Into the Unknown

There was a tornado that ripped across Missouri last May. It went through Carl Junction, Oronogo, Eldon, and Jefferson City. All cities that currently surround me and my hometown. It was the night before the last day of the 2018-2019 school year. The majority of the evening was spent with my podmate, Brittany, and her husband in our Middle School storm shelter. Once sirens had been stopped for a while, we went to Brittany and Graham's house to ride out the rest of the storms still going through. Eventually we decided we would wake up early, stop by my apartment before school, and go to our last 3 hours of the school year.

When we woke up the next morning, the rain was still pouring down. Brittany and I knew it would take forever to get to school, because the quickest routes into town would all be flooded. About the time we were ready to leave, we got the automated call from our Superintendent that school was canceled. We're used to snow days in the winter, and occasionally they roll into late March or early May. We had never had a flood day before. Even a couple weeks prior when there was flooding, students were just excused for being tardy. Just like that, our school year was over. Honestly, absolutely everything about school last year was challenging. Not having an official last day of school seemed to be a fitting end.

When schools started canceling due to Covid-19, and rumors spread that it could mean the end of the 2019-2020 school year all together, I immediately thought of last year without a last day of school. I think some schools, like my hometown, were lucky, they weren't in the middle of Spring Break, so they treated the last day before the Covid Break as their last day of school. Not here in Southwest Missouri. We're left going into the unknown. First, it was would we go back in April? Now, it's will we go back in May? Do we get a final good-bye with our students? Will Friday, March 13th (ironic?) be our last day of school for 2019-2020?

I know it's a weird thought, but in some ways I feel like God was preparing us last year for what was to come. Reminding us that a last day of school is never guaranteed, and there are other ways to cancel school than snow days. I also like to think God has a strange sense of humor. Not that He is laughing at our current situation by any means! I just think He sat back last May laughing at us saying how weird it was not having a last day of school and He thought, "Ha! You ain't seen nothin' yet. Just wait!" On the other hand, I also know He is a God who heals and a God who performs miracles. Therefore, I also know what He's capable of doing with and through the uncertain times we're sitting in. I'd like to think He's saying, "Just wait. You'll see. I got this."

We Will See You Tomorrow Night

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Freese (HR) vs. McGwire
Personally, I have to wonder, would I be as big of a Cardinals baseball fan had the McGwire and Sosa battle not happened during my pivotal, mind-shaping years of becoming a fan? I was 6 when the 1998 season started. Mark McGwire's 62nd home run was my first diary entry in my purple, Winnie the Pooh diary. I was in love. Both with baseball and the Cardinals. Because of the 2011 season, I met and became best friends with my still best friend, Brianna. However, if the McGwire season hadn't happened in my life, my Cardinals obsession, love for Mike Shannon and John Rooney's voices on the radio (listening to every single game during college on the radio in 2011), eat, sleep, breathe Cardinals baseball, even in the offseason, might not be so extreme. Both moments are life-changing in my love for baseball. I will never forget Joe Buck saying, "We will see you tomorrow night!" after Freese hit the walk-off home run in Game 6. I'll always remember running and screaming down my dorm hall, stomping down the stairs, and finding Brianna running to our dorm parents door (the moment still in the middle of happening), and greeting her with a hug, jumping, screaming, and spinning in a circle. But because of a dad who is equally obsessed with Cardinals baseball, showing me what The Cardinal Way meant as a fan at an early age, and experiencing the high of the 1998 season with Mark McGwire, it made it possible to have that special moment 13 years later.

Bring Back Baseball

Now for the right side of the bracket.

This 8 seed play play-in is a little easier than the other side. While I love Yadi and Stan is my ALL-TIME favorite Cardinal, nothing beats Lance Berkman's 10th inning World Series home run.

SWEET SIXTEEN

Edmonds vs. Berkman
I know Berkman is the 8 seed, but nothing can beat the dramatics of that moment. Cardinals were down to their last strike for the SECOND time that game. Not only was it their last strike, but that last strike would have made the Rangers World Series Champions. So it shouldn't be a surprise Berkman's home run beats out the NLCS home run of Jim Edmonds.

Motte vs. Waino
I wrestled with this match-up for quite some time. Both moments won the Cardinals a World Series Championship. I witnessed both live on TV. It came down to one thing. A strikeout. The 2011 WS had its biggest moments in Game 6. Almost anything after that game would have been lackluster. Not that winning a WS is lackluster, but nothing could compare to the drama of Game 6. The 2011 World Series perfectly ended with an outfield catch by, the almost MVP, Allen Craig. On the other hand, the 2006 World Series ended with a strikeout. There is a famous picture of Yadi and Waino screaming face-to-face in celebration. Yadi and Waino are also the Cardinals greatest battery mates of all time. With all of that in mind, I had to choose Waino.

Pujols vs. Gibson
Maybe I'm an old soul. Maybe my opinion would be different had Pujols stayed a Cardinal, although I doubt it. Gibson's 17 strikeouts in the '68 World Series easily takes the cake. He is easily the greatest Cardinal pitcher of all time, and some, me, would say of all MLB pitchers. He's a legend. Just ask the batters who had to face him.

Ozzie vs. McGwire
Whew. This one was hard. I hate that these two moments were up against each other. From a young age, all Cardinals fans learn the phrase, "Go crazy, folks, go crazy!" Ozzie Smith was a phenomenal, hall of fame shortstop. He was not known for being a power hitter. When he hit a walk-off home run to win game 5 of the 1985 NLCS, it was the perfect example of the underdog coming in clutch in October. Cardinals broadcaster called it beautifully. A true historic moment. However, I grew to love baseball because of Mark McGwire and the 1998 single season home run battle between Mark and Sammy Sosa. Once again, it's a moment I have written an entire blog post about.

ELITE EIGHT

Berkman vs. Waino
"They just. Won't. Go. Away." The call Joe Buck made when Berkman hit the 10th inning game tying homer. The Cardinals battled every single at bat in the 9th, 10th, and 11th innings of Game 6. Joe Buck's call is one I repeat often. More than any other famous Cardinals catchphrase. While winning the 2006 World Series was special, it was the first in my lifetime, that series as a whole can't top the 2011 World Series.

Gibson vs. McGwire
Had the Cardinals chosen Bob Gibson's 1968 season, this decision might have been different. It backs up why I think Gibby is one of the greatest MLB pitchers of all time. In 1968, Gibson had a regular season 1.12 ERA. After the '68 season, MLB lowered the pitching mound. During the season, he threw 13 shutouts. He won all 12 of his starts in June and July, and each game was a complete game with 8 of them being shutouts. I think I've made my point. However, I have to go with McGwire's 62nd home run of the season. Not only do I have sentimental attachments to it watching it as a 6 and 7 year old, but in some ways it saved baseball. Allow me to honestly give credit to Sammy Sosa as well (he's a Cub so you know that's hard for me) because without him the moment would not have been as big. But I'll get to more on that later.

FINAL FOUR

Berkman vs. McGwire
Inside my heart is crumbling choosing between my favorite Cardinals baseball memories. It feels more like cruel and unusual punishment than it does a fun game. However, going back to my before mentioned statements about McGwire and Sosa saving baseball, I still have to choose McGwire. I know, without Berkman's home run, we wouldn't have a need for Freese's home run in the 11th inning, but hear me out. First, we have to go back to the end of the 1994 season and beginning of the 1995 season. The players went on strike in the middle of the 1994 season after playing 113 games. For the first time since 1904, there was no post season baseball and no World Series. The 1995 season then started late only playing 144 games instead of the usual 162. When baseball returned, fanbases had shrunk. In 1998, when McGwire and Sosa were battling for the single season home run record, fans of baseball, not just Cardinals and Cubs, were tuning in to see who would break the record first. I'm aware that had the home run battle not happened, something would have brought fans packing stadiums again eventually, but the 1998 season escalated that process.

Freese vs. Freese

Tonight we'll go through my choices on the left hand side of the bracket.

The 8th seed play-in was nearly impossible to choose, because I love Lou Brock and Slaughter's Mad Dash. However, I'll go with what the public chose, Fernando Tatis 2 Grand Slams. If I set my sentiments for Lou and Slaughter aside, I would agree with the public anyway. Tatis hit 2 grand slams in ONE INNING off of the same pitcher. That will most likely be a record that will never be broken in all of baseball. So I can't argue that it should make the Moment Madness final bracket.

SWEET SIXTEEN

Freese vs. Tatis
Needless to say it doesn't matter which 8 seed play-in moment makes it. It goes up against David Freese, 2011 World Series Game 6 triple. Down to the last strike of the World Series with the Rangers about to win, David Freese, the hometown boy from St. Louis, hit a triple to tie the game. Enough said. It beats Fernando's 2 grand slams.

Sutter vs. Waino
Once again, I have to go with Sutter, because it's a World Series winning moment. Waino vs. Beltran is a bigger moment in hindsight, because Beltran later played for the Cardinals.

Molina vs. Edmonds
This was a tough one and I could defend both options. However, knowing how the 2006 season ended and more vividly remembering Yadi's home run as the night Shea went silent. The Mets were winning game 7 of the NLCS when Yadi, not known as a power hitter, hit a 2-run homer that went on to win the game for the Cardinals. The Cardinals went on to win the World Series for the first time in 25 years.

Freese vs. Wong
While Wong's home run is a fond memory from the 2014 post season, no one in their right mind would choose that over Freese's home run to win game 6 of the 2011 World Series. He had already hit the triple to send the game into extra innings. He was hitting lead-off to start the 11th inning. What were the odds he was going to hit the game winning walk-off home run??

ELITE EIGHT

Freese vs. Sutter
I love Sutter, but Freese's triple is more memorable. A moment that will forever be remembered as one of the greatest moments in all World Series. I can still envision him coming up like a prairie dog after sliding into third. Even though I didn't see it happen live, because I was listening to the radio.

Molina vs. Freese
Yadi will always have my heart, but Freese hitting the walk-off home run will be a memory I will never forget. I've written an entire blog post about Game 6 and me running down my dorm hallway after quiet hours.

FINAL FOUR

Freese vs. Freese
I wasn't surprised when Cardinals Nation came up with the same outcome here. Can you tell St. Louis adores David Freese? The triple was great, shocking, and without it there would have been no need for the walk-off home run. However, the home run wins. The call Joe Buck made, honoring his late dad, the hall of fame, retired "number", long-time Cardinals announcer, Jack Buck, made the moment even more historic. "We will see you tomorrow night!" Chills. Goosebumps. Tears. A moment that couldn't have been predicted.

Take Me In for a Ballgame

"Take me out to the ballgame, take me out with the crowd..." Yesterday was Opening Day, well, it was supposed to be. By now I don't have to explain why Opening Day of baseball didn't happen. There were no mile long lines waiting to get into ballparks, no aromas of beer, nachos, and hot dogs, no "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" being belted out during the 7th inning stretch. Windows are still being stared out (even more so now!) waiting for the ceremonial first pitch of spring. However, instead of moping and wallowing at what should have been, athletes and fans are being creative. MLB players were live streaming themselves playing baseball online. MLB, and Fox Sports affiliates, have been playing old games. MLB kindly chose Game 6 of the 2011 World Series while the Cardinals had David Freese live Tweeting for them throughout the broadcast. The show must go on, right?

The Cardinals Twitter account helped ease the pain of no baseball in many ways. My favorite was last week when they posted a Cardinals Moments Madness bracket. Since there was no March Madness this year, I have enjoyed filling out other types of brackets. This one might take the cake for being the hardest bracket I have ever had to fill out. There are so many great Cardinals moments, many with sentimental memories. Before being influenced by my thoughts and opinions, I'll give a day before revealing my choices. While we're left singing, "Take me in for a ballgame, take me away from the crowd..." maybe this will help ease the pain until Opening Day comes back again. And if you have never heard of one of the moments, you're welcome for providing you with a game to watch!

It's Not Okay To...

A follow up to my post yesterday with our list of "It's not okay to..."

It's not okay to...

1. It's not okay to eat raw bat meat. Stick to sushi.
2. It's not okay to stress about school work.
3. It's not okay to get frustrated with your parents about school work. We're all doing the best we can.
4. It's not okay to say, "That's not how my teacher does it!" There are multiple ways to do things.
5. It's not okay to use half the toilet paper roll in one sitting. No one wants to have to use paper towels.

What would your list be of thing it's not okay to do?

It's Okay To...

My guilty pleasure anytime we have a day off from school is to watch Live with Kelly and Ryan. Even in high school, I was eager for snow days so I could start my morning with Saved by the Bell and then Live with Regis and Kelly right after. 

To my delight, they are one of the many talk shows attempting to still go live from their homes. Thank you, technology! On their Monday show, Kelly and Ryan did a segment of "It's okay to... It's not okay to..." during the present times. Some were funny, and some were slightly more serious. I thought it was clever, and some of them gave a good laugh. You can watch their version here.

My podmate (fellow teacher) and I decided to come up with a list to share with our students while we are out of school.

• It's okay to do school work in your PJ's. It's also okay to have a daytime and a nighttime pair of PJ's.
• It's okay to go days without showering. But make sure you wash your hands!
• It's okay to miss school. Even if it's just because you want to be out of the house or because you miss your friends.
• It's okay to stay up until 3am playing Fortnite or binge watching Netflix.
• It's okay to give yourself multiple recesses for multiple hours on end. Now's the time to live out your wildest dreams.
• It's okay to rewatch old sporting events (ahem, St. Louis Cardinals), even though you already know the outcome and even though you've seen Game 6 of the 2011 World Series a dozen times already.
• It's okay to enjoy your time away from school and time with your family.
• It's okay to be happy MAP testing was canceled. Even though your teachers are sad, because you were going to KILL IT!

Tune back in tomorrow for our "It's not okay to..." list.

What would be on your list of "It's okay to..."?