“We Are All Welcome Here”

At 14 what do you know about intolerance? At 14 what do you know about equal rights? At 14 living in Tupelo, Mississippi what do you know about Elvis?

At 14 it’s all about you. How life treats you. How you feel about EVERYTHING! How you are trying to bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood, and failing at both. Fourteen is when you start to see your parents differently. You start to take on the qualities of their lives that you like, leaving others behind. Growing as a human being.

At 14 you start to “look out the window” - to see things with a different perspective. If you’re lucky, what you see changes how you see your parents. If you’re lucky, what you see shapes your respect for them. If you’re lucky you start to see them as people, like you. If you're lucky…

At 14 can you clearly see the community where you live? Could it be different? Should it be different? How do you see beyond your own struggles? How can you look at your community as struggling too? A community constantly finding ways to survive with what they have.

At 14 your responsibilities may overwhelm you. You may see your life as a black hole sucking you in. But, you continue to dream. BIG dreams. Slowly learning how to shape them into reality. Finding strength in those who drive you crazy.

Ahh…to be 14.

“The Magician”

I know what originally drew me to this series…baseball. I love the game of baseball. BUT, this series and especially this third installment is not all about baseball. I suppose it’s more about family, dreams, and pride.

Family dynamics are often torturous affairs. What we see from the outside, doesn’t always mirror what goes on behind closed doors. Who we choose to spend our lives with, may not always be who we thought they were…or who we knew they could become. Shielding our children, as best we can, from a parent who is detached and cold, becomes a lifelong challenge.

Dreaming of a different life to that of our parents. Seeing it so clearly. Working to achieve that dream. Decisions. Sacrifices. Not understanding that those who might stand in our way, had dreams too. Sacrifices beyond what we know of their past lives. Constantly seeking approval.

Being prideful is a human fragility that is, perhaps, almost impossible to overcome. Taking pride in one’s abilities. Taking pride in what we’ve accomplished. Taking pride in who we are. Stubbornness. Not seeing others for who they are. Failing to be proud of the accomplishments of those we love. Proud of the person they’ve worked so hard to become.

Families shape us, whether we like it or not. Our dreams grow from the foundation our parents laid for us. We can be proud of what we’ve achieved, only when we understand the sacrifices they made in creating a path for us.