Friday, May 8, 2020
Joe and I would try to play golf when we would get together every 2/3 years. He was not a golf enthusiast but he gave it his best shot and enjoyed it, especially the 19th hole. We were in the middle of a fairway in Vermont. I hit my ball but it landed far short of the green. Joe's ball was some 50 feet behind an anemic tree with a trunk less than 2 inches in diameter. Joe addressed his ball. I interrupted and said, "Joe, your gonna hit the tree!" " Oh no, " he replied, "not a chance." He again addressed his ball and again I interrupted. "Joe, your gonna hit the damn tree!" " No, I'm aiming for it. The tree is safe! " He addressed the ball again and takes the most massive swing his big arms could provide. The ball takes off at lightning speed, hits the tree, and rebounds back at Joe's head nearly decapitating him. I started belly laughing and rolling on the ground as I saw his facial expression of wonder and awe, an expression that said, "How the heck did that happen?" He smirked a little, smiled, and went to his ball that was now much farther away. I said, "Bet you can't do it again! " He tried. He didnt, but he hit a perfect shot onto the green. He said, "Wow! I can't wait to tell Kitty about this shot!" I said, " Are you going to tell her about the tree? " He looked at me with a serious face and said, "What tree?"
You were right Joe, we shouldn't waste our time on the bad shots of life, just enjoy the good ones. See you on the 19th hole, Joe, and well laugh.
