A matter of endurance (or lack thereof)

And so it begins. The long endurance run culminating in the playoffs. Perhaps not physically enduring, although some do try to test their limits, sometimes exceeding their physical bounds. Perhaps not socially enduring, since we seem to be an altogether tight knit bunch with standards so low, most are found acceptable. Definitely more interesting that way. Ok, perhaps little endurance required. More of a simple, voluntary expenditure of energy. Weather, as we more or less always expect to be, was above average. Expected, yes, even though we are never deterred by the infrequent bout of inclement weather, light enough to test the average, but far from heavy enough to deter us from taking the field. Must say something for the enjoyment generated by the league, the camaraderie it creates, if we find ourselves taking the field even when the weather conditions are barely acceptable. Not that we wish to test the limits of our endurance to adverse climatic conditions, as we are perfectly complacent to subject ourselves to Mother Nature at her finest. For the first game, she was definitely at her finest. Two teams came head to head in two separate matches, two endured for the win, two endured for the loss. Well, someone won, someone did not. Still unsure if any endurance came into play. We came, we took the field, we came to the plate to bat, we ran if we had to, we played. Nothing truly enduring about that. Most do not even need to be enticed nor coerced. Think, as always, we all win, contrary to the results that are given to maintain proper standings, for simple bragging rights. There is a penchant for the participants not to constantly ask what the score is while partaking in the game. Always a good sign when you are more interested in the event than the result. Suppose it may still matter for some but, for most, the end does not justify the means. Mostly inconsequential. Suppose, unlike vacations, what happens during the journey is more important than the ultimate destination, where you end up.

One thing we must endure is the rules. Small price to pay. Allows us to get the maximum impact from our minimal time on the field. Keeps us from descending into total anarchy, allowing the games to come to their fruitful end. Although most prefer it not to ever end, your opinion might change after the sun sets and you’re still trying to get through that first inning. After darkness prevails, it may make for a less shadowy outcome, a more gloomy result. Best to endure some semblance of order, especially since we can leave it up to someone else to maintain. Another item to endure, perhaps, at our age, is some form of pain or injury, whether we show up with it or incur it during our time on the field. However, we all should be totally aware on how to self-medicate by now, so we can alleviate that which must be endured. Some may also feel they have to endure my occasional sermon on the mount (or is that mound?), although I tend to keep it light, never mention any names and hardly ever point more then one finger. Although I may prattle on. Yes, I know. Hard to believe. “At the end of the day it's about how much you can bear, how much you can endure.” Concerning our attempts at baseball, there is nothing really serious to endure within our league, so I guess we all just have to learn to grin and bear it. Not hard, it's bound to make you smile. In fact, it usually requires quite a bit of endurance to successfully avoid some sense of enjoyment during the entire course of the evening. And, even if you do try to avoid it, history dictates we are still going to eventually drag you down to our utter level of amusement, kicking and screaming, if necessary. Most of us would be happy to make that effort. Best to go with flow, best not to test our level of endurance, even if it is somewhat lacking. There are plenty of things in life one must try and endure. For the most part, us ain’t one of them. In any event, even if we don’t have to endure much, these times playing baseball are sure to most definitely endure. Always something to bear in mind.