The Marks Post: Be positive

What feels like a hundred years ago, I played Mayor Dan’l D. Dawgmeat in the Sacred Heart Drama Club’s production of Li’l Abner. In there, Evil Eye Fleagle describes his triple whammy and says, “All his red corpuscles and white corpuscles suddenly stand stock still stupidly staring at each other.”
That line is an accurate depiction of the current state of world affairs as Israel and Iran are waiting for each one to respond to the other one’s attacks. This Middle East tension is cause for much negativity.
But, turn on the television, and there is a lot of other cause for negativity. Just look what is going on in the Ukraine and at the turmoil in the U.S. House. Also, my house was shot up last week. A bullet went through the side wall and into my living room, and another bullet went through my sister’s windshield.
But, there is also a lot of positive that often goes unnoticed. Here’s a few positives from this past Friday.
I had the opportunity to cover Sacred Heart softball in the state quarterfinals against Riverside Academy. On the way, the Hixtape version of “Bigger Than The Beatles” with Joe Diffie, Jon Pardi, and Old Dominion came on the radio. The song is really good, and it restores my faith in today’s Country music. I added it to my baseball playlist for Sacred Heart and Dixie Youth all-star games.
Then, when I got to the school in Reserve, I began thinking if anyone had any reservations about playing a softball game on the side of a river. Ok, that joke sounded better in my head. Anyway, Sacred Heart won a gutsy game and there was a lot to feel good about.
If I had cash on me, I would have gone to the school fair after the game and gotten a corn dog. But, what I did instead was make an obligatory and, in this case celebratory, stop at Whataburger in Baton Rouge.
Adding to the positives, several hours north at Franklin Parish High School, in Winnsboro, the Oakdale softball team also won its quarterfinal game with a victory over Montgomery.
Both Sacred Heart and Oakdale beat teams they lost to last year in the quarterfinals and will both play in the semifinals tomorrow at Sulphur.
Speaking of Sacred Heart softball, I owe a debt of gratitude to assistant coach Vic Lemoine for saving my life.
About a month or so ago, I went raise the American Flag at the baseball field. Right when I hooked the top of the Flag, I noticed there was a snake against the back of the outfield wall. I could tell it was getting agitated, but dumb me thought I would be alright if I stood still while raising the Flag. Well, I was wrong as the snake lunged out at me. I got out of there as fast as I could, but the top of the Flag was still hooked. So, I had to go back and unhook the Flag. I then ran to the softball batting cage where Vic was tossing batting practice. After he finished, he ended up sending the snake to the big reptile house in the sky.
I know I’m digressing a bit, but there is a point to all this. It is easy for us to focus on all the negative around us and get depressed. But, let’s not forget there’s plenty of positives around us too. This is a cause for hope. I should know a thing or two about hope for being a long-suffering Cubs fan.
So, in the long run, you can’t enjoy lemonade unless you get a few lemons thrown your way, right?