C is For Cal Ripken

This story doesn't have much to do with Cal Ripken at all except that I lived this moment while sitting in the stands to watch Cal play in his 2130th consecutive baseball game, tying the record set by Lou Gehrig.

The stands were packed that night early in September of 1995. And yes, most people in the park had all eyes on the field and the great #8 in his white and orange uniform. I was looking that way too until my eyes wandered to the left of me and settled upon the most unusual sight. There was a young man- probably high school age-with a notebook and chemistry textbook open on his lap. His head was way in the book as his pen moved across the notebook page. Every once in a while he would look up to see what was happening but then he was right back to the book.

I could only imagine what may have transpired before that young guy settled into the stands. Was there a big test the next day? Was he already behind, so early in the school year? Was chemistry that taxing that he needed to spend as much time studying it as possible?

Whatever the answer was he seemed to be having his own ironman moment. He wasn't going to let a little homework get in the way of attending a big sports event- just like Cal Ripken wasn't going to let anything get in the way of missing work for fifteen years.

Life Lesson: Where there's a will, there's a way.