In Concert

Left at 5 pm yesterday and met another couple at 6 to go to a concert. I had paid for the tickets months ago but didn’t know who the concert was. It was at a church in Marietta over near Barrett Parkway. Gates opened at 6:30 but we sat for an hour until it started at 7:30. About 600 in attendance, all mostly our age. I turned to my friend and asked “Why are there so many old people here?”

Steven Curtis Chapman was the singer. About my age. I remember him from the 80’s. He’s been performing for 34 years and has cut 24 albums. Daughter is an Alabama cheerleader.

Mac Powell opened for him, the former lead singer for Third Day. Both were good. Having stayed up late the past five nights, I was tired. Intermission was at 9:15 and one couple we knew left then. Shortly before ten it appeared Chapman was close to finishing, so my friend Rob got us to sneak out with him and his wife. Rob’s flight was taking off at 6 am. I hate to leave anything early, but glad that we beat the traffic.

Both singers (as well as the host and the preacher) expressed relief that the Braves wrapped up the World Series the night before, knowing many in attendance would've stayed home to watch game seven. I saw several wearing Braves gear, including one singer. 

Yesterday morning I went inside RaceTrac on the way to work. A guy in front of me grabbed a paper or else I wouldn’t have thought about it. But I didn’t see anything about the Braves.

Tuesday for lunch I tried out a pizza deal. It was just okay. Had the leftovers for Tuesday supper and lunch yesterday.

Yesterday on the way home I knew there would be no time to eat. Taco Bell drive thru was long so I opted for Wendy’s. Still took a long time. Burger King for lunch today, everywhere else was packed.

Tonight Anna and Matthew and I are taking C out for her birthday. Not sure where yet.

Tomorrow at work they’re bringing in CFA biscuits and Dreamland BBQ. Then after work I’ve gotta hustle home, then grab Ceil and drive up past Woodstock and that outlet mall to Lake Allatoona to eat with another couple.  We have to work Saturday morning so there’ll be more biscuits and  probably sub sandwiches. Might go out to eat Saturday night again with C for her birthday.

Hopefully after church on Sunday I can rest. Ceil has something at 2 pm.

Soapbox: some people just have to make things all about them. Whatever happened to “rejoice with those who rejoice”? Here a couple of recent social media posts, from the same person: “So many school systems canceling a day of learning for a sportsball parade. Interesting priorities.” and “We did not cancel school the day after 9/11, or the day after Jan 6”. Another post: “Good for the Atlanta Braves for winning the “World” Series. Now, can someone buy a decent concert hall for our symphony orchestra that’s been world class for decades?” Someone suggested a showdown between the Atlanta and Chicago symphonies, selling tickets and t-shirts and caps and warm beer.

Me: while some tax inducements were used to woo the Braves to Cobb County, the team has used their own money to construct revenue producing facilities to bankroll their success. The Braves pour millions back into the Atlanta area, as well as to the Cherokee Indian nation. The Braves also employ hundreds of people.

Someone else, a Christian, posted under a photo of the baseball commissioner: “This guy is the biggest loser of all. Choke on them words idiot.” Do people not think before they post? Whatever happened to “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt”? I’m far from perfect. Just yesterday I typed out a skaving email response, but wisely deleted it before sending.

John Pierce had a better response to “Braves fans have been waiting 26 years for this.” – “Nope, not waiting. We’ve been cheering and laughing, enjoying magical moments at the ballpark, watching great players come and go, and some go from good to great, passing the knowledge and joy of baseball to others, making great new friendships while enhancing older ones. The World Series championship is just icing on the cake”

JOE MEDWICK  [SABR Bio] one-time Braves player is the only person to hit 120 doubles over two seasons. He had 64 doubles in 1936 (tied for the second-most all-time) and 56 in 1937. Medwick played for BSN in 1945. His first minor league team was the 1930 Scottdale Scotties in Scottdale*, Pennsylvania. Medwick had hits in his first four trips to the plate in postseason competition. In G 1 in the 1934 WS, Medwick had three singles and a home run, then added a sac fly.

Denison: headline in Forbes: "Empathy is the Most Important Leadership Skill According to Research." Empathy is especially important these days because "people are experiencing multiple kinds of stress. It is affected by the pandemic—and the ways our lives and our work have been turned upside down." A global study found 42% experienced a decline in mental health. 67% are experiencing increases in stress; 57% increased anxiety; 54% are emotionally exhausted; 53% are sad; and 50% are irritable. Another study reported that sleep is compromised when we feel stressed at work. Consider the thoughts of others ("If I were in his/her position, what would I be thinking right now?") and ("being in his/her position would make me feel _______").