My mom and dad didn't agree on much. They got separated about 30 years ago and communicated less and less as my sister and I grew up. The first time my mom had cancer--in the 90's--my dad didn't even call her. When the cancer came for him, she didn't go to his memorial service.
We're coming up on two years since we lost my dad and six months since my mom died. It's been almost a year since she got really sick and came to live with Kim and the boys and me.
One thing Mom and Dad did agree on was baseball; they both liked it, and I wish more than anything they could see their grandsons today with all three of them suited up for the spring season.

Jake, Nick and Brett are playing in Central Loudoun Little League, the same league I played in as a kid with my dad on the coaching staff and my mom in the bleachers hollering at me to get my helmet down over my ear.
That was when they were still together.
At the time, I loved the Orioles and wanted to play in the major leagues. But I drifted away from the game when my parents split up, only to return when Jake started playing a few weeks before Dad died. He never got to see any of them play. Mom caught a few of Jake's games but was able to come less and less as her health deteriorated. Jake had a game the day we lost her, and I was on the coaching staff.
We both went to the game because I knew she would have wanted us to.
This season, Jake's playing in the CLLL majors. He's a great fielder, a solid pitcher and is poised to take his hitting to the next level. Nick's playing AA, his first shot at the great game his grandparents loved. I'm managing the team and will be happy if I'm half the coach my dad was. Brett's in Tee-Ball 4 (that means 4-year-olds!) He's had his baseball pants on since about January 15th.
I know they're watching us, and I know they agree that they've got the best bunch of grandsons to ever take the field. I hope they're both a little proud of me too, and that they know I'm doing the best I can.
Baseball brings our family together, and I've never felt better than I did today, hitting ground balls to Nick and his teammates with Kim in the bleachers and Brett and Jake, both dressed for baseball and not far away on the grounds of Good Times Park.
The weather's beautiful; the fields are raked; and Kim and I have got a house full of baseball players. So boys, I've got just one thing to say to you. For Grandmomma and Grandpop:
PLAY BALL!!!

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