An Out of Shape Old Lady's View of Sports in America

Hey, everyone -- it's Chick Lit Luncheon week, so I'm late in posting the blog this week.

NOTE:  If you aren't attending the Chick Lit Luncheon benefiting Community Partners of Dallas tomorrow, you're WAY too late -- we are completely sold out.  What fun!

Back to the post (post brag):

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have been able to attend a USA Film Festival screening of 42 the life story of Jackie Robinson and his history-making signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers under the guidance of team executive Branch Rickey.  The film stars Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and Harrison Ford as Rickey and they are both marvelous.

I really don't follow sports except the Mavs and honestly, if the Mavs aren't winning, I'm not watching and sometimes not even then -- check out my previous blog post about my ability to control the wins here:  http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2011/05/controlling-mavs.html

Of all spectator sports, I'd say baseball is my least favorite (other than golf -- super boring).  It just moves too slowly for me (although hockey moves too fast for me -- I can never follow the puck), so while I had heard of Jackie Robinson and knew he was the first black major league player prior to seeing 42, that was about it.

The film was a real wake up call for me and I saw true guts and what it is really like to turn the other cheek when confronted with extreme prejudice.  Both Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey (who Chadwick Boseman told us was nick-named "The Mahatma" -- yes, Chadwick attended the screening and spoke to us in Q&A after -- I know you're jealous -- don't hate!) faced the most horrific bigotry, but they knew that non-violence was the answer to integrating the major league.

It is a film every kid, teen, and adult needs to see. 

It is interesting to me that Mark Cuban even says he would consider Baylor's star woman player Brittney Griner to try out for the Mavs.

I wonder what Jackie and Branch would think about that.

Go see 42 -- it opens next weekend, April 12.  Take your family with you.

To Jump or not to Jump?

I jumped.

This is a photo of me 35 feet in the air after climbing up a telephone pole and hoisting my butt up and over the top with the whole pole swaying and my legs shaking and well, let's just finish by saying that right after this picture was taken, I stumbled off the pole yelling -- uhh, uhh, uhh -- I'M GOING TO GO!

NOTE:  It is A LOT windy-er 35 feet up in the air.  Is this a problem for tall people?  How does Dirk keep his hair in place?

NOTE:  The jump instructor at Miraval said I was the only person who had ever held their nose when they jumped.  It was an automatic reflex from the blob at Camp Longhorn...

Let me tell you that I never, ever thought I would jump off a pole, but Miraval (and Cynthia O'Kelly) makes you do things you think you would never do.  Here's what happened:

On the plane on the way to Miraval for a girls trip in February (we had 8 of us there for fun, relaxation, and life-changing-stuff-Oprah-style), I casually mentioned to Cynthia that I was thinking of trying the Quantum Leap adventure at some point.  As quick as a wink Cynthia said, "Oh great, let's do it!" 

I said I was thinking about it -- not doing it. 

NOTE:  I think about eating kale -- that doesn't mean I'm going to do it, for Christ's sake.  Moderation, people.  Moderation.

So, Cynthia made me jump.  Oh, and it was supposed to be a 20 foot pole, but when we got there that morning our instructor told us that he had to ready the 35 foot pole instead. 

What's 15 feet between friends?  The whole thing got me thinking. 

Can someone make you do something? 

One of my old friends with whom I worked at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra told me not long ago that I was the reason that she and her husband decided to become foster parents.  About 10 years ago Deanna had done some volunteer work with me at Community Partners of Dallas and she apparently always remembered the experience.

Now, I didn't make her become a foster mom, but the seed was planted.  She was open to changing the lives of children who needed a chance.  I know God put us together at the DSO for that reason (and others).  I am so happy for the children who are lucky enough to be in her care.

So thanks, Cynthia, for helping me to make the decision. I'm glad we did it. Once.

This is a photo of us after we all jumped.  That ground felt good!

Remembering the First Day of School

In two weeks from today, I am back at work.  It almost feels like I had a summer break – that is if your summer break has a major surgery and recovery involved – like back when I was in school.

I loved school – at least the first day each year.  My mom would take us to Hall’s Variety Store or Skillerns and we would get to pick out the supplies that we wanted.  I always wanted a super cool Trapper Keeper style notebook – I remember one in particular with a waterfall pictured – and Mom would always let me get everything on the list provided by the school, as well as a few extras like a big set of markers or a lunch box (I sported a Flying Nun one in grade school one year), etc.  We would also go to Sanger Harris and get a new outfit especially for the first day, in addition to lots of other new clothes and shoes. 

I loved the first day of school because it was so much fun to have all new things to use and wear, and also to see my friends after the summer break.  Of course another benefit to the first day was that no homework had to be turned in that day.  The first day of school was exciting and filled with possibilities.

Of course, the kids we help at Community Partners of Dallas (CPD) don’t have my memories of the first day of school.  For them, school is a painful reminder that they aren’t like the other kids. 

Nathan started 3^rd grade in a tattered, too small uniform left over from the previous year.  His pencil was a stub and the eraser was almost gone.  His spiral notebook was torn up.  He didn’t have the other supplies that he needed.  The back pack that he carried was pink, one that his half sister had left behind when she went to live with her birth father.  Nathan was teased all year.  His teacher was the one who called in a report of suspicion of child abuse to CPS toward the end of the 3^rd grade year.  A CPS Investigator went to Nathan’s home and found reason to remove Nathan and place him with his paternal aunt.  Nathan has had a happy summer and CPS is working to allow Nathan’s aunt to have permanent custody of the boy.

This year the first day of school will be different for Nathan.  He has already told his CPS caseworker exactly what kind of backpack he wants (blue, with black trim, and with a patch or sticker for the MAVs), and he has been excitedly talking about his new school and how this year he will be like all of the other boys.

CPD will help more than 2,000 kids just like Nathan to go back to school this year with new supplies and uniforms.  We could use your help.  Since we are able to bulk purchase, every dollar you donate provides 4 dollars worth of supplies for our kids.  Visit www.CommunityPartnersDallas.org to donate or to find out more.

Controlling the MAVS

I want the Mavs to win.  I really, really want them to win.  So, I am not watching the games on TV.

Is this strange?  Not if you know me.  When I watch games on TV, my teams tend to lose.  I can’t tell you how many times the Cowboys have lost because I was watching.  I have named this the “Paige Effect”.

During Pre-Season and even for most of the Regular Season, I don’t worry about the Paige Effect on my teams.  They win sometimes and lose sometimes, but it isn’t for the big Kahuna, so I don’t worry about it much.  But, for the conference playoffs and finals, I make this sacrifice. 

BTW, what is a Kahuna and why do we want a big one?  Is it a fish?  I don't really think that I want a big fish.  A normal sized one is big enough, thank you very much.

Even my co-workers fear the Paige Effect.  Along with me, Joanna and Ann are the biggest Mavs fans in the office.  They don’t want me to watch either.  My friend Dave (a big Lakers fan) totally tried to get me to watch last week.  I didn’t.  Do you need further proof?  I think not.

Now, please know that the Paige Effect does not apply if I am watching the game while in the arena, so if you have a ticket to spare, just call me at 214-624-7557.

I do know that this all sounds crazy and of course the Paige Effect is just superstition.  But I believe it and it is working, so I am not going to start watching now.  I will say that the Paige Effect is really just me attempting to control something over which I really have no control. 

Having no control over something that really matters to us is frustrating.  As a human being – or especially as an American – I want to feel like I can make things happen and make things not happen at will. 

Mostly, I want to make something not happen:  Child Abuse.

Believe me, if I could stop Child Abuse by never watching TV again, I would.  I think that we all would.  Unfortunately, it isn’t that easy to stop abuse, so my Dish Network bill will keep getting paid.  But there is something that we can all do to stop Child Abuse and it has nothing to do with TV.  We have to report it. 

If you suspect Child Abuse in Texas, call 1-800-252-5400, or visit the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services website at www.dfps.state.tx.us  If you are in another state, please call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-4-A-CHILD.

We can take control back from the abusers.

P.S.  If you want to see a great video featuring adult and teen survivors of childhood abuse and neglect, as well as about your duty to report suspected abuse, please visit www.tyla.org/thelittlevoice.

P.P.S.  GO MAVS!