Thirty Eight

• By: Mo Morrissey
• On: 01/29/2009 11:24:11
• In: Personal
• Comments: 7

For readers of my Facebook notes, please check out the whole entry at Morrisseyweb. 

In 1876, Colorado became the 38^th state. 1876 also saw one of the country’s most disputed Presidential elections – up to perhaps the 2000 election – when Samuel Tilden defeated Rutherford B Hayes in the popular vote by some 2 Million votes and 3-percentage points, yet somehow Mr. Hayes became president-elect.  Our 38th President, on the other hand, wasn't even elected to the position...nor to the position of Vice President.  Gerry Ford may not have been the most graceful of the Presidents, but he was one hell of a football player back in the day.

Curt Schilling – Red Sox #38 – put together one of the most outstanding and thrilling post season performances I have ever seen.  I choose not to use the word “heroic,” because I do believe that should be reserved for such people and deeds doing more important work than engaging in sport, but certainly the word courageous comes to mind when I think of 7-innings in Game 6 to keep the Red Sox in the ALCS…

I remember “Caught Up In You” by .38 Special fondly from my youth. I’m sure I’ve got more than just a few of their records – actual, vinyl records – tucked away in my basement somewhere. 

The year 38 saw mob riots in Alexandria – the intent of which was to place statutes of

The year 38, though, in the life of Mo, has been more along the lines of the 38-13 drubbing the Patriots took at the hands of the Miami Dolphins this season. There really hasn’t been much to celebrate – that is if you’re a Patriots fan…if you’re a Miami fan, then clearly a different analogy is in order. I, however, happen to be a Pats fan. No mob riots, no bloody sock, no top 10 hits. 

In the overall scheme of things, there are some bright spots upon which to reflect: my family survived in tact, we’re gainfully employed, we’re able to pay the mortgage on a fine home and we own reliable automobiles. We renovated a kitchen and were able to take a vacation. 

I have been told, though, that losing a parent is one of the hardest things a person can go through. I’ve come to believe it is. I’ve not without work for any appreciable length of time in my life and for that I am very thankful, and it is for that reason I don’t know that I can say with any certainty that unemployment wouldn’t be a crushing blow, but otherwise I’ve had some ups and downs – and losing my dad was certainly the greatest of those lows. 

Earlier this month, I wrote about the relative unimportance of these yearly anniversaries of our birth. Gotta tell you, it took this long to form that opinion, it hasn’t changed in the few weeks since I wrote it. I don’t dig the celebration for having got to a certain point in one’s life. But it IS a time to reflect on the previous year: what was good, what wasn’t; what should be tried again, what am I glad I don’t have to do again. 

I’m glad I don’t have to do age 38 again. Of all the years I would like to have back for a “do over,” age 38 just doesn’t make the top 30.  I expect I will pay more attention to the Super Bowl this weekend – one in which I have close to zero rooting interest – than I will to my birthday. I may eat my way to good luck – god bless the Ox – but this “dog” will take the opportunity to make age 39 a little more palatable.  And while I go from Curt Schilling’s #38 to Kyle Snyder’s #39, perhaps the relative obscurity of 39 references is a good thing.