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appreciation

“Vin”

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“Vin”

Before I knew his name, I knew the game. Before I knew the game, I knew his voice. To some, as he painted the game with the sound of his illustrious voice, the sounds of the game were nothing more than radio noise.

I did not speak the language when I first heard his voice. For some unexplainable reason, to me, his voice was much more than radio noise. To millions, especially after his departure from the game, the thought of having him announce one more inning fills us with excitement and causes us to rejoice.

In his youth, he studied broadcasting and journalism and he even played the game at Fordham University. After joining the Dodgers in 1950, he worked with Jackie Robinson, who, by breaking the baseball color line, to the MLB brought racial diversity.

Before every game, from the umpires, he received a salutation. Minutes later, his distinctive voice treated millions to the game of this great nation. Thousands still drive to the Dodger Stadium while many others, with their radio in hand, on a bus, arrive from Union Station.

With his unique style and grace, he told stories about many baseball greats. He recalled his youth and told us when he met Babe Ruth. On April 25, 1976, in the fourth inning, stunned and surprised by the unfamiliar action in the outfield, he seemed almost speechless as he watched Rick Monday save the American Flag, our country’s shield. Among many others, he referred to Clayton Kershaw as one of the best he and the game ever saw.

In 1949, at Fenway Park, a college football game was his first big broadcasting gig. Since then, his magical voice and stories have inspired us in many ways. On September 25, 2016, the day of his last game at Dodger Stadium, in the booth where inning by inning, he slipped out of his youth, he met with his all-time favorite player, Willie Mays.

Vin. After sixty-seven years, on October 2, 2016, from San Francisco, we heard his last broadcast, which brought his seemingly endless career to an end. Vin. Before he left Dodger Stadium for the last time, with a fairytale ending of a walk-off home run, Charlie Culberson sealed Vin’s marvelous career with a win.

Vin. Without him, the game does not feel quite the same. It hurts to say, but without the decorations of his colorful voice, Opening Day feels like just another game day. We love him. We remember him. We miss him, especially on Opening Day.

“Now”

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“Now”

Now. The time to celebrate, love, hug, kiss, help or appreciate someone is now. Not when they are dead. By then, your name or any precious memories will no longer roam in their head. You will simply cry over their empty bed while you choke on all the words you wish you would have said.

You can choose to reach out now. Don’t know how? Ask a friend who’s lost a parent. They may show you how. When they reach out to you, give them your attention as there may be important and life changing things they would like to mention.

Enjoy their presence now. Tell them how much you appreciate them for who they are. A mistake we often make is to see someone only as a cash cow. If you are healthy and able, enjoy with them all that heaven and earth will allow.

Yes. The time is now. You might be right when you see nothing but blue skies ahead. Remember, death has a way of disguising a black cloud over our head. One minute we are enjoying life and the next minute we could be dead.

Why wait until someone is laying in a coffin to bring them a bouquet of roses or even a single flower? You can do so much more now. Don’t wait until their final hour.

The time is now. All we have is now.

“Mi Linda Madre”

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Dedicación

Estas palabras son dedicadas a todas las madres del mundo. Gracias por todo lo que hacen por sus hijos, y por todos aquellos que no tienen la dicha de conocer a su madre. Una dedicatoria especial a todas las mujeres que no tienen la bendición de poder dar a luz, pero que hacen más por los niños, que aquellas mujeres que sí la tienen. Que Dios bendiga a cada una de ustedes!

“Mi Linda Madre”

Por ser mujer, hija, hermana, amiga, esposa, y por ser mi linda madre, hoy te doy mil gracias. Aunque sé que mi gratitud por todo lo que por mi has hecho en los años atrás, con palabras es imposible expresar, hoy con cariño te dedico estas letras.

Como los ríos alimentan los mares con agua, mis venas a mi corazón alimentan con tu sangre. Gracias por darme la vida. Gracias por darme tu sangre.

Gracias por alimentarme cuando tenía hambre. Gracias por enseñarme a caminar y por levantarme después de caerme. Gracias por tu deliciosa comida y gracias nuevamente, por darme la vida.

Por cuidarme cuando era solo un niño, muchas noches de desvelo pasaste. Al no regresar a casa temprano de la escuela, muchas tardes por mi bienestar te preocupaste.

Por curar mis heridas después de mis caídas, hoy te doy mil gracias. Pues sin tu apoyo y disciplina, es muy probable que yo mismo hubiera echado mi vida a la ruina.

Por todo esto y por tu gran amor de madre, con mis humildes letras, hoy te doy mil gracias. Gracias linda madre.

“A Holiday Kiss”

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“A Holiday Kiss”

Like the sunlight brightens our day, without lights, a kiss can brighten up any holiday. As we approach a new year, our excitement rises and so does the holiday cheer. Go ahead.  Christmas is a week away but you can start by kissing your child today. No children you say? No worries. Pets are also okay. To them, kiss or no kiss, being with you always brightens their day.

Make this holiday fun. Teach your children to walk or perhaps even run. Give them a kiss on the forehead or one on the cheek. Teach them patience, while you all wait for Santa, who will be here next week. To see what Santa will bring, kids always sneak in a peek. Remember? We were once kids. Year after year, on Christmas Eve, we fought with our tired eyelids.

When it’s cold, a holiday kiss can keep you warm. In the rain, it ignites your inner strength and reminds you that you can fight through a storm, especially because you know you are not alone.

A holiday kiss, on your way out to work, has extra magic. It lets you know that you are loved and confirms why you love to come home.

Big or small, gifts are nice. When it’s my time to give, I never think twice. Whether your gift is made of the finest silk or the cheapest cotton, after you open it, a holiday kiss lets you know that you were not forgotten.

A holiday kiss has the invisible power to put us in a state of bliss. It unlocks our memory banks and causes us to reminisce. The timing is right. Find your target and plan your flight. Not across the country but across the room, which on Christmas Day will be cozy and bright. When you are ready, fire your holiday kiss. After all, if you aim at nothing, you will never miss.