Never a Dull Moment!

Last year my niece Jill's husband Jim trapped 2 raccoons in my mother-in-law's attic.
The first one was a BIG raccoon and the other medium sized.
The guy who took charge of the raccoons disposed of them even though he said he would return them to the wild. This was upsetting enough.
This time it was a female raccoon who had just had a litter.
During the night, Muriel was woken up by a big crashing sound in the kitchen. When she investigated she found that the folding ladder leading to the attic had been pushed down, knocking down a bunch of stuff off the shelves in her pantry. She was also wondering if her water line was broken and so she called us. Bruce went to her house to check things out and turn off the water.
In the morning the service guys showed up and told her there were raccoon prints down there.
Their first thought was that it must a pretty big raccoon to have pushed down the ladder and the size of the paw prints confirmed it.
Bruce bought traps and laid them out with Jim that afternoon.
Bruce went into the attic and found the nest, right above the ladder's steps, on the right, deep into a crawl space, full of insulation. He heard the baby raccoon noises and wondered how they would get the animal out without a fight.
The traps didn't work. The mother raccoon figured out a way to get to the opened cat food can left in the cage as bait without setting off the trap. She reached inside through the bars of the cage without triggering the trap release... Smart girl she was...
But this brought another problem. if she was smart enough to do that, there was a chance she would not get caught at all and she had already done enough damage.
Bruce called the DNR and was given the number of a professional wild life trapper.
He came and set a trap to kill the poor animal.
When Bruce told me this I got so upset I cried.
He figured she would not leave her nest until night time. I tried to talk him into finding another way but he didn't know what else they could do and he said the trapper would have killed her anyway, even after catching her alive. And her babies were going to suffer the same fate.
Muriel called again to say she had heard a noise in the attic and Bruce figured the trap had worked. It had... not as well as planned but by the time they got to her she was dead.
Jonathan crawled into the small space where the nest was looking for the babies and found three.
She had moved them further in and he's not completely sure he found them all.
He put them in a cardboard box and covered them up to keep them warm and brought them home.
These babies still have their eyes closed... They wriggled when he took them out of the box to make the inside more comfortable for them. Once was even making suckling noises... poor little orphans... What were we going to do with them? We didn't know how much of what to feed them? We had bought cat milk last year but had long since gotten rid of the box... We were out of our league, besides the fact that it is illegal to keep raccoons without a proper license...
So I did a search online and found a shelter in Indianapolis. My first concern was their immediate care and then figuring out how to get the kittens to the shelter.
At first the lady was very upset because she thought we had killed the mother needlessly. We did what the DNR told us to do, which redirected her anger towards the DNR as there should have been another way to retrieve the mother and her babies so they would have all survived.
She gave us instructions on how to take care of the kittens until morning: keep them very warm in a box, in a quiet, dark place; feed them warm sugar water if we didn't have cat's milk; rub their genitals to encourage them to void, like you do with baby rabbits; not let the house pets smell them in any way and the less handling the better.
Jon brought down his lizards' red light and secured the box in a corner where no pets could get to and gave the kittens time to settle down before feeding them.
Bruce had a pet raccoon when he was growing up. I don't know if the laws were the same but they found this baby raccoon who adopted them and the family has many funny stories about Zorro.
Zorro is a legend in the Brindle household. He hated cigarettes and would wait until Dick (my father-in-law) was asleep and then pull the package out of his shirt pocket and shredded them to bits then gave Dick a ring of hickies around his neck!
They found him in the freezer one day, sitting there, eating chocolate chips out of a box Muriel had put them in... he had a cage but knew how to open it and he did manage to destroy the attic when he made his way up there and ran from one side to the other.
Zorro's story ended in a sad way too and maybe that's why some in the family had thoughts of keeping these babies.
We will meet Sue north of Indy tomorrow morning... actually in a few hours as it is already almost 2am. This center, the Four Maples Wildlife Rehab Center, located in Pittsboro, IN, specializes in rescuing raccoons. I feel good about taking them there.
We have a responsibility to ensure their survival in part because we caused them to lose their mother. I hope they will make it.
Something good can come from all this...

Bon-Papa's First Professional Bike Race (1938): the 30th Paris-Bruxelles

copie fournie par Andre Bodart. Merci Andre!

Le XXXme Paris-Bruxelles
(Professionnels)
Course Cycliste organisée par “Le Soir” avec le concours de “L’Auto” sous les règlements de la L.V.B et de l’U.C.I
117 Concurrents ont pris le départ
Victoire de Marcel Kint devant Romain Maes et Louyet

Deux regrettables forfaits ont dû être enregistrés. Victime d’une chute tout au début de la saison, le vainqueur de l’an dernier, Albert Beckaert, ne put s’entraîner comme il aurait voulu.
Dimanche dernier dans Paris-Roubaix il prit un sérieux refroidissement et il s’est trouvé dans l’obligation de déclarer forfait.
De son côté Frans Bonduel, que l’on aurait bien voulu fêter pour sa remarquable suite de participations à notre épreuve, se trouve encore bien plus mal que son camarade Beckaert et c’est à l’ordre formel de la Faculté qu’il sorte de la chambre. Ce ne sera d’ailleurs que partie remise car l’an prochain Bonduel sera certes encore à meme d’animer notre course.
Un autre forfait est encore à enregistrer: celui du temps. Il fait froid et maussade. Il a d’ailleurs plu toute la nuit et ce matin à 4 heures le ciel est encore – pour employer un terme d’aviation – obstinément bouché.

Au contrôle de depart
La physionomie habituelle, celle à laquelle nous étions habitués depuis de …
Ce n’est plus le décor du Quartier de Montmartre, ce quartier si special et si… qui s’y prête. Cette année le contrôle de départ a été transféré à Pavillion sous Bois dans un grand garage … de la gare de Gargan-Livry. C’est là que nos camarades parisiens Charles – et Henry Glacet ont installé le contrôle de depart.
Au moment où nous y arrivons, il fait encore nuit et à 4h 30 bien précises, nous attendons les coureurs. Des mains amicales se tendent vers nous. Journalistes, officiels, constructeurs, directeurs, sportifs, tous sont là fidèles au poste.
Voici nos confreres Gaston Bénac et … d’Iry, de “Paris-Soir”; Raymond ..ttier, de “Ce Soir”; Liévin, du “Parisien”; Jean Leulliot, de l’ “Auto”, Alex Lévithan, de l’ “Intran”; Lucien … du “journal”. Nos confrères belges: Joseph Henet de la “Dernière Heure”; Karel Steyaert de “Sporter..d”; Van den Balck, de “Het Laat,,, Nieuws”; Goossens, de “Het Nieuws.. den Dag”; Georges De Rudder, de “La Nation Belge”; Segers de “Het …weblad”; Collard de l’ “Indépendance”; nos confrères de “Vers l’Avenir”, de la “Gazette de Charleroi” de la “Gazet van Antwerpen”, Paul Beving, … Godtsenhoven, des “Sports”, Die… x, des emissions flamandes de l’I.N …A Versnick, de “Paris-Soir”.
Voici également les officiels belges et français, Arnold Standaert, Charles …alders, Léon Renson, Léon Courbier, Marcelle Maisand et les directeurs sportifs des marques françaises, citons: ..govic Feuillet, Piérard, Trialoux, Vé…, Evrard, Coiin.
Puis arrivent les acteurs du beau film sportif qui va se dérouler, Walschot se présentant le premier. Les souhaits …sage lui sont naturellement exprimés.
Les operations préliminaires sont très rapidement menées sous la direction de Fernand Paul, juge arbiter, assisté de … Hautekeet et Dominique Melot.
Tout se passe en bon ordre et, à 6 heures le contrôle est levé.

Les Partants.
Helyett-Hutchinson – (vert, bande blanche)
1. Lesueur, Raoul (Français)
2. Oubron, Robert (Français)
3. Decoster, Coreille, Elewyt
4. Kneepkens, Henri, Bruxelles
5. Van Kerkoven, Joseph, Machelen
6. Dubuisson, Albert, Binche
7. Pirmez, Théo, Lodelinsart
8. Lauwers, Constant, Hemixem
9. Lauwers, H, Hemixem
10. Dominicus, Joseph, Anderlecht
11. Geets, Joseph, Hombeek
12. Brackeveldt, Adolphe, Gand
13. Hermie, François, St-Joris-Weert
14. Beeckman (Belge)
15. Middelkamp, Th (Hollandais)
16. Dignef, Antoine, Landen

Essor-Hutchison
(Rouge, bande blanche)
25. Maes, Léopold (Belge)
26. Van Schil (Belge)

France Sport-WOlder
(Bleu, bande blanche)
28. A Loncke (Belge)
29. Verbeeke (Belge)

Dilecta-Wolber
(Or et bleu)
30. De Caluwe, Edgard, Denderwindeke
32. Coelaert, Gistave, Ransart
33. Van Simaeys, Adelin, Boitsfort
34. Grysolle, Sylvain, Wichelen
35. Van Ransbeck, Frans, Buggenhout
36. Van Horenbeck (Belge)
37. Gyselinck (Belge)

J-B Louvet-Wolber
(Vert et rouge)
38. Wierickx, Robert, Bruxelles
39. Walschot, René, Beersel
40. Rosseel, Albert, Lauwe
41. Kemps, Richard, Bekkevoort
42. Coelaert, Jules, Ransart
43. Fornet (Belge)

De Dion-Bouton-Wolber
(Bleu, parements blancs)
44. Hardiquest, Louis, Hoegaerde
45. Van de Pitte, Emile, Hooglede
47. Perikel, Albert, Ransart
49. Haegeman, …, Couillet

Genial Lucifer-Hutchinson
(Rouge, parements blancs)
50. Choque, Paul (Français)
51. Faure, Benoit (Français)
52. Vergili, Séverin (Français)
53. Gamard, Emile (Français)
54. Spaperi, Pierre (Français)
55. Lemarie, Raymond (Français)
56. Trosch, Pierre (Français)
57. Pothier, Georges (Français)
59. Dubreuil, Georges (Français)

Mercier-Hutchinson
(Violet)
60. Louviot, Raymond (Français)

F Pélissier-Hutchinson
(Vert amande, épaules violettes)
62. Rebry, Gaston (Belge)
63. Maes, Romain (Belge)
64. Kint (Belge)
65. Van Overberghe (Belge)
66. verlinden (Belge)
67. Demondt (Belge)

A Leducq-Hutchinson
(Vert foncé, épaules violettes)
69. Decroix (Belge)
71. Voets, Albert (Belge)

R Lapebie-Hutchinson
(Rouge-Epaules violettes)
72. Langagne, Jules (Français)

Cil Pelissier-Hutchinson
(Bleu-Epaules violettes)
73. Christiaens (Belge)

Alcyon Dunlop
(Bleu ciel)
75. Beernaert, Albert, Somergem
80. Meulenberg, Eloy, Ransart
82. Van Houte, Marcel, Thielt

La Francaise-Diamant
(Blanc et rouge)
84. Clayes, Marcel, Ursel
87. De Meersman, Ph, Zellick
88. Mithouard, Fernand (Français)

Armor-Dunlop
(Vert et blanc)
89. Dufromont, Jérôme, Courtrai
91. Van Parys, Willy, Uccle

Labor Dunlop
(Blanc et bleu)
92. De Walsche, René, Lovendegem
93. Hendryckx, Remy, Coursel
94. Rayen, Remi, COurdel
95. Tersago, Charles, Kalfoort
96. Vervaecke, Félicien, Menin

Thomann-Dunlop
(Blanc et orange)
97. De Donder, Frans, Bruxelles
98. Masson, Emile, Bierset
99. Muls, Camille, Evere
100. Simaer, François, Buysingen

Colin-Wolber
(Vert-bande jaune)
101. Huts, Joseph, Tirlemont
102. Schepers, Alphonse, Tirlemont
103. Michielsen, Camille, Anvers
104. Deloor, A (Belge)
105. Vicquery (Belge)
106. Haubrecht, Pierre, Mons

Le Nordiste-Hutchinson
(Vert et rouge)
108. Ghisquière, Alphonse, Ypres
110. Raes, Maurice, Heusden
112. Duerloo (Belge)
113. Balduck, Gérard, Leau

Cyrille Van Hauwaert
116. Segers, Bruxelles

Individuels

118. De Groote, Albert, Brasschaet
119. Van Grootenbruel, Rob., Strypan
120. Vermasen, Camille, Edelaere
121. Declercq, N. Mouscron
122. Desmedt, Camille (Belge)
123. Coppens, François, Alost
124. Dubois, Cyrille, Golck
125. Drossart, Léon, Jauche
126. Van Temsche, Pierre, Lokeren
127. Loopmans, Joseph, Borgerhout
128. Louyet, Léon, Mont-sur-Marchienne
129. Pedroli, René (Suisse)
131. Vandenbossche, Léopold, Vilvorde
132. Rombouts, Alphonse,Beerlaer
133. Guricks, Frans, Dieghem
134. De Meyer, Jacques, Brasschaet
138. De Bruyne, ALois, Berlaere
139. Horemans, Jos., Hulshout
140. (unreadable)
141. Van Oppen, Théo, Ottenburg
142. Van Raepenbusch, R, Ostende
145. Volcke, Omer, Moorslede
146. Lerae, Gilbert, Groodenberge
147. Buyck, Michel, Waereghem
148. Gyzen, Albert (Hollandais)
149. Laplume, Raymond
154. Moerenhout, Bruxelles
156. Toubeau, Auguste, Schaerbeck
158. Lowie, Jules
159. Somers, Joseph
137. Kneepkens, Jules

Le Départ
Un dernier appel, et à 6h15, Charles Joly donne le départ aux 117 concurrents, qui vont entamer le long ruban de 400 kilomètres qui unit les deux capitales.

La Course
L’épreuve débute dans une atmosphère glaciale peu propice aux efforts initiaux et pourtant dès les premiers kilomètres elle est animée, les coureurs “tricotant” ferme pour se mettre en condition et échapper ainsi à cette mauvaise ambiance.
Un premier peloton se forme, compose de Tersago, Dubois, Dewalsche, Hendryckx, Dubreuil, Vermassen, Ghisquière, Lauwers, H, Van Schil, Van Kerckhoven, Beeckman et emmené par Félicien Vervaecke.
Le second peloton suit à 400 mètres, groupant Gyzen, Walschot, Masson, R. Maes, Van Horenbeke, Geets, Balducq, Dominicus, Dubuisson, Vanden Bosch, de suite accidenté, est obligé d’abandonner.
Aux environs de Claye, le premier et deuxième peloton opérant leur soudure, et Meulenberg, Wierinckx, Dedonder, Coppens se joignent à eux, tandis que, par la suite, Rebry ramènera le gros peloton avec Michielan.

A Meaux
Le premier contrôle, Meaux (28km) est atteint à 7 heures.
Et voici du nouveau:

Une seconde échappade
Un groupe de tête réunit Vermassen, Ghisquière, Decroix, Dubreuil, Lesueur, De Groote, R Maes, B Faure, Wierinckx.
Le deuxième lot suit à 500 mètres, avec Beeckman, Balducq, Dubuisson, Meulenberg, Tersago et Walschot.
Meulenberg ramènera d’abord Muls, De Cock, Vicquery, Coelaert, Horemans, J. Van Oppen, Rombouts, Hardiquest, Huts, Dubuisson et Pedroli.
A Sameron, tout le peloton rapplique également. A La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, Pédroli, victime d’ennuis matériels, doit abandonner. Duerloo a des ennuis avec sa chaîne.
Il est 7h30 et 47km sont couverts.
Le retard sur l’horaire n’est plus que de 9 minutes sur les 15 que l’on avait au départ.
La côte , à la sortie de La Ferté, est menée par B Faure, Buyck, Van Parys, Oubron, Lesueur, Dubreuil, Trosch, Dignef, Le Marie, R. Maes.

A Château-Thierry
Ces hommes formeront bientôt avant le sommet un premier lot, dont l’avance sera augmentée par la suite et voici les passages à Château-Thierry (74km)
En tête: B Faure et Ghisquières; à 15 secondes: Dubuisson, Van Horenbeek, Lesueur, Middlekamp, Van Parys, Pirmez, Buyck, Beeckman, Depoortere, R. Maes, Walschot.
A 1m 20sec le gros peloton, conduit par L. Maes, Dominicus, Hendrickx etc.

A treize en tête
Ainsi se forme un premier lot constitué par B Faure, Ghisquière, Van Hoorenbeke, Lesueur, Dignef, Van Parys, Pirmez, Troch, Buyck, Oubron, Le Marie, R. Maes, Walschot, lesquels à Dormans (98km), comptent 2m 4 s. d’avance sur le gros peloton mené par Voets, Balducq.
Van Oppen casse sa roue à la sortie de Dormans. Le passage à ce contrôle se fait à 8h53. Il n’y a plus que 5 minutes de retard sur l’horaire probable.

La côte de Champillon
A 9h24, nous voici au contrôle d’Epernay. Il y a 122km de couverts et ce sera de suite la côte de Champillon à escalader. Van Parys et Benoit Faure mènent au début puis sont remplacés par Oubron, ghisquière, Buyck, Pirmez, Walschot et Van Hoorenbeek.
Au sommet, Benoit Faur et Lemarié prennent du champ, mais les deux gaillards sont rejoints par le peloton, et au sommet de la montée les leaders ont porté leur avance sur le gros peloton, conduit par Moerenhout et Félicien Vervaecke, à 3 min 3 secondes.
A Reims (149kms) le passage au contrôle de ravitaillement est réglé par notre ami Dhennin, de “L’Eclaireur de l’Est”. Les leaders passent a 10h 21min, menés par R. Maes. Viennent à 1 minute 33 secondes, Mithouart et Dufromont, et à 1 min 39 sec un imposant peloton.

Rejoints
Les leaders ont perdu du terrain sur la route d’Epernay à Reims et après le ravitaillement la chasse devant des plus ardents et finalement les fuyards sone rejoints quelques kilomètres, après Reims par un imposant groupe: a 88 concurrents… (unreadable) rétrograde par suite de crevaison. Lerae abandonne à la suite d’ennuis mécaniques.

Nouvelles échappades
Mais la soudure est à peine opérée que Van Hoorenbeke et Van Overbergh se sauvent. Pendant de temps, Schepers, Dedonder, Volcke ont rejoin le gros peloton à leur tour, de même que Ghisquière, Moorenhout, Michielsch, Rebry et Van Parys.
Van Hoorenbeke et Van Overbergh sont rejoints par ces homes du groupe de tête, qui comprend 15 hommes, et passe à Rethel (186km) à 11h25, avec 1 min 20 sec d’avance sur le peloton.

Le nouveau parcours
A Rethel commence le nouveau parcours rendu obligatoire par la réfection des routes habituelles. A Novy, Meulenberg, Kint, Pirmez, Christiaens, Wierinckx, Kneepkens rappliquent sur les leaders qui sont donc une vingtaine.
Après 200km de course, soit à mi-parcours, ce peloton comprend donc plusieurs favoris. La poursuite est ardent entre les poursuivants et les fuyards.
Muls ramène Lauwers, Dufromont, Van Kerkhoven, Vergill sur les leaders. Mais dès qu’il a réussi cet exploit Muls trouve le passage à niveau fermé et perd le benefice de son effort. Les leaders ont 1 min 10 sec sur le gros peloton. La poursuite est de plus en plus ardente et bientôt les leaders sont rejoints.

Du beau temps
Le temps s’est mis au beau, le brouillard s’est dissipé, le vent a complètement “nettoyé” le ciel et le soleil a généreusement répandu ses chauds rayons.

Cinq Belges en tête
La sortie de Mariembourg change la physionomie de la course car Meulenberg, Muls, Van Hoorenbeek, Van Overbergh et Lowie ont accentué leur avance et sont suivis, à 600 mètres par Rebry, R. Maes, Louviot, Vergill et Dubuisson.
Les cinq hommes de tête fourniront probablement le vainqueur, à condition qu’ils parviennent à conserver leur avance jusqu’à Charleroi.
Mais la chasse, terriblement active, s’organise derrière eux et le peloton franco-belge y met un sérieux coup.

A Philippeville
La prime de 500 francs est remportée par Félicien Vervaecke – qui a rejoint – devant Meulenberg. Il est 2h30 quand les leaders traversent la ville.

A onze maintenant
Aux environs de Fraire, R. Maes ramène finalement sur les hommes de tête Rebry, Dubuisson, Louviot, Vergill.
Ceci nous fait onze hommes en tête, filant vers le 2e contrôle de ravitaillement, celui de Charleroi.

Un énorme succès
Comme tous les ans, mieux même que les années précédentes, la foule se presse énorme au contrôle de Charleroi, où musettes et canettes, tant pour les coureurs que les suiveurs, sont prises au vol.
Heureusement pour contenir toute l’attention de ces enthousiastes sportifs locaux, l’officier de police Dekeyzer a organisé un excellent service d’ordre qui se révèle très effectif.

A 15h30, soit donc avec un retard de 18 minutes sur l’horaire établi, une trentaine d’hommes se présentent, Louyet, dont la réputation dans la région est énorme, paraît le premier devant Dubuisson, Van Overbergh, Hendrickx, Meulenberg, Van hoorenbeke, Rebry, Muls. Vergilli, etc.
Une minute plus tard, le Bruxellois Gurickx passe en compagnie d’Hermie.
Soixante secondes s’ écoulent encore avant l’arrivée de Mithouard.

Pirmez et Wierinckx abandonnent
Souffrant de l’estomac Pirmez abandonne, de même d’ailleurs que le Bruxellois Wierinckx qui s’était fait contrôlé à 15h40. A 15h 45 passe l’individu anversois De Groote.

Le calvaire
Après Charleroi le calvaire commence, côtes, pavés, et rails de tramways se succèdent
Sur ce terrain se sont dégagés Meulenberg, Louyet, Muls, van Houtte, R. Maes, Hendrickx, Kint.

A Lodelinsart
Gênés par la foule, Meulenberg, Louyet et Muls rétrogradent un moment puis reviennent rapidement.
Derrière ce premier lot, notons un second peloton avec Lowie, Dubuisson, Vergill. Van Hoorenbeek, Beernaert, Dignef, Van Overberghe, Simaes et puis un troisième groupe comprenant Rebry, Van Kerkhoven, Walschot, Van Temsche, Michielsen, puis deux distances: Toubeau, Grysolle, diversement espacés Louviot, Ghisquière, Loopmans, Buyck, Desmedt, puis encore Oubron, Geets, Faure, Balducq; plus loin encore de Caluwe, L Maes, Pothiez et Lauwers.

A Genappe
Le peloton de tête toujours composé des mêmes passe à Genappes (347km), à 4h 25minutes.

Un bel effort de Masson
Après Genappes, Masson revient sur le groupe de tête et à Bousval R. Maes s’en va. Masson sauté sur sa roue et puis on se décide enfin à la poursuite, aussi R Maes et Masson doivent bientôt renter dans le rang.
A Ottignies (359km), contrôle Volant, Louyet, Hendrickx, Van Houtte, Meulenberg, R. Maes, Kint, Declercq, Muls et Masson passent en tête au milieu d’une animation qui s’en va grandissante.
Huit kilomètres plus loin, soit à Wavre (367km), dernier contrôle Volant, les memes coureurs qu’à Ottignies sont contrôlés.

Les trente derniers kilomètres.
Et voici les trente derniers kilomètres.
Qui va gagner des neuf hommes qui restent en présence. Il y a dans le lot des sprinters et des coureurs qui sont réputés moins vite. Quelle tactique va l’emporter. Les “moins vite” vont-ils tenter leurs chances avant le tour final du Circuit?

Nouveaux Essais
Après Tombeek, Kint essaie sans succès. R, Maes part à son tour et réussit à prendre 100 mètres.

R., Maes en tête
A Overyssche (378km) R Maes passé à 5h 10. Meulenberg mène la chasse avec son peloton.

R. Maes est rejoint
R. Maes est rejoint quelques centaines de mètres plus loin. A présent Van Houtte et Kint faussent compagnie au peloton et lui prennent cent mètres.
Derrière les deux fuyards, à vint mètres viennent Meulenberg et Maes, entraînant vigoureusement sept hommes.

Après Overyssche
Van Houtte et Kindt sont rejoints après la côte d’Overyssche.
A Groenendael (Viaduc) Romain Maes essaie encore sa chance, puis à nouveau Kint, Van Houtte et Muls. Mais Meulenberg veille et il n’y a toujours rien de fait. La lute perdure jusque dans les derniers kilomètres.
L’affluence devient considérable au cours des derniers kms. Romain Maes commet l’énorme erreur de descendre de machine, alors qu’il lui restait un tour entier du circuit à couvrir.

Le sprint
Masson a dû lâcher prise et sept hommes restent donc livrés au sprint final.
Quelques secondes d’anxiété pour les spectateurs de la ligne d’arrivée et voilà bientôt l’empoignade finale. Alors que l’on s’attend à une nette victoire de Meulenberg, c’est au contraire Kint qui surgit et bat le peloton d’une dizaine de mètres. Le second est Romain Maes qui bat nettement Louyet, Meulenberg a crevé au cours des derniers mètres et n’a pu défendre sa chance.

Les arrivées
1. Marcel Kint, couvrant les 397km en 11h 30m 25 sec;
2. Romain Maes, à 10m
3. Emile Louyer, à 1 roue;
4. Van Houtte, 11 longueur;
5. Muels à 1 roue
6. Hendryckx
7. Declercq
8. Eloi Meulenberg
9. Masson
10. Dubuisson
11. Van Overberghe

Written by Fernand Germain, Le Soir (25 avril 1938)

More research needs to be done to find more about his career, short as it might have been.  I found this new clue http://www.siteducyclisme.net/ritfiche.php?ritid=71451
proof that he did place in at least one race (=

Now for the translation of the article. Keep in mind I am not familiar with the Bike racing lingo.  Will gladly make corrections. Thank You! http://www.roadbiking.org/Home/bicycle-racing-terminology

The 30th Paris-Brussels

(Professionals)

Cycling race organized by “Le Soir” with the assistance of “L’Auto” under the regulations of the L.V.B and the U.C.I

117 Competitors at the start

Marcel Kint's victory in front of Romain Maes and Louyet

Two unfortunate forfeits had to be recorded. Victim of a fall early in the season, last year's winner Albert Beckaert could not train as he would have liked.

Last Sunday in Paris-Roubaix he caught a nasty chill and found he had no choice but to forfeit.

We would have liked to celebrate Frans Bonduel for his remarkable participations in our contest, but he is yet much worse than his comrade Beckaert.  This will only be a postponement.  Next year, Bonduel will certainly still be able to liven up our race.

Another forfeit needs to be recorded: time. It is cold and dreary.  It rained all night long and this morning at 4 am the sky is still stubbornly overcast.

Departure Check point
This is no longer the scenery of the Montmartre district, district so special and so ... that lends itself to it. This year, the departure checkpoint is in Paris sous Bois, in a large garage… at Gargan-Livry station. This is where our Parisian comrades Charles - and Henry Glacet set up departure checkpoint.
It was still dark when we arrived there and at 4:30am sharp, we were waiting for the runners. Friendly hands reach out to us. Journalists, officials, manufacturers, directors, athletes, all are there, loyal to the job.
Here are our colleagues Gaston Bénac and… d'Iry, of “Paris-Soir”; Raymond ..ttier, of “Ce Soir”; Liévin, of “Le Parisien”; Jean Leulliot, of "Auto", Alex Lévithan, of "Intran"; Lucien… of the “newspaper”.  Our Belgian colleagues: Joseph Henet of the “Dernière Heure”; Karel Steyaert from “Sporter..d”; Van den Balck, of “Het Laat ,,, Nieuws”; Goossens, of “Het Nieuws .. den Dag”; Georges De Rudder, of “La Nation Belge”; Segers of “Het… weblad”; Collard of "Independence"; our colleagues of “Vers l'Avenir”, of the “Gazette de Charleroi”, of the “Gazet van Antwerpen”, Paul Beving,… Godtsenhoven, “Sports”, Die… x, Flemish broadcasts of the IN… A Versnick , of the “Paris-Soir”.
Also the Belgian and French officials, Arnold Standaert, Charles… alders, Léon Renson, Léon Courbier, Marcelle Maisand and the sporting directors of the French brands, let us quote: ..govic Feuillet, Piérard, Trialoux, Vé…, Evrard, Colin.

Then came the actors of the beautiful sports film about to take place, Walschot presenting himself first. Wise wishes are of course given to him.
The preliminary matters are very quickly carried out under the direction of Fernand Paul, judge arbiter, assisted by… Hautekeet and Dominique Melot.
Everything is proceeding in good order and at 6 am, checking in is done.

The Starters.
Helyett-Hutchinson - (green, white stripe)
1. Lesueur, Raoul (French)
2. Oubron, Robert (French)
3. Decoster, Coreille, Elewyt
4. Kneepkens, Henri, Brussels
5. Van Kerkoven, Joseph, Machelen
6. Dubuisson, Albert, Binche
7. Pirmez, Théo, Lodelinsart
8. Lauwers, Constant, Hemixem
9. Lauwers, H, Hemixem
10. Dominicus, Joseph, Anderlecht
11. Geets, Joseph, Hombeek
12. Brackeveldt, Adolphe, Ghent
13. Hermie, François, St-Joris-Weert
14. Beeckman (Belgian)
15. Middelkamp, Th (Dutch)
16. Dignef, Antoine, Landen

Essor-Hutchison
(Red, white stripe)
25. Maes, Léopold (Belgian)
26. Van Schil (Belgian)

France Sport-WOlder
(Blue, white stripe)
28. At Loncke (Belgian)
29. Verbeeke (Belgian)

Dilecta-Wolber
(Gold and blue)
30. De Caluwe, Edgard, Denderwindeke
32. Coelaert, Gistave, Ransart
33. Van Simaeys, Adelin, Boitsfort
34. Grysolle, Sylvain, Wichelen
35. Van Ransbeck, Frans, Buggenhout
36. Van Horenbeck (Belgian)
37. Gyselinck (Belgian)

J-B Louvet-Wolber
(Green and red)
38. Wierickx, Robert, Brussels
39. Walschot, René, Beersel
40. Rosseel, Albert, Lauwe
41. Kemps, Richard, Bekkevoort
42. Coelaert, Jules, Ransart
43. Fornet (Belgian)

By Dion-Bouton-Wolber
(Blue, white siding)
44. Hardiquest, Louis, Hoegaerde
45. Van de Pitte, Emile, Hooglede
47. Perikel, Albert, Ransart
49. Haegeman,…, Couillet

Genial Lucifer-Hutchinson
(Red, white siding)
50. Choque, Paul (French)
51. Faure, Benoit (French)
52. Vergili, Séverin (French)
53. Gamard, Emile (French)
54. Spaperi, Pierre (French)
55. Lemarie, Raymond (French)
56. Trosch, Pierre (French)
57. Pothier, Georges (French)
59. Dubreuil, Georges (French)

Mercier-Hutchinson
(Purple)
60. Louviot, Raymond (French)

F Pélissier-Hutchinson
(Almond green, purple shoulders)
62. Rebry, Gaston (Belgian)
63. Maes, Roman (Belgian)
64. Kint (Belgian)
65. Van Overberghe (Belgian)
66. verlinden (Belgian)
67. Demondt (Belgian)

In Leducq-Hutchinson
(Dark green, purple shoulders)
69. Decroix (Belgian)
71. Voets, Albert (Belgian)

R Lapebie-Hutchinson
(Purple Red Shoulders)
72. Langagne, Jules (French)

Cil Pelissier-Hutchinson
(Blue-Shoulders purple)
73. Christiaens (Belgian)

Alcyon Dunlop
(Sky blue)
75. Beernaert, Albert, Somergem
80. Meulenberg, Eloy, Ransart
82. Van Houte, Marcel, Thielt

La Francaise-Diamant
(White and red)
84. Clayes, Marcel, Ursel
87. De Meersman, Ph, Zellick
88. Mithouard, Fernand (French)

Armor-Dunlop
(Green and white)
89. Dufromont, Jérôme, Kortrijk
91. Van Parys, Willy, Uccle

Labor Dunlop
(White and blue)
92. De Walsche, René, Lovendegem
93. Hendryckx, Remy, Coursel
94. Rayen, Remi, COurdel
95. Tersago, Charles, Kalfoort
96. Vervaecke, Félicien, Menen

Thomann-Dunlop
(White and orange)
97. De Donder, Frans, Brussels
98. Masson, Emile, Bierset
99. Muls, Camille, Evere
100. Simaer, François, Buysingen

Colin-Wolber
(Green-yellow stripe)
101. Huts, Joseph, Tienen
102. Schepers, Alphonse, Tienen
103. Michielsen, Camille, Antwerp
104. Deloor, A (Belgian)
105. Vicquery (Belgian)
106. Haubrecht, Pierre, Mons

The Nordist-Hutchinson
(Green and red)
108. Ghisquière, Alphonse, Ypres
110. Raes, Maurice, Heusden
112. Duerloo (Belgian)
113. Balduck, Gérard, Leau

Cyrille Van Hauwaert
116. Segers, Brussels

Individual
118. De Groote, Albert, Brasschaet
119. Van Grootenbruel, Rob., Strypan
120. Vermasen, Camille, Edelaere
121. Declercq, N. Mouscron
122. Desmedt, Camille (Belgian)
123. Coppens, François, Aalst
124. Dubois, Cyrille, Golck
125. Drossart, Léon, Jauche
126. Van Temsche, Pierre, Lokeren
127. Loopmans, Joseph, Borgerhout
128. Louyet, Léon, Mont-sur-Marchienne
129. Pedroli, René (Switzerland)
131. Vandenbossche, Léopold, Vilvoorde
132. Rombouts, Alphonse, Beerlaer
133. Guricks, Frans, Dieghem
134. De Meyer, Jacques, Brasschaet
138. De Bruyne, ALois, Berlaere
139. Horemans, Jos., Hulshout
140. (unreadable)
141. Van Oppen, Théo, Ottenburg
142. Van Raepenbusch, R, Ostend
145. Volcke, Omer, Moorslede
146. Lerae, Gilbert, Groodenberge
147. Buyck, Michel, Waereghem
148. Gyzen, Albert (Dutch)
149. Laplume, Raymond
154. Moerenhout, Brussels
156. Toubeau, Auguste, Schaerbeck
158. Lowie, Jules
159. Somers, Joseph
137. Kneepkens, Jules

Departure
A final call, and at 6.15 a.m., Charles Joly gives the start to the 117 competitors, who will begin on the 400 km long ribbon that unites the two capitals.

The Race
The event begins in an icy atmosphere not conducive to initial efforts and yet from the first kilometers it is lively, the runners “knitting” firm to get in condition and thus escape this bad atmosphere.
A first peloton was formed, consisting of Tersago, Dubois, Dewalsche, Hendryckx, Dubreuil, Vermassen, Ghisquière, Lauwers, H, Van Schil, Van Kerckhoven, Beeckman and led by Félicien Vervaecke.
The second peloton follows at 400 meters, grouping Gyzen, Walschot, Masson, R. Maes, Van Horenbeke, Geets, Balducq, Dominicus, Dubuisson, Vanden Bosch, immediately injured, is forced to give up.
Around Claye, the first and second pelotons closing the gap, and Meulenberg, Wierinckx, Dedonder, Coppens join them, while, later, Rebry will bring back the big peloton with Michielan.

In Meaux
The first check point: Meaux (28km) is reached at 7 a.m.
And here's something new:

A second echappee
The lead group brings together Vermassen, Ghisquière, Decroix, Dubreuil, Lesueur, De Groote, R Maes, B Faure, Wierinckx.
The second batch follows at 500 meters, with Beeckman, Balducq, Dubuisson, Meulenberg, Tersago and Walschot.
Meulenberg will bring back Muls, De Cock, Vicquery, Coelaert, Horemans, J. Van Oppen, Rombouts, Hardiquest, Huts, Dubuisson and Pedroli first.
At Sameron, the whole peloton is also coming.  At La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, Pédroli, victim of technical problems, must abandon.  Duerloo is in trouble with his chain.
It is 7:30 am and 47km are covered.
The schedule delay was only 9 minutes now instead of 15 we started with.
The climb, at the exit of La Ferté, is led by B Faure, Buyck, Van Parys, Oubron, Lesueur, Dubreuil, Trosch, Dignef, Le Marie, R. Maes.

At Château-Thierry
These men will soon form, before reaching the top, a first group,  whose lead will increase thereafter and here are their names as they race thru Château-Thierry (74km)
At the head: B Faure and Ghisquières; at 15 seconds: Dubuisson, Van Horenbeek, Lesueur, Middlekamp, ​​Van Parys, Pirmez, Buyck, Beeckman, Depoortere, R. Maes, Walschot.
At 1m 20sec the big peloton, led by L. Maes, Dominicus, Hendrickx etc.

Thirteen at the front

That is how a first group is formed, consisting of B Faure, Ghisquière, Van Hoorenbeke, Lesueur, Dignef, Van Parys, Pirmez, Troch, Buyck, Oubron, Le Marie, R. Maes, Walschot, who, at Dormans (98km) are  2m 4s. ahead of the big peloton led by Voets, Balducq.
Van Oppen breaks a wheel at the exit of Dormans.  The passage to this checkpoint is done at 8h53. There is only 5 minutes behind schedule.

The Champillon Climb
At 9:24 a.m., we are at the Epernay checkpoint.  122km have been covered and next will immediately be the Côte de Champillon climb.  Van Parys and Benoit Faure lead at the start then are replaced by Oubron, Ghisquière, Buyck, Pirmez, Walschot and Van Hoorenbeek.
At the top, Benoit Faur and Lemarié take off but the two are rejoined by the peloton, and at the top of the climb the leaders carried their lead on the big peloton, led by Moerenhout and Félicien Vervaecke, at 3 min 3 seconds .
In Reims (149kms) the feed zone station is supervised by our friend Dhennin, of "L’Eclaireur de l'Est".  The leaders pass by at 10h 21min, led by R. Maes.  At 1 minute 33 seconds, Mithouart and Dufromont, and at 1 minute 39 seconds an imposing peloton.

Rejoined
The leaders lost ground on the road from Epernay to Reims and after the feed zone station the chase becomes more fierce, and finally the escapees were joined a few kilometers past Reims, by an imposing group: a 88 competitors… (unreadable) lose ground a result of a flat.  Lerae abandons due to mechanical problems.

New echappees
But as soon as the flat is fixed, Van Hoorenbeke and Van Overbergh run away.  In the meantime, Schepers, Dedonder, Volcke have also rejoined the big peloton, as have Ghisquière, Moorenhout, Michielsch, Rebry and Van Parys.
Van Hoorenbeke and Van Overbergh are rejoined by the men from the leading group, which includes 15 men, and reaches Rethel (186km) at 11:25 am, 1 min 20 sec ahead of the peloton.

The new course
In Rethel begins the new route made compulsory by the repair of the usual roads. In Novy, Meulenberg, Kint, Pirmez, Christiaens, Wierinckx, Kneepkens catch up with the leaders who now count around twenty.
After 200km of racing, the halfway mark, this peloton is made up of several favorites.  The pursuit is fierce between the pursuers and the escapees.
Muls brings back Lauwers, Dufromont, Van Kerkhoven, Vergill to the leaders.  But as soon as he has successfully completed this feat Muls finds the crossing closed and loses the benefit of his effort. The leaders have 1 min 10 sec on the big peloton. The pursuit is more and more competitive and soon the leaders are rejoined.

Good weather
The weather changed, the fog dissipated, the wind completely "cleared" the sky and the sun generously spread its warm rays.

Five Belgians Lead
The exit from Mariembourg changes the physiognomy of the race because Meulenberg, Muls, Van Hoorenbeek, Van Overbergh and Lowie increased their lead and are followed, at 600 meters by Rebry, R. Maes, Louviot, Vergill and Dubuisson.
The winner will probably be from among the five leading men, provided they manage to keep their lead until Charleroi.
However the active chase behind them comes together and the Franco-Belgian peloton deals them a serious blow.

In Philippeville
Félicien Vervaecke wins the 500 francs bonus when he catches up - in front of Meulenberg.  It is 2:30 am when the leaders cross the city.

Eleven now
Around Fraire, R. Maes finally catch up with Rebry, Dubuisson, Louviot, Vergill, the lead men.
This makes eleven men at the lead, rushing towards the 2nd food zone checkpoint in Charleroi.

A Huge Success
As in previous years, even better than in previous years, people crowd up the check point station in Charleroi, where food and drink, both for the runners and the followers, are caught in flight.
Fortunately to get the attention of these local sports enthusiasts, police officer Dekeyzer organized an excellent police service which turned out to be very effective.

At 3.30 p.m., 18 minute behind the established schedule, some thirty men arrive: first Louyet, whose reputation in the region is great, then Dubuisson, Van Overbergh, Hendrickx, Meulenberg, Van hoorenbeke, Rebry, Muls. Vergilli, etc.
A minute later, Brussels resident Gurickx, with Hermie.
Sixty seconds passed before Mithouard arrives.

Pirmez and Wierinckx drop out
Pirmez, suffering from stomach pains, abandons, as does Brussels resident Wierinckx who checked himself in at 3:40 p.m.  At 3:45 p.m. Antwerp’s De Groote races thru.

Calvary
After Charleroi calvary begins, climbs, cobblestones, and tram rails follow one another
This is where Meulenberg, Louyet, Muls, van Houtte, R. Maes, Hendrickx, Kint emerge.

At Lodelinsart
Encumbered by the crowd, Meulenberg, Louyet and Muls downshift for a moment then kick in again.
Behind this first group, a second peloton with Lowie, Dubuisson, Vergill. Van Hoorenbeek, Beernaert, Dignef, Van Overberghe, Simaes and then a third, including Rebry, Van Kerkhoven, Walschot, Van Temsche, Michielsen, then Toubeau, Grysolle, variously spaced Louviot, Ghisquière, Loopmans, Buyck, Desmedt, then again Oubron, Geets, Faure, Balducq; farther still from Caluwe, L Maes, Pothiez and Lauwers.

In Genappe
The leading peloton, still made up of the same teams, comes thru Genappes (347km), at 4h 25minutes.

A beautiful effort by Masson
After Genappes, Masson returns to the lead group and at Bousval, R. Maes takes off.  Masson jumps behind him and finally there is a chase, but R Maes and Masson must soon rejoin the ranks.
At Ottignies (359km), Check point: Volant, Louyet, Hendrickx, Van Houtte, Meulenberg, R. Maes, Kint, Declercq, Muls and Masson take the lead in the midst of a growing frenzy.
Eight kilometers further, at Wavre (367km), the last checkpoint, the same riders as in Ottignies are checked.

The last thirty kilometers.
And here are the last thirty kilometers.
Who from among the remaining nine men will win? There are sprinters and runners in the lot who are known to be slower.  Which tactic will prevail?  Will the “slower” try their chances before the final round of the race?

New Attempts
After Tombeek, Kint makes an attempt without success.  A. Maes then leaves and manages to gain 100 meters.

R. Maes in the lead
At Overyssche (378km) R Maes passed at 5:10 am Meulenberg leads the hunt with his peloton.

R. Maes is rejoined
A. Maes is rejoined a few hundred meters further.  Now Van Houtte and Kint skip the peloton and gain a hundred meters.
Behind the two escapees, 20 meters away, come Meulenberg and Maes in high gear, with seven men in tow.

After Overyssche
Van Houtte and Kindt are joined after the Overyssche coast.
At Groenendael (Viaduct) Romain Maes tries his luck again, then Kint, Van Houtte and Muls again. But Meulenberg is watching and there is still nothing done. The struggle continues until the last few kilometers.
The crowd grows considerably for the last kms.  Romain Maes made the huge mistake of getting off his bike with one full lap left to cover.

Sprint
Masson had to abandon and seven men remained in the final sprint.
A few anxious seconds for the spectators at the finish line and here is the final lap.  While we are expecting a clear victory for Meulenberg, it is Kint who emerges and beats the peloton by ten meters. Romain Maes comes in second.  He beats Louyet clearly, Meulenberg punctured in the last few meters and could not defend his chance.

The arrivals
1. Marcel Kint, covering the 397km in 11h 30m 25 sec;
2. Romain Maes, 10m away
3. Emile Louyer, 1 wheel;
4. Van Houtte, 11 length;
5. Muels, 1 wheel
6. Hendryckx
7. Declercq
8. Eloi Meulenberg
9. Masson
10. Dubuisson
11. Van Overberghe

Written by Fernand Germain, Le Soir (April 25, 1938)

My new little turtle

Well, today Bruce went to work only to find out he was on vacation. It's not the first time he's done that and he gets razzed about it every time.
So he came home and we went to the Dorm to have breakfast.
Not his day... he had to settle for a Hillbilly omelet without green peppers but they gave him a 10c discount... Then we went to the jeweler's in Logansport as he had wanted to trade the broken jewelry I had been keeping in my jewelry box along with the gold he came home from Los Angeles with: old teeth with gold fillings and gawdy rings he found at Stanley's, oh and a chain too.
Never dreamed we'd get $100 out of the whole thing...
How wrong I was!
He was given a check for $827!
The real ugly ring was worth about $250 in gold alone, while the chain brought in about $360!
The jeweler had to weigh the teeth separately because two of them barely had gold on them and those 2 still had the roots so weighed more in teeth than in gold...
If you consider maybe $50 for what I brought in broken stuff... I guess the teeth were worth their weight in gold.
We browsed around the store as Bruce had always wanted a nice diamond ring and the prices were always ridiculously high. No different this time... The ring the lady showed him was worth $1499... A little more than we had so he put it back.
The jeweler was taking care of someone else but he asked if Bruce had found something and when he heard the reply he suggested a deal...
SO... For $827, Bruce will be getting that pretty diamond ring (size 11) and I got to have that pretty little crystal turtle I had been eyeing for so long...
When we got home we scavenged some more... The aluminum cans only brought in $12 but Bruce is lining up some more possibilities with other pieces of jewelry... I am sure glad he brought that stuff home, although I can't help wondering too... there was a nice piece of jade in one ring and the other one had a huge topaze and 2 diamonds, so, the jeweler made a deal too.
It's ok. We're happy and he's happy. If he made some bucks, that's what he's in business for and we weren't benefitting from having those items at the house anyway, so, all is well that ends well, for everyone.
On the picture: The turtle is not part of the paperweight... That came from Belgium and belonged to my grandmother and has great sentimental value for me.

Could I live without Baseball?

Boy, could I ever!
The day we were married, Bruce had a ball game at Maconaquah Park and he was almost late for the wedding. I often wonder why we just didn't get married at the courthouse.
After all that's how Belgians get married. A religious wedding is not recognized as legal in Belgium, so it actually made more sense.
We didn't go on a honeymoon. We just went to the 4-H Fair and then back to the ballpark, as spectators this time.
Bruce played softball one more year and then work had to take priority over play.
I remember not understanding the game at all and being bored to tears.
I sat with women older than me, in that humid Indiana heat... Not my idea of having a fun time, that's for sure.
James was 6 years old when he started t-ball. Jonathan was just a little guy and he grew up at the ballpark. James had great coaches and he really made great strides that first year, going from knowing nothing to actually making decent plays out in the field.
The following year, Bruce accepted to coach the Red Sox in Junior Farm. I must say, that first year was a busy one for me as I was working at Busta's Bakery.
Bruce missed James' first homerun because he worked swing shifts. Luckily someone had videotaped and they showed it to Bruce but we never got a copy. It was the first days of video cameras. We bought one the following year and I recorded whole games from then on so bruce would never miss anything.
While James advanced to Junior Farm, Richard started tball. The park/field juggling began. Luckily these two fields were still next to each other so it was not too much trouble watching both play if they happened to play at the same time. I don't remember much of Richard's coaches. Whether they knew what they were doing or not, Richard was a natural and he started hitting homeruns right then. It was funny watching the coaches tell their kids to back up, back up and still the ball flew out of the park... Richard played on the same team as his cousin Jeremy while James had his cousin Wayne.
It's the following years that things became really interesting. All 4 cousins were on the team plus a step-cousin, Eric Mathias. Bruce managed the team, his brother Brian coached with him and during the games, their brother Barry umpired... So there were times when you had 7 Brindles out on the field at the same time!
James pitched and played short stop. Richard never had the same experience as James because the Peru Little League accepted a donation of pitching machines and these began to be used in Junior Farm for half the year. The purpose was to spare the kids'arms... truth be told, the umpire wanted shorter games, or maybe the league was trying to get more games in ...
No matter the consequences were that the Peru Little League quit producing good pitchers, or at least they weren't as common place.
James moved up to the Major League Cubs. Bruce moved up with him. He coached the Cubs and managed the Red Sox. That was crazy... the fields were no longer next to each other...
Melanie remembers that year really well because it's the year her dad forgot her birthday and traded that day to work for someone else so he could juggle the baseball schedule... He has paid for it ever since...
In all that year was probably my favorite ever.
The parents were intense but we had a great group. We had some excitement that year too with the team party at the swimming pool... One of the kids almost drowned as he went into spasms in the water. He was epileptic but didn't know it apparently... That was scary...
That happened on Richard's birthday too... The kids won the season record that year and then had to share the trophy with the second place team because the tournament was a wash due to the weather. I videotaped every one of their games.
James' games were another story... There was a huge fence there and I never found a way to record him except during the 11y old B team All Stars in Wabash...
They were the team nobody wanted... That's how Bruce got it actually. They were good little ball players but the coaches didn't play them where they would best produce.
Bruce has never played favorites, not even with his kids. Everyone had a turn on the bench and everyone played. James shone during that tournament, at 3rd base.
We did learn some things too, like... if you fall down when you try to get out of the way of a bad pitch, and your bat hits the ball ... it's a strike...
I set myself on the home base side and quietly recorded the game... yes, quietly... well so I thought... Every time we watch the tapes these days, I keep telling Bruce he should tell that crazy woman to be quiet... she screams too much...
But those were such FUN days.
That team was made up of most of the kids who took our High School team to the Final Four in 2000. They came close but no cigar...
The next year, James and Richard were on the Cubs together, along with their cousins.
Jonathan was playing tball and he was SO MUCH fun to watch!
He was not like his brothers had been. From the top of his 5y, he knew what he was doing on the baseball diamond. You could see the wheels turning... He tried to make plays but the other kids had no idea of what he was doing and it never worked out but it was so cool to see this feisty little toe-head play as though he was 9. And he could also hit homeruns.

The cool thing about these homeruns... They were proud but they never bragged...
Richard's hit the top of the concession stand on a regular basis and yet he ran the basis not unlike Roger Marris ran them... one was the same as the next...
I stayed with Jonathan so I missed many of the Cubs games. Later I missed Jon's games to follow the High School games.
In those days, WARU - the local Peru radio station - broadcasted the Little League games (Major League games) and we were able to record a couple of them. Looking back I wish I could have recorded all of them, but hindsight is 20/20 as they say.

Baseball practices started in December and the season didn't end until July, then we jumped into soccer for the next 3 months... As I watched the kids play I learned to understand what was going on.

After Major League came Babe Ruth for James. Bruce stayed with the Cubs.
The Babe Ruth field was bigger and James was so little... But he did great...
Richard was the wild pitcher but could he ever throw hard!
Jon moved up to Junior Farm and his team won the city tournament.
They had changed the system and the following year he moved up to Minor League. He broke his nose protecting first base... The runner ploughed right through him. He had to have surgery but nothing was going to keep him down... He was put behind homeplate and caught fiercely.
He looked as though he was saying: "It's my field you just walked on!".
Belinda Finnerty was his coach. She was great. They won the city tournament that year too and Jon was picked to play on the 9-10 y old A-team.
By then James was playing his second year of BabeRuth.
Jon moved up to the Major League Cubs and pitched and played everywhere. You could always put him anywhere because he knew the game so well he knew what to do wherever you put him.
James made the High School JV team, Richard in Babe Ruth... At least Michael had not started yet... That's another story...
I believe that's the year we found ourselves playing All-Stars in three different cities at the same time. That went on for 2 tourneys... I remember sitting in the van in Frankfurt, writing a letter to my father while watching the game... Explaining what was happening...
Bruce joked that he could not believe how well I could explain things for a European!
I had to draw pictures though because I didn't know the right words in French...
It didn't matter my father still didn't understand... How could he?
It took me years to really understand the finesses of the game... There was no way he could appreciate what was going on.
My summers were kept frantically busy with baseball all the way until 2006, the year Jon graduated from High School.
After their Babe Ruth league years, the boys advanced to play American Legion Ball and they travelled all over the state and into Kentucky and Michigan. James and Jon were not as happy playing American Legion as Richard was but there was a lot of politics mixed in there.
In 2006 Michael started the Little League cycle all over for us. We looked old enough to be his grandparents and Bruce's knees just could not take practicing... Poor Michael...
That year, he missed the Little League Parade because it was the only time we were sure we could go watch Richard pitch for the University of Northern Alabama - probably the longest drive we have made to go watch a game...
Michael's team won the tourney that year, with Bruce as manager and Belinda Finnerty as coach. That was a fun year... except Jon's dreams came crashing on top of him when the doctor told him he had torn ligaments in his shoulder... He finished the season and gave all he had to give but that was no longer as good as he had been on his worst day. He was frustrated and hurt... Angry too... He tried to throw baseball out of his life... he took up golfing... He would not even watch a baseball game on tv... It was painful to watch... We hoped things would return to normal. How could someone who loved baseball like Jon did, who breathed it in from every pore, how could he live without baseball? He could not... He eventually came back to it but realizing his new limits...
There is much more to the story but I won't get into it.
It will be 30 years this summer since Bruce and I were married and during those 30 years, baseball has been a constant part of our landscape.
This year he agreed to manage yet another Little League team... Babe Ruth was replaced in Peru with the Senior Little League and Michael will be playing as a 13 y old this summer.
Bruce loves baseball just about as much as Jon does...
He growled when he found out he had been drafted into managing this team but in truth he loved it... I watch/hear (if it's possible) his face light up whenever he talks to the parents and regardless of his growl, he is enjoying this tremendously.
We win, we win... we lose, oh well... As long as we have fun...
He has come a long way from that ranting lunatic coach. He doesn't yell quite as much but that was never a problem for his players who knew down deep he was just growling and would not bite.
Do I love baseball?
No... not really.
But I love to watch the look that comes over my boys' faces when they play. It's in their blood... It may not be in mine but I have learned to understand the game and even appreciate the game. Just don't ask me to sit on bleachers...