Bruuuuce!!!!!

Yes, another week down and it was a great week. Our Easter Sunday was “unique” in the fact that it was just the four of us. Usually we spend the holidays with friends or family but last week we spent the day with only us. It was a good day all the way through as we ended the day at the beach for a Southern Californian Easter Sunday. This was the first time in two years I was with my family on Easter Sunday and now I can put those “first times” to rest. I am approaching one year since my family returned and life has returned to an incredibly new normal in every facet.

Since it was Easter Sunday I didn’t make my way to the usual Sunday Gamblers Anonymous meeting; however; since it was the second Monday of the month I did attend the Monday Speaker’s meeting. These are wonderful meetings and a great opportunity to get the incredible members of the program. I am so happy I am serving as Secretary of this meeting and last Monday was yet another great meeting. The stories are different but the underlying theme is always the same which is the inability to live a sane life while the compulsive gambling took over the person’s life. Yes, it is always insanity to hear these stories but after the world comes crashing down the GA Program is there to pick up the pieces. I can say firsthand that these pieces are fitting together incredibly well in my life and yes, all thanks to the GA Program.

My life is moving forward as well as I could have ever imagined and this week as it always seems to be was wonderful. The children are on their second week of Spring Break which meant there weren’t any “ball” games during the week. It was a good week at work and on Thursday my wife and I attended the Bruce Springsteen concert I had been so looking forward to for the past few months. Interestingly enough I had seen Bruce 25 years ago in this same venue when I attended the University of Southern California as second year college student. I really wasn’t much of fan of Bruce while I was growing up in New Jersey. However; something seem to happen when I went away to Southern California for college and I became a fan. I became an even bigger fan of Bruce when I witnessed firsthand his incredible concert some 25 years ago.

I witnessed five of the seven shows back 25 years ago and I was in awe. Now 25 years later I am still in awe and the Boss hasn’t lost a step in all those years. The concert was magnificent and the building where I first saw him hasn’t changed at all in that time period. Bruce labeled it the “dump that jumps” and yes, it is a dump but it did jump for 2 hours and 40 minutes while Bruce and E Street Band brought down the house.

It was well worth the 2 ½ hour drive through horrific traffic and I did have my doubts we would see the beginning of the show but as it turned out we didn’t miss a moment. I looked around the “dump” and there were people of all ages but mostly a little older than my 43 years. Bruce has been rocking for 35 years and there were fans from his early years. It is amazing the collection of work over those 35 years and more amazing was the energy the 59 year old brought. It was clear to me that Bruce loves what he does and it showed throughout the entire performance. Wow; it was a fantastic show and I didn’t mind at all getting home at the very late hour because I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Saturday brought the usual “ball” games with my son and daughter having their games. This was an early start and they both had games at the same time. This meant I went with my son and my wife went with our daughter. My son’s game went very well and I am having a great time coaching the kids. It was my responsibility to warm up the pitchers before and during the game. The kids on his team are really good and it is a blast. The game was well played and my son’s team prevailed 5-1. My son went 1 for 3 and scored one run. He is a good little player that just needs some more confidence. I can see his confidence increasing and it was a very good game all the way through.

After my son’s game we made our way to my daughter’s game where she was playing the second game of the scheduled doubleheader. The first game was close but unfortunately my daughter’s team was not successful. My daughter’s attitude has gotten better about her team as she realized the season is ending soon. The second game was a rout by the other team but my daughter did smack a solid single to centerfield but was caught stealing second base. Yes, her season is ending in the next two weeks but she is going to try out for the All Star team. My daughter does have the skills but the All Star league is a very big commitment and because we are going back to New Jersey this summer she will miss a few weeks of that season. I think this will hurt her chances but she does understand and trying out for the team will be a good experience.

Last night we reconvened “Game Night” with our dear friends and initially there were supposed to be a few other families joining us but in the end it was the usual dear friends. The evening went by so quickly and thankfully we gave Pictionary the night off. Instead we tried a trivia game which wasn’t well received and a charade type game which is always fun. The games are great but spending time with our friends is even better. I am so blessed in every way possible and having these types of nights are indeed blessings. I am so grateful for everything in my life and yes, it was indeed another wonderful week!!!