Friday

Cough cough. Think I better stay home today. Cough cough.

Did you know that salt air is rumored to be good for those who are convalescing?

Saturday Night

Saturday night I went out with Mike and his buddy Martin. We drank beers and smoked cigars and hung out until early Sunday morning. It was strange to be leaving the house at 8 PM, by myself, to meet some friends at a bar. I can't remember the last time I did that.

It was fun. But I don't think I could do that every night.

Sunday Morning

I love 24 hour grocery stores. On the way home (early Sunday morning) I stopped at the store for some eggs. I really wanted eggs for breakfast and was pretty sure I would not be in the mood to run to the store when I got up.

I was right about not wanting to leave the house when I woke up - I was definitely feeling a little crunchy. Fried eggs on toast, bacon, and fresh orange juice helped me to find my center but I was a little slow the rest of the day.

(This time of year, I can buy 40 pounds of fresh-picked juice oranges for five or six bucks, not 20 minutes from my house. Aren't you jealous?)

Sunday Evening

[Warning - the light entertainment quotient is fairly low for the next piece.]

Sunday night ESPN broadcast the 25,000th SportsCenter. I know, big whoop. I watched it though, mainly to see the highlights of the day's Angels/Red Sox game.

As part of the show, they asked some celebrities about their favorite sports moment. Most recalled championship games and memorable victories. But Ray Romano remembered something a little different:

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Derek Redmond was expected to medal in the men's 400m. He got off to a great start in the finals but pulled a hamstring about halfway through the race. Determined to finish the race, he got up and started hobbling along the track, clearly in pain. Derek's father, who was in the stadium as a spectator, came crashing down out of the stands and onto the track, where he put his arm around his son and helped him to the finish line.

Ray had to stop at one point during the interview to collect himself, saying "I can't cry on SportsCenter..."

When I saw the clip I remembered it - not surprising since I am an Olympics junkie. But it made a different impression on me this time - fatherhood has (once again) shifted my perspective on things. It made me think about how, as a parent, I want my kids to do well at the things they choose to do. About the lengths I would go to, to help them reach their goals. And how hard it will be for me when things don't go well for them, in any aspect of their life. And that in those times I will suffer with them, and how they probably won't understand that - not really, not until they stand watching their own children.

Parenting - it's not for wimps.