Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for May 30, 2017

" I couda played the outfield for the Ballard Bums."

I’d bend over but then the plywood inserts in my pants would do irreparable damage to.. ah… certain essential parts.

And with that thought Stuart continued on to his job at the Ballard Insurance and Car Engine Repair Company.

It’s not quite existential, but I’m wondering who on Ballard St has only four fingers on the left hand?

Reminds me of the old Twilight Zone “Kick the Can” scenario. Drop the briefcase, Stuart, pick up the ball & glove and go play with the other kids!

♫♪♫

Suddenly Stuart…..!!!!!

Wait…wrong song or name…… aw heck. Nevermind

Stuart had recently attended a presentation of Henry David Thoreau and has this running through his pea picker:

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things..”

More like he could have been bench warmer for the Ballard Bums.

A song starts running in his head…….“Put me in coach…..I’m ready to play today….. look at me…..I can be…..Centerfield!”

Stuart struggled to compose a Haiku on the Zen of:

.

The four-fingered glove and ball

found abandoned on the grass.

Speaks of youth

Lost in summer afternoons.

.

( ok. ok. I know it’s not a proper haiku …but what do you expect when I haven’t had my second cuppa coffee ? )

why is this website so slow? (not my machine …)

why is this website so slow? (not my machine …)

He didn’t think kids existed on Ballard.

Existential thoughts are terrible drivers—always bumping into people.

“A mitt is a mitt is a mitt……..wait. Did I leave the oven on?”

For the first time in memory it’s spelled “Stuart” not “Stewart”. Thanks, Jerry.Best regards, Stuart

Is my avatar dancing?