Former Neighbors

Several years ago I wrote about this great kid in my neighborhood.

This young man was named Luke. A cute as a button tow head little boy. I met him when out with my dog Izzy. He was in his pj's and asked if he could pet my dog.

Fast forward to him in high school. He now had his own dog. As Izzy got older and preferred sitting on the stoop over more walks I sat with her and saw all the neighbors walking theirs.

If you're a dog owner you know that you know all of these people by their dogs name and may not ever remember theirs. As Rick and I talked we'd say things like, "It's Sugar's mom, etc"

As Izzy and I sat there on the stoop one day Luke came by who now had his own dog. We'd chat baseball once he saw my NYY T-shirt. because he played ball in high school. He was a Nats fan so we would go back and forth all in fun.

I talked to him weekly many days a week. Just loved how respectful and interested he was. We talked about his school, all kinds of things other than baseball, but a lot of baseball. 

When he got into college on a scholarship or partial scholarship for baseball at the school he wanted to attend, to say he was stooked is an understatement. 

Izzy and I were just getting up from the stoop when I heard someone running down the block. He was waving to me. He got to my house and told me he'd be playing for XYZ school. I was so excited for him. I asked if I could give him a hug and he said, heck yeah! So we did just that. I can't even tell you how thrilled I was for him.

The scholarship, the school he wanted, all of it.

Rick and I always told his parents what great kids they had, because both of their children were smart, polite,kind etc. We didn't see a lot of that. 

We moved here when he went into college. Rick is on Facebook so he keeps up with his parents. He was playing ball and kicking butt.

This week his parents sent us a video of him pitching a game. This kid is smoking 'em. In the 90s. His pitches were great! I wish he was on my team. I do admit, I said to Rick that I wonder if kids should be throwing this hard at this age. You want longevity. But then we were back to being thrilled for him.

Honestly I feel like a parent I'm so proud. When he was 9 and telling me he was going to be a major league pitcher I told him you will be if you want it. He would smile and say, "Miss Peggy I really want it." 

I told him to just call me Peggy instead of Mrs last name" But he said, "no, I can't, how about Miss Peggy?" So I agreed. 

(And no not southerners, Yankees) 

When he was a teen and was trash talking my team I asked, "If you were to get the opportunity to play or are drafted into the NYY club, would you say no since you hate them?"

He told me with a sly smile, he'd have to think on it.

A few weeks later he brought it up. He said, "I thought about your question and if I'm honest I wouldn't turn it down."

I smiled and told him I just wanted you to think about it. He called me a stinker. 

When we left we said our goodbyes to he and his family. We told him we'd see him on the diamond!

I hope I live to see him, no matter the team he plays for.⚾️