Dave,<P>You haven't posted in a couple days. How are things going? Are you busy being "coach"?<P>Love,<BR>Jo<P>------------------<BR>"Remain flexible like a reed, as opposed to an oak which can snap in the wind"

Hi Jo, thanks for asking.<P>I'm doing terrific!<P><Son's> first fall baseball game is later today. We had a good first practice last evening and I have some terrific assistant coaches and a great bunch of kids. It's been a long time since I've been this nervous, but it's the good kind of nervous.<P>Tazzie's OZ friends are jealous because none of their "kids" are old enough for this sort of thing, so hopefully they'll come root for <son>. It certainly won't hurt his standing with his team mates to have a bunch of older girls make over him. <P>Hope your horsey rides are good!<P>Coach WAT

Dave:<P>Glad you're doing ok. Haven't been on much myself lately, either, but did think about you.<P>Now, if I were still back in Maryland, we could've met on the ball field ... I umpired Little League and Babe Ruth baseball for years.<P>Good luck in your season ... and in all else.<P>Godspeed,<BR>STL

Hi Dave, <P>I'm happy to hear you're doing good. Just wanted to pop in shortly and tell you I think of you often, although I don't post much. <P>I can bet your engineering analytical mind is already planning great game strategies now when you became coach :-)<P>Good luck<BR>{{WAT}} <P>Adrian

Wow, thanks again Jo, and STL and Adrian.<P>I know I've been less and less present on the forum - and I feel a bit guilty for it. Of course it's not because I don't care or because I'm not interested, I see it as an indicator of growth, a removal of the training wheels. I wonder about many I've come to know here all the time. I still hope to meet some more of you in the future.<P>Using a baseball analogy - STL, you can ump - when I was really dependent on this forum for my day-to-day survival, you guys were my pitching staff and my hitters. I was trying to manage my growth and recovery, but for a while, I couldn't do it alone. I got all kinds of advice - some conflicting - and had to use the players (advice) at my disposal in the best manner I could to make it the whole nine innings and come out ahead. Well, I'm the home team, it's the top of the ninth, and I have a big lead. I just gotta bring in my closer for three more outs. Maybe I should pull on my spikes and do it myself.<P>Coach Dave<P>Oh, BTW, we won our first game, 25 - 3, because of good pitching and hitting. All I had to do was give the signs and high fives.

Dave:<P>The mark of good coaching (and umpiring, as you have done so often here) is that all the hard preparation work has been done.<P>You can then sit back and watch it unfold ... not just in baseball, but in life itself. Just as on the baseball field, you can give the signs, and enjoy the high fives.<P>Some lucky lady will read those signs, Dave. Steal home! I might even give you a break ... lol ... umpires can be blind when they need to be.<P>Godspeed,<BR>STL

That is SO COOL (25 to 3!)<P>BIG Congrats! Coach WAT Rocks!<P>Jo

OK, the last baseball analogy we'll ever need:<P>....if we can only get rid of the "designated hitter" (OP) rule.

25 to 3!!!!?!?!?!!! Great!!!!! <P>Congratulations to Coach WAT and his team....... rah rah rah!!! <P>Glad to hear you are doing ok. Been kind of worried while I have been mulling in my own mulligan stew..... LOL!!<P>Keep up the good work.... Just keep in touch a bit ok? Your presence is certainly missed here but I understand why. <P>Please take care and play ball!!<P>L.<P><BR>