“We’re taking requests now?” Calliope swished her lips to the right and her cheek puffed.
“Give the people what they want, give the people what they want, give the people what they want!” chanted Urania.
“Careful there Urania…sometimes ‘the people’ want things like…too much cake,” Thalia said.
“Too much cake?” Urania asked. “Not possible.”
“Can we get back to the request?” Calliope asked.
“Resist nothing…does that apply here?” asked Urania.
“I think it’s a wonderful request…even though we don’t know more than a baseball’s stich about the man,” said Thalia.
“That’s what the internet is for!” said Urania.
“Well…I’m reminded of baseball’s connection to our own experience. Isn’t it great to remember our days out front with a dog, her boy, a bat, and a ball? Oh! What a feeling,” Calliope added.
“Is there any hope for Henrietta?” asked Thalia.
silence…
…
…
insert author’s laughter here
“Okay then…,” Urania altered the conversation’s trajectory like a dog-slobbered tennis ball colliding with a tree branch. “Hank Aaron…home run king, played for the Milwaukee Braves…is it weird that seeing his photo gave us goosebumps?”
“Yes, and no…the man was filled with character—grace and dignity—a role model,” said Thalia.
“Now I wish we could have chatted with Hank over a piece of raspberry cake with lemon icing…,” said Calliope. “We would have learned a lot from him.”
My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.
~ Hank Aaron
"Hammerin Hank" was one special person. Although as a "knot hole gang" little leaguer I grew up in the Phila. area I was a full fledge fan of the Milwaukee Braves. To this day I can recite the players and statistics of the 1957 team players. My knot hole gang status gave me access to the best area for gaining autographs and a chance word or two. Aaron's autograph on the back of a game program was one of the most treasured. It came along with a casual "hi kid". Thank you Mr. Aaron. Each and every day it seems another of my boyhood heros passes. The memories, though live on.... Thank you Mr. Aaron.
I like when you link to one of your old Medium posts and I can add 49 claps. 😁
Plus I enjoy seeing Mara again!