Old Friends

Busy Wednesday: doctor, then straight to Longhorn for lunch, only three hours of work. Then picked up ice cream and a gift, then to Sandy Springs for dinner at young Jimmy Ewing’s house to celebrate Haley Hurt’s birthday. Jimmy’s wife Tyler was a gracious host. Baby was sleeping and their two older kids at her parent’s house. Older Jim Ewing came from down the street. He’s 68, looks good, stays active, but is pretty much retired from consulting. His son George (32) lives near Bobby Jones golf course. He has his own engineering firm, and dates a nurse in Columbia SC.

 

David and Mary brought wine. Haley returns to California tomorrow. She’s been dragging her parents to various trendy restaurants around town. Margaret showed off her boyfriend Matthew, who remembered me from our Living Science days. A rough crowd for young Matthew, who took the ribbing well, particularly from Jimmy. Mark brought Leah. They’re living in Virginia Highland, in the carriage house of Mike Hattaway’s mother. Ceil snuck away from her commitment early to join us late.

 

Various wines and cheeses served as appetizers. Burritos and quesadillas from Willies. Also rice and beans and other fixings. Red velvet birthday cake to go with the ice cream. A good evening with folk we hadn’t seen in ages. The Ewings, Hurts, and Murphys had been in a small group together way back in the late 1980’s.

 

Mark, David, and I played softball together back in our single days in the early to mid-1980’s. Other teammates: Don Head, Wayne Smith, Ernie Garrison, Jerome Mathis, Steve Norman, Val Robinson, Dave McKeithen, Steve Giles, one or two of the Small brothers. Who did I miss?   

 

I missed the entire Braves game. David was checking his phone for updates. Mary Hurt didn’t have fun with her sleep apnea test either. I hear there’s a test you can take at home now.

 

According to the current MLB defensive statistics, Austin Riley ranks 8th out of 25 left-fielders in baseball. Not bad for a guy who was just moved to the outfield in May. 

Interesting that the braves have had more Sunday Night Baseball appearances between 2005-2015 than all but five teams. Bet that figure dropped in 2016 - 2017.

 

 

DON LARSEN [SABR Bio]  was served divorce papers the same day he pitched the game of his life - 08-Oct-1956 He is the only pitcher to suffer 20 losses in a season for the Baltimore Orioles. He came one out (one pitch, really) from winning his third World Series ring - 1956 WS, 1958 WS, 1962 WS (7th G lost 1-0)