08/09/2026
We had an organization picnic yesterday. I was there early to clean up and make sure things looked good.
I wasn’t going to go to the picnic, but I stopped by for a quick minute, just in time for them to recognize me while introducing the teams etc.
There was maybe 400 people there. Maybe 1/5 of them know that there is a ‘Field Guy’ out there. I was asked to say a few words over the PA…. NOT my thing.
I said introduced myself and said ‘Hello’. That was literally about it.
Shortly thereafter I left.
I like being out there when nobody else is there. Early mornings, late nights. Under the lights of my machine. It’s my time to work and reflect on life.
I don’t like being in the spotlight. I’ll be the first to tell you that people like me, those that work tirelessly to make sure fields look good, should be recognized and appreciated. That being said, I also know that these days there is a lot less recognition for people like me. Many people just don’t know or care what others do on a daily basis to make sure that things go smoothly.
This isn’t about them. It’s about ME, it’s about my personal path in life and what I choose to do. It’s about the players that take the field to play the game that they love.
That’s it. It’s me and them.
I might sound arrogant when I say ME, but it’s not that kind of ME.
I have been through ups and downs in life…. good times, great times…. and some really rough patches. Some people cope with a few beers, a night out, maybe a quick few days out of town to forget about the hustle and bustle of life. That’s cool. I hope it works.
When I have a bad day I head to the fields. I get on my machine, I pull some weeds, I fill some holes and sometimes I just sit and stare at what I’ve done.
The hours are countless, literally. Usually this is all after a long day of fixing cars. Maybe all day on one of my 2 days off a week. I do this instead of other responsibilities at home (my yard is a MESS).
What comes out of all my hard work is beautiful. Our fields look great, the players get to play and I get some personal growth every single time.
Truth be told, I’m getting old. I run out of energy faster than before and I’m sore for days after doing some of the bigger things at the fields. I don’t know how much longer I can go on doing this.
Im lucky to have a wife that ‘understands’ that I need this. We don’t see each other much and when we do I’m usually nodding off on the couch. But she gets it (I think).
I have a bunch of friends and family that know that I’m out there just trying to make a difference.
I’ll conclude this rant with this.
Do SOMETHING in life that you don’t have to do. See it through and when you’re done, look at it.
Don’t just look at the finished product but look at how it has positively impacted another person or group of people.
Don’t look at how it’s affected your bank account, don’t look at what else you could have been doing and don’t get angry that you were the only one. Life is short, really short. Live it to its fullest and make a difference if you want to be remembered.
