#385

Megan's basketball bag was stinky last night. That's awesome! A sure sign someone's an athlete and competitor: stinky gym clothes wadded in a duffel with shoes – that aren't roses either – and water bottles, ponytail holders, and so on. I love Megan!

I realize her stinky clothes may reflect poorly on me, as I am Megan's laundryman. But don't worry, I'll wash them. At least once, like mid-season. Kidding.

A word on the word 'competitor' which I used above: Competitors, of course, aren't just those who oppose other people, other teams. Competing with oneself, the person you were yesterday, the athlete / worker / artist you were yesterday, is competition too. It's the hardest kind, in fact; continuous improvement is a continuous challenge, the opposite of complacent, the farthest thing from lazy. It's definitely the most important kind of competition. Amen.

At the train station in Chicago, there's an area called the French Market. It's full of proprietors at counters selling a cornucopia of consumables. Michael likes to eat there (when he comes into the city with me), but I walk through just for the smells. There are inviting, interesting aromas of all kinds. We don't use our noses like most animals. Maybe we should. At the French Market I breath deeply and sniff donuts, baked goods, bread, cooked meats, cured meats, seafood, spices, ethnic foods, coffee, flowers. It's a feast for the nose and eyes, and the taste buds too if I stop and eat as I do with Michael. And sometimes they have live music so the ears aren't left out. Life can be rich if you take a second to consume it, in the moment, by observation, inhalation, whatever, take it in, say thanks, and then head off to work or catch your ride home. Amen. Again. Sorry. Very preachy today. Drank too much coffee.

M 'n' m both had orchestra concerts last week and they were fantastic. Michael's show featured some high school musicians who were truly brilliant, it seemed to me, in particular a violinist who was magnificent and flawless; I imagine it will cost money to see her play someday (the school concerts are free). And there was a young man who played the piano and then the viola in the highest of four levels of musicians. I was like, "Holy shit, wasn't that guy just playing the piano like Elton John, and now he's fiddling like 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia?'" That's special. Musicianship at its finest. Michael's in the second level of the four groups; not bad for a freshman. He learned the bass this year and performed with that; formerly he played only the cello. I love Michael! Megan is a cellist, and I suspect her adoration of her big brother played a part in her choice of instrument.