The Adventures of Air Josh

Hi Bloggy Friends,

You may not believe this, but for several years as a child I played on a little league basketball team - and by played I mean I sat on the bench and twirled my gum as my teammates ran back and forth on the gym floor throwing balls into baskets. Don't get me wrong, there were rare occasions when the coach (my dad) would throw me into the mix, which was usually when we were winning by so much that it didn't matter who was out there. When on the floor I would do my best not to look terrified as I imitated the motions of the other boys to make it look like I knew what I was doing. I thought I did a decent job, though my dad said I looked like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Everyone understood that I was unreliable with the ball, but there were moments when it was thrown to me as a last resort. I hated these moments. If the ball came my way the other team would immediately flock around me like a haggle of flying monkeys on the Scarecrow. They'd be waving their arms around, slapping the ball and doing everything they could to take it away. I would get so frustrated that I would give them the thing just so they'd leave me alone - but not without a sassy sigh and an eye roll. Take that! In the four or five years that I played I scored only two points and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was standing in an ideal spot under the basket when someone threw me the ball. I caught it, pivoted toward the goal like we learned in practice, and aimed at the top left corner of the square on the backboard. It slowly went sailing through the air. Everyone stopped. Was this little Josh's moment? SWOOSH! It went in. I don't think I ever saw my dad get so excited. He was jumping in the air like, well, like a chicken without a head. It was such an exhilarating moment and I was never able to repeat it again.

I just wanted to stop by to share this memory that popped into my head this afternoon when I tossed a rotted pumpkin into a garbage receptacle. I attached a video of that moment and two photographs - both of which are from my 6th grade year. The first is my basketball photo. Do you like how I took a moment to pose for the camera before I returned to the ground for my touchdown dance. Booyah! The other is my 6th grade photo. I thought I looked so cute in my turtle neck, peg-legged jeans and Air Jordan tennis shoes. Bless my heart.

Have a great day. I'll chat with you soon.

Love, Josh

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