Thread by @SportsbkConsig

Story time from the book:

For the past 20+ years, Memorial Day meant it was going to be a busy day in the book..

All the games, people off work, and business was booming..

I’d hustle to go from working to getting to Pap Pap & Grandma’s for food..

This year, it’s different..

because now we are all living together..

2020 was life changing for so many of us..

I had a stroke eight months ago, and, not only do I feel amazing, but I gained so much..

Perspective, reflection, gratitude, just to name a few..all things I had but I needed a reminder..

In addition to Mrs Consig and the three Consig girls, I now have Grandma Deb & Pap Pap Rocco in the house with us..

A lot of generals up here in the ocean of estrogen, and, despite being a couple loud guys from Pittsburgh, Pap Pap and I are outnumbered..

As we completed this..

move, it has led to a lot of discussions and fun moments, including Pap Pap’s expert sports opinions and Grandma’s opinion on everything else..

You see, Pap Pap was a caddy back in the 60s and played golf with persimmon woods for 50 years..

The day he finished high school..

he didn’t go golfing..

No, the day he graduated high school (barely, by his own account), he went and signed up to serve his country..

The sign up story is unbelievable, as his parents weren’t happy he did it without telling them..

The stories about the rest of his..

experience come when he wants to talk about it..

He was a dog handler in Vietnam, and, like he says, doesn’t have to watch war movies..

He was there and saw stuff..we don’t ask, we listen when he wants to talk about it, otherwise we say thank you for doing it..

In the book..

you work with girls & guys and see shit every day..you see money, bets, jagoffs, bag guys, and who knows what else from day to day..

I’ve used the term “in the trenches” and “in a battle” and all the other metaphors when talking about sports or gambling, but I try to not..

over use it ever..

Yesterday, there was a three hour meeting with five Star generals Grandma and Mrs Consig as to determine where we would be putting the flags..

Pap Pap jumped out of planes, fired weapons and had weapons fired at him..and yet, he stood there, took orders..

and listened as they decided where his flags would fly..

I am lucky to be alive today, a fact that is not lost on me for a single day ever since the stroke..

But, as it was a reminder, so is today for all of those who provide that service for all of us to enjoy our lives..

and the games..

In the book, we may be “in the line of fire” or “hold the line”, but today, all that pales in comparison to the people that did it and continue to do it for real..

I’ll be watching hoops & hockey later but I salute all of you..

Not just another day in the book.

@threadreaderapp unroll