A few weeks ago, the Washington Nationals celebrated their first World Series Championship by having a parade. While the entire city was happy and festive and celebrating with the team, I was not.
In order to get to the World Series, the Nationals had to beat my home town team, the St. Louis Cardinals... and they beat them in convincing fashion, winning the best of seven series four games to none. They then went on to beat the Houston Astros for the championship.
Suddenly, I thought of one person... Bryce Harper.
Bryce Harper was the face of the Nationals franchise for a number of years. He was a kid phenom who could hit the cover off the ball and was supposed to help the Nationals win the series... except he didn't.
Bryce harper's contract ended last season and instead of re-signing with the Nationals he instead signed with the rival Philadelphia Phillies. When asked how he felt about the Nationals as they progressed throught the playoffs he said he was happy for them.. he came up in the league with the organization and was happy for the guys that welcomed him to the league. But in leaving the team, I think he burned a lot of bridges, at least with the fans of the team.
He can't come home.
As I think about Thanksgiving, I can't go home either. While Bryce can't go home metaphorically, I can't go home physically because the home the my mother lived in will be c\occupied by a new family... not the one I spent 30 something years gathering with relatives in. I have to find someplace to lay my head whenever I go back to St. Louis. Thanksgiving meals have moved on to a different family member's home.
I am, however, like Bryce - happy for my family that remains because they can still come together and celebrate as family and create new traditions... in another family members home.
Check out last weeks episode with the Rays of Hope Children's Grief Centre in Midland TX here:
http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/podcast/episode-185
Visit the Rays of Hope website: https://raysofhopemidland.org/
Please support the organization by gifting them something from their Amazon Wish List:
https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/2Z5M21JXIECHT/ref=smi_ext_lnk_lcl_cl
Learn more about Children's Grief Awareness Month:
https://childrengrieve.org/awareness/children-s-grief-awareness
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Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)