Joseph Zarr

My mother arrived today for a 2 month stay on my Farm. It brings back all sorts of nostalgia as Spring Training progresses. What is hot on the nostalgia stove this morning?

On Monday June 2nd, 1986, as a wee 8 year old lad, my parents took me to County Stadium to witness the Brewers defeat the Kansas City Royals 7-2. We sat about 20 rows up the First Base Line directly above the dugout - catty-corner home plate as it were. Teddy Higuera went the full 9 innings and I was completely engaged; on deck; glove at the ready. BUT, more than anything that fine evening, oddly, what I remember most is my mother steadfastly reading Ken Follett's Eye of the Needle. Teddy went 9. Ganter, Oglive, and Sveum had decent nights at the Plate. BUT, through it all, my mother turned page after page only glancing in brief moments to give me an affirming smile or a nod of recognition.

Some 13 years later, while working as a college student in a local bookstore, I was well into my lifelong fandom of the Milwaukee Brewers. And, it just so happened I was the individual shelving and buying Mystery and Thriller novels. The world often spins a Web of Meaning: One early spring day, I laid down in the employee break room on a ragged old couch and began my own  reading and interpretation of the very same Eye of the Needle. Apparently, it was time to close the Circle. It was 1999. Phil Gardner was now the manager. The Brewers were yet again inconsequential. AND, frankly, I was questioning my own life's direction (as any 21 yo young man would do) and certainly my fandom of a team seemingly destined to annually define the phrase: "Mediocre at best!". A Brewers season was on the horizon. All hope and aspirations languishing in a sea of 'Meh'.

As the 2022 season approaches - salvaged miraculously from the throes of a devastating Lock-Out - I ponder a line from Follett's seminal international thriller I encountered that day on that couch:

"The trouble with being inspired to perform the impossible was the inspiration gave you no clues to the practical means."

I don't know how the Brewers can win a World Series championship in 2022, but I hope they are inspired to perform the impossible. In the Spirit of Gratitude, I give great GREAT thanks for these past 4 years. I, for One, remember the doldrums. We are living in the next Golden Era of our fanaticism. Let us not forget this.