It’s Saturday morning and I am Up North for three days – Saturday, Sunday, and part of Monday. I am not counting Friday, because we arrived a little after midnight this morning. We left home Friday afternoon along with thousands of others escaping Chicagoland for one last moment along the lakeshore with family.
It’s an old photo, but it perfectly captures the spirit of the lake.
School is back in session and the routine and structure of a daily schedule has returned. It’s a good thing, but it means less time to write. I’ve been yearning to write, but haven’t, I’ve had other things besides school on my mind.
First thing – Harvey
If you’ve been reading Making the Days Count for a while you may know that I am from the Houston area and all but one of my family members live in the area. I lived in the Houston area for the first part of my life from the early 60s until I moved away in 1987. In all that time, I remember only a couple of tropical storms and one hurricane – Alicia in 1983. Since then, the area has been hit by several large hurricanes and tropical storms. Recently by Hurricane Harvey this past weekend. Fortunately, all of my family are safe and their homes weren’t affected by the flooding. But there were thousands of area residents and many folks who my family members know who were impacted by the flooding.
Last night as I drove north, I talked to my mom and she shared all of the good things that are happening in the Houston area. I’ve read the stories about how the community is coming together to help those affected by the storm. It renews my faith and makes me #HoustonSTRONG.
Second thing – baseball and the Astros
I am a baseball fan, and my team is the Houston Astros. I’ve been able to see them play three times this season, once in Houston and twice in Chicago – all three times they’ve lost. Their losses have not been the norm this year and currently they are 80-53. They got caught up in Hurricane Harvey, too. The team was on the road playing in Oakland, California when the hurricane struck last weekend and then they were forced to play three home games in Tampa Bay – three ‘home games’ on the road. The Astros lost the first two games 12-2 and 8-1 before winning the final game 5-1. I don’t know how the team was able to focus and play. The Astros team home late Thursday night and spent Friday helping the victims.
We’re all in this together.
If you’d like to contribute, please visit https://t.co/0F5op6T1zW. https://t.co/tz3j5G1hnA
— #AstrosHarvey (@astros) August 30, 2017
Today, they play a double-header against the New York Mets. Both teams spent Friday providing community service in the Houston area. I’ll be listening to the game and rooting for the home team. Baseball, it’s more than a sport.
Third Thing – “Three Little Birds”
Last weekend I heard the song, “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley for the first time. It’s been singing in the back of my head ever since. The only reason I listened to the song in the first place was I read that George Springer, an outfielder for the Astros, was playing the song in the clubhouse before last Sunday’s game against the Oakland A’s to lighten the mood.
Don’t worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing’ don’t worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Rise up this mornin’
Smiled with the risin’ sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying’, (this is my message to you)
Here is the rest of the song.
AND Finally,The Astros won the game against the A’s 7-5. That song by Bob Marley made me think about a time in my life, when I wasn’t at my best. At that moment, I didn’t live up to my life mission of Making the Days Count, in fact I came up woefully short. It’s one of the (many) times I look back and wish I could have a do-over. But, I can’t I can only move forward and do better.
If you are able, please join me in making a donation to the American Red Cross to ease the burden of flood relief to the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Thank you.
Today is gonna be a great day. I am Up North and the lake is beckoning. By tomorrow evening, the dock, lifts, and boats will all be on dry land until next summer. So, I had better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. I’ll be listening to the games, whistling “Three Little Birds,” and praying for Houston. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, one thing, two things, three things at a time.
What is at least one thing on your mind today?
Have a wonderful weekend. I’m making the days count by visiting old friends as we travel in the east. Baltimore today. But I sure love my Lake Michigan. Thanks for sharing a bit of lake life Up North.
I love life Up North, it’s a little slice of paradise. Thank you. It was a great weekend – we closed up the place and got it ready for fall. Boats, lifts, and the docks out of the water – furniture stored and garage cleaned and organized. It’s the rent we pay for the time we spend along the shore playing and relaxing.
Houston – and Bangladesh and India – have been much in our thoughts recently. So glad those close to you are ok.
Yes, there are other parts of the world suffering from floods, it’s easy to overlook when it is close to home. Thank you, I hope all is well with those you love, too. It’s gonna be a great week. Peace.
I’m glad your family weathered Harvey as well as they did. The devastation there is shocking. I’m fortunate never to have experienced the brutality of storms like that. The last large hurricane we had here in Rhode Island was Bob back in 1991, and in that one we lost a few trees, and power for a day and a half.
Love Bob Marley. I believe him when he sings every little thing is going to be alright.
Enjoy summer’s last long weekend.
Thank you – that song sustained me through the long weekend of chores – rent for the time spent beside the lake during the summer and pre-payment for the time ahead. I wish I had discovered Bob Marley earlier in life when I first learned of him – I suppose some things take time. Have a great week!