises. 

Friday afternoon I was tossing lots of stuff into the dumpster, so the garage is a little more open. Still a long way to go. 

"Self-awareness is indispensable to seeing the lines between what you want to be true and what is actually true." — Jonah Goldberg.

ALVIN DARK  [SABR Doc] was the first non-Dodger to win Rookie-of-the-Year, in 1948. He was the first National League shortstop to hit twenty home runs in a season more than once, in 1953 (23) & 1954 (20). As a manager, he won pennants with teams in each league: with the Giants in 1962 then across the Bay with Oakland in 1974.

Stop Hating What You Have to Do

Clay Smith JFBC

Ecclesiastes 2:18-26. This passage applies to every aspect of what you do every day. Clay: Not sure JF does a good job connecting God to your work life.

When Solomon uses the word toil, he's talking about work. Work is a dignified thing. God gave Adam and Eve work to do. In the future with AI we'll be challenged about this. All the great Bible characters had jobs: farmers, tent makers, etc.

A. What's the point? Work is where frustration and fulfillment collide.

B. Contemplating Frustration. Clay quoted the lyrics of Johnny Paycheck's song Take This Job And Shove It.

1. v 18-19 Your success is temporary. It's like when the tide washes away the sand castle you worked so hard to make.

2. v 20-21 You cannot secure the end result. The curse of the third generation - the Vanderbilts, etc. The first generation builds, the second maintains, the third squanders. There are no UHauls following behind hearses.

3. v 22-23 Your work creates anxiety. These verses are spot on - ask any of my former coworkers. You can't rest you mind.

C. Creating Fulfillment. Things you can do.

1. v 24-25 Receive your work as a gift. Take this job and love it. Find enjoyment in the toil, the verse says. This has everything to do with God. 

Philippians 4:8 Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

There are many positives to take from your work.

Hebrews 12:1-2 The cross was a job for Jesus. He did it because God called him to do it.

2. v 26 Redefine success. For to the one who pleases God, can find wisdom, knowledge and joy. Christians should have a work ethic unlike any other.

Col 3 Work heartily, as for the Lord. Serve the Lord well. Takes integrity. Stand by your work. God is over all - both church and work.

William Tindale: there is no work better than another, to please God.

3. Rebalance your priorities. The phrase work life balance is a lie. You'll never get that balance. You can't do it all. What does God want most from me? It will never get easy.

4. Redefine your purpose. The sinner gathers and collects to give to the one who pleases God. You have a great opportunity to represent God in the workplace.

WALLY MOON [SABR Bio] was the first player on a team west of the Mississippi to lead the majors in triples. Moon, an alumnus of Texas A&M University, hit 11 triples for the recently-relocated Dodgers in 1959, tied with Dodger 2nd baseman Charlie Neal. It was the only time either of them led their league in a major offensive category. On 11-Sep-1959(1), just after Moon closed out a particularly productive skein of 4 HR in 7 AB, & just after there was news that the Soviet Union had landed the first unmanned probe on the moon, Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully proclaimed, “It’s another moon shot!” After that, use of “moon shot  ” proliferated with and without the Apollo Program. The origin of the phrase is lost in the mists of time.

Looks At Books

Currently reading The Iowa Baseball Confederacy, by WP Kinsella, the author of Shoeless Joe, which was made into the movie Field of Dreams. Very good so far.

Listening to two books. Today I'm finishing up Woodsong, a memoir by Gary Paulsen, detailing his transformation from a hunter to a dog musher in Minnesota and Alaska. The author detailed his first Iditarod Dog Sled Race. Took him two weeks to mush his dogs from Anchorage to Nome, a journey of over 1100 miles. At least twice he took wrong turns, traveling over 40 miles out of the way each time. Once some 23 dog sleds followed him off the wrong way. The last leg of the race travels over the frozen bay into Nome.

I had to look up Whittier Alaska again to remember where it was. This summer JFBC is sending a team on a short term mission trip to Anchorage. I'm sure they'll find some time for some sightseeing. I'd like to go on an Alaska cruise. Might be the only type cruise I could get to go on. 

Just sold my like new Reebok Furys to a guy in Anchorage. I loved them but they weren't comfortable as other Furys I'd had. They don't really fit in with my outfits.

Next up is "True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson", by Kostya Kennedy. I had already read Kennedy's "56: Joe Dimaggio and the Last Magic Number in Sports".

I am getting more into the habit of actually reading a book (for now, on my phone). My goal is to read 30-60 pages a day. I am just starting out with the reading thing. Would rather not read off my tiny phone, but it's a start. Those 60 pages are tiny - the size of my phone screen. Not sure the book is really 600 pages long. It's easy to check out e-books from the library. I have ten books on hold, so I have a steady stream of books flowing to me. I have a Kindle that's bigger, but that would take some figuring out. 

Looks like I messed up my phone number. Might have to get a new one, which will be a tremendous hassle changing everything. Was trying to get Ceil to help me out. AT&T wasn't much help. Lots of roadblocks. In the end I am the one to blame. We have shaved off almost $100 per month in various bills we've been paying, and hopefully we can find more savings on insurance, garbage, etc.    

FRANK HOWARD  [SABR Bio] was the first Los Angeles Dodger to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award, in 1960. Many were reminded of him when Aaron Judge arrived on the scene with the Yankees. Howard's 6'7"-255-pound countenance made him truly stand out among major leaguers, much as Aaron's 6'7"-282 pound mien does today. Howard was an All-American in both basketball & baseball at Ohio State University in his home town, Columbus, Ohio. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in the 3rd round (21st pick) of the 1958 NBA Draft. Instead, he signed with the Dodgers. 

Today's Denison: when we forget who God is, it becomes far easier to forget who we are. We were meant to find the essence of our identity in the fact that we are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). When our lives are submitted to his will and we see ourselves through his eyes, we don't have to be afraid of the areas where we're weak or flawed, because those weaknesses do not define us.

However, when we live as if we are made in our own image instead, strength—or at least the appearance of strength—can easily become foundational to every other aspect of our lives. And when that strength is threatened, everything else becomes threatened as well. Owning our mistakes and understanding when we're wrong are simply not outcomes we can tolerate very well. That's an exhausting way to live, yet it's the path many people choose to follow.

Hawkeye Turns 90

Alan Alda turned 90. Lots of old clips on social media. I need to watch Paper Lion. The photo above turned out to be fake.

When I think of Amarillo I think about the church where we stopped on choir tour, when we later had to get tetanus shots because of a bad batch of taco salad. I always heard of Glorietta but never went. Great name. 

The workers got here early today. C went to her class at the East Piedmont gym, and later I lifted weights at my usual gym on Johnson Ferry. Lifted weights and stretched for almost an hour, sat in the sauna for 30 minutes, then hit the treadmill for 30 minutes. Got a zoom call this afternoon. Later I'm dumping more old things from the garage into the dumpster parked in our driveway, if its not too full already. 

Found several old football helmets that I had stashed away. Falcons, Bears, Vikings, OG Jaguars, Dolphins, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Chargers. Also more batting helmets. 

WALT DROPO [SABR Bio] collected more RBI one year than the number of games he played. In 1950, his first full year in the majors, Dropo played in 136 games for the Red Sox & led both leagues with 144 RBI, one shy of Ted Williams' team RBI record by a rookie. Shortly after being traded to the Tigers, Dropo had a hit in 12 consecutive at-bats:

1. Mon 14-Jul-1952 DET at NYY 5 for 5 all singles

2. Tue 15-Jul-1952(1) DET at WSH 4 for 4 all singles

3. Tue 15-Jul-1952(2) DET at WSH 4 for 5 single, double, & triple, then fouled out to end the streak - followed by another single in the 9th. At 6'5", 220 lbs Dropo starred at his hometown University of  Connecticut in football, basketball, & baseball. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears and the Providence Steamrollers of the Basketball Association of America.

Dave Portnoy was checking out one of Matthew's haunts, Brain Wave Pizza in Decatur.

Ceil was baking bread. 

Supper time at W&MC's.

Super Bowl trivia.

Winnie managing the workers.

Putting Away Childish Things

We had a good small group session last night, discussing Jacob's travails in Genesis 28-29-30. Like so many of us, Jacob grew closer to God, but it took time for him to mature. So much so like me.

After growing up in Macon, finding a place in the GT BSU was like heaven on earth, surrounded by young white middle class Christians. One mountaintop experience after another. Over those college years I did a lot of growing closer to God, spurred on by so many older, more mature Christians - many who went on to serve in the ministry. But there were others who would fall by the wayside. I'd like to think Yearwood and Freemon and Travis and Givens and others my age passed along this yearning to the younger BSUers who came along after us, to grow and be more like Jesus. Did we?

While it was much fun to hang around people just like ourselves, it wasn't at all getting us ready for the real world. We were sheltered. We thought we were spiritually superior. We considered those in fraternities to be heathens, ignorant to the fact that all the while there were Bible Studies going on in those fraternity houses down the street. They weren't hung up on Bible trivia or spiritual sanctification, but instead with how God could work to soothe a troubled young person's soul. Lives were being changed in profound ways. I've heard my brother Larry Ragan tell of such stories, as well as several other guys over the years. 

After we left Tech we had to find our place in that real world, which involved developing relationships with all those real world people we managed to avoid inside the GT BSU. Finding and marrying a life partner. Having kids. Getting a job in the real world. Developing relationships with coworkers with different world views and backgrounds, and working side by side with these people 40 hours a week. Not easy. Some fared better than others. Some opted out of real jobs to avoid having to deal with other grownups. Some never moved past that spiritually superior viewpoint they had 40 years ago at the BSU.

Over the years I have tried to make it a point to continue to surround myself with more spiritually mature men. In living life with them I began to notice how they would react and respond differently to unfortunate circumstances than what I had experienced growing up. It's taken me years to change behaviors in my own life, and I certainly still have a long way to go. Bad things happen in everyone's life. The key is how you respond. Do you respond in love, or anger? Many so-called Christians fail these tests. 

 

I Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

After twenty years at SPdL we moved on to North Point, and the preaching was great. We may have visited JFBC once, and my expert opinion was that North Pointers were spiritually superior to those at JFBC. Wrong again.

It's what I was trying to say when I listed all those men who God used to shape my life, who led and discipled me. The more I learned and knew, the more I realized there was out there that I still did not know. Quite humbling. As I move on to a new phase in life, all the more I need these wise people who are much more expert in areas I need help in. Wisdom is realizing that I don't know everything. It's like those young homeowners in the commercial who can't stop acting like their parents.

Being a Christian - following Jesus - becoming a disciple - is so much more than just hanging out with other Christians, having a good time. It's more than just talking the talk. Certainly more than trolling non-Christians on social media. Instead it is loving other people, not just the people you like, but loving everyone - even the unlovable. That doesn't mean to bow to their every unreasonable demand, but to at least to be wise in how you deal with them. Being a Christ follower means striving to be like Jesus all of the time, in every conversation and human interaction. Putting others ahead of myself. 

Dan ended our small group with these wise words: "I need to keep reminding myself that God is sovereign in all I face. God doesn't need me to figure things out for Him. God just wants me to trust in Him". 

Are you becoming more like Jesus - or are you  turning in to a worse version of an imperfect parent? 

Tuesday night: chicken soup for supper. Watched Best Medicine and Peyton's Places. Our first night in the guest bedroom, in the smaller bed. Good mattress. 

Wednesday: Ceil taught school. I spent almost two hours at the gym: treadmill, sauna, and stretching. 

Way Too Early Predictions: GT

Georgia Tech released their 2026 football schedule, and as usual it looks tough. The Jackets have lost several key players and coaches, and I'm not sure they'll be able to overcome them. Last year Tech had a QB who found a way to win the close games. Will they have such a player this fall? 

So like so many of the yahoos of social media making predictions, here are mine...

9.05 Colorado @ GT. Chaos continues in Boulder. Jackets will beat the Deions. 1-0.

9.12 Tennessee @ GT. Vols will be too much for Tech. 1-1.

9.19 Mercer @ GT. No way the Bears can win, but it will be closer than most predict. 2-1.  

9.26 GT @ Stanford. Jackets fly cross country and could be jetlagged, but perhaps Tech wins a close one. 3-1.

10.03 bye

10.10 Duke @ GT. Blue Devils having a rough off season, but will play Tech tough. I hope Tech finds a QB that can win these close games. Otherwise they're in for a long season. 4-1.

10.17 GT @ Virginia Tech. The luck runs out on the Jackets. 4-2.

10.24 Boston College @ GT. BC always plays tough on the road. They can beat anyone. Perhaps Tech can find a way to win. 5-2. 

10.31 GT @ Pitt. Lots of talk of becoming bowl eligble all week, which doesn't help. Panthers beat Tech again. 5-3.

11.07 Louisville @ GT. Cardinals usually play Tech tough. A must win for Tech, which usually results in an embarrassing loss. 5-4.  

11.14 GT @ Clemson. The Tigers think Tech has a hex on them. Not this year. 5-5.

11.21 GT vs Wake Forest. Jackets need a win, but are beat down from the long season. Hopefully they win a close one. 6-5. 

11.28 GT @ UGA. Jackets can play the Dawgs tough between the hedges. Not this year. 6-6. Jackets go to a bowl. 

12.05 ACC Championship Game in Charlotte 

Bowl game: Tech just can't seem to win a bowl game. 6-7. Could be worse. There's a decent chance they lose one of those close game, finish 5-7 or 4-8, and miss out on a bowl game. You heard it here first. 

Shouldn't have, but a got a great deal on a Myrtle Beach Pelicans cap. Did I post this already?

Found an old picture of when I had long hair, so I shared it with my coworkers.

Since my hair looked like Leo's, Daniel added a Leo moustache.

Then Daniel gave me a haircut.   

GIL McDOUGALD [SABR Bio] is the only native of San Francisco to become Rookie of the Year. He was born on 19-May-1928, San Francisco, California. Was the AL ROY in 1951. HOF Gilbert Ray ‘Gil’ Hodges and Gilbert James ‘Gil’ McDougald played in the same World Series 4 times - 27 games in all, in 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956. McDougald was chosen by the newly formed Los Angeles Angels in MLB’s original expansion draft for the 1961 season, but chose to retire instead.

Denison: American high school seniors' scores on math and reading tests have fallen to their lowest levels on record. Dependence on AI tools erodes critical thinking skills, harms learning and creativity, and increases isolation and loneliness. Research shows that overuse of social media, video games, and other digital platforms impairs executive functioning skills, including memory, planning, and decision-making. Short-form videos have been conclusively linked to poorer mental health and cognition. Andrew Budson, a Boston University neurologist who specializes in memory disorders, explains our problem: we are using technology for the wrong purposes: "our brains evolved for social interactions. People who become socially isolated, their brains actually shrink, even if they don't have a disorder, and people who are socially isolated are at increased risk of developing dementia."