Since he was born he's been swinging for the fence. He took the bull by the horns and decided to make his arrival early. When we made him wait he settled in and dug in his heels- part compliance, part ornery. He had to be coaxed out and he took his good old time arriving. It's okay, he was worth the wait.
His father immediately welcomed his future baseball player. But, we should have known Ryan had his own plans. He did not like baseball as a young child. In fact, he showed no interest at all. Dad suffered in silence as he indulged skateboarding, football, video games, and swimming. I still clearly remember the day- in Ryan style at the last minute- that he came home and announced that he thought he'd like to try out for baseball at the age of 11. He missed the t-ball days and little league days but Dad made up for lost time quickly. The bats were purchased, gloves were oiled, buckets of balls were collected. He made the majors with two weeks of baseball under his belt. He came to it naturally. The sport fit him like a glove.
Though a natural player, baseball did not come easily. His first season was tough as he learned rules and tried out positions. We have many entertaining stories of the patience his coaches displayed and their willingness to let him try out anything. The boy carried every piece of equipment with him in his bag just in case. When his team ran out of catchers toward the end of the season he begged "Put me in, Coach!" and his coach reluctantly announced, "I'm going to let Ryan catch." Ryan and his coach survived the rest of the game, we all discovered the kid could catch a bit, and we all laughed.
Ryan didn't connect with the ball at first but he always swung with conviction, aiming for the fence. He did get his first home run that first season. I stared with amazement before sprinting to the parking lot to get the ball. It is in a display case in his room, joined by a few others over the past years.
Ryan has done many things over the last five years that have made me proud. They aren't the things he might think they are. Ryan is a team player. You won't find one more supportive of his fellow players. I love that about him. He spends extra time working with the younger boys- remembering that first season and what it was like for him. Ryan is respectful to adults. Coaches tend to discredit him because he came to the game later and he is younger than his grade level peers. One or two have been cruel. He has never uttered a disrespectful word on the field to a coach or a referee. (He's not a saint, I'm sure he has said some choice things in the dugout.) He keeps his head up when the game isn't going his way and he takes many things in stride always believing his time is coming. And, Ryan always swings for the fence knowing that parking lot is out there and I'm always ready to sprint to retrieve the ball.
I've been watching Ryan lately. It's not been an easy start to the season. He's had good days and bad. He's struggled to make his hits and pitches at times. It's not the start he wanted. He has an incredible amount of talent, potential, and passion and I am certain it will burst forth soon. For now, he's learning life lessons through baseball- and teaching me a few at the same time.
I hope I always support those who follow behind me and walk beside me. I hope I am always respectful in public situations. I hope I can learn to take things in stride. And, most of all, I hope I always swing for the fence.
Cancer has thrown us a few curve balls. We've swung and missed twice. But, we've put on the rally caps and as Ryan has taught us we will swing for the fence. It's time for a home run and some celebrating.
Happy Birthday, Ryan! Keep swinging for the fence. You're going to change the world around you. Just look how you're changing me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmeMljNdvDo
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