Since finishing my degree this spring I seem to have lost much of my mojo to do anything productive during my downtime other than watch TV and play video games. I suppose eventually I’ll get to the projects I said I was going to resume, but right now it’s not happening. My inspiration is lacking.
I remain productive in my day job, but the added stress of my graduate work is gone. There’s a void and I can’t seem to figure out how to fill it.
I was rolling at such a high speed throughout the winter and spring, pushing out graduate papers, conducting research and compiling my portfolio. And then, all of a sudden, it was over.
In the run up to the final presentation, I kidded that this might happen. But it really did – now that’s over, I truly don’t know what to do with myself.
I’m the guy who always seems to have his next move planned. I’m not used to this feeling.
* * *
The same can be said for our softball team. For being the defending league champions, we are not playing like it this season.
We’ve been plagued by inconsistency. Caused by forfeits, injuries and rainouts. Last week, both of our games were canceled by rain, prompting Coach to send a text to our team, instructing us to start building an ark with our bats – a few extra cubits in height to accommodate indoor batting practice – and use the cows to fashion leathered gloves.
And those rainouts came in the midst of a five-game losing streak. Our bats went silent – one of the guys said we were “Royals-ing it,” pre-George Brett at hitting coach. Our defense was average, but when the opponents placed balls in the holes, the runs stacked up and we lost a couple of those game by 10 runs.
I’m not hitting well, either. Most of my at-bats lately end with me shooting line drives straight to the shortstop that are caught for outs. Or towering fly balls caught by the outfielders.
Ah, but the losing streak ended tonight, in the second game of a doubleheader. We frustrated the opponent with our patience at the plate, racking up base runners on walks, and some timely pops that knocked in the runs.
Better yet, we did it with an out-of-the box defensive setup. With only nine players tonight, we put four guys in the outfield and three in the infield. I shifted between the second baseman’s spot and the shortstop position, depending on the batter.
I went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored in the win. I didn’t swing my bat to get those two walks, prompting the opposing catcher to snarl at me after the second walk, “Geez, why do you even bring a bat to the plate!?”
We frustrated the other side so much that a couple of their players refused to shake our hands after the game.
Hopefully, we’ve turned the corner. The playoffs are coming and since we’re out of contention for the regular season title, we’ll be aiming for the tournament title.
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