Lost And Found

In “Big Yellow Taxi” Joni Mitchell sang “…don’t it always seem to go- that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone….”    Toward the end of my first hole of golf yesterday, I thought of that song – with a slight change in lyrics: “….don’t it always seem to go – that you don’t know what’s gone ’til you need it.”   IT was my pitching iron.  And it was gone, in fact for a week.   I didn’t know it was missing until I reached for it yesterday.  This is not the first time I’ve lost track of my belongings on the golf course.  I have to find a way to correct this situation!  Thank you to the honest soul who found my forgotten club a week ago and took it to the lost and found, where I retrieved it late yesterday.

I also found a better game yesterday when “Viv” and I hit the links for our second round of golf this season.  A gorgeous day, great game for my friend and one that gave me THREE very satisfying moments.   A nice, long, straight drive of around 140 yards - big for me.  A nice, long, straight putt (at least 25 feet) that put my ball in tap-in position.  And on the last hole, an uphill 55 yard shot that proved to be the best moment of the day. I couldn’t see the bottom of the pin, and while my shot looked good going up there, I couldn’t see where it ended up until we crested the hill at the green.  “Viv” will tell you my reaction was true elation. My pink golf ball was sitting there about five inches from the cup!  And yes, I tapped it in successfully.  

I frequently talk about these good “moments” that I think about, and hold onto for the next set of challenges.  And when people say the game of golf is a lot like “the game” of life, this is what that means to me.   Hold tight to the little victories, remember the joy, trust in the future.  And your next shot!

5 THINGS TO DISCOVER IN CLEVELAND

Every week I have the chance to put together a story about 5 Things.  One of the best things about this for me is that it’s kind of like my own personal playground – a chance to gather up pictures and information to share on a wide range of topics that interest me – and, I hope, you.

Today’s 5 Things looks at five of Cleveland’s “hidden treasures.”  They are underpublicized, yet fascinating spots to discover here in our city.  With Cleveland’s rich history, there are dozens of these treasures, of course.  A submarine on Lake Erie?  A money tree?!  A police museum?  All here.  The stop that really had my jaw drop is high over the Cuyahoga river – the Veterans Memorial Bridge.  The history of that bridge, the architecture of it’s concrete reinforcement, the echo of the streetcars that once ran between east and west – it’s all there to absorb, offering a great opportunity for a first hand look at a critical structure in Cleveland’s development.  While those trolleys are gone, that pathway beneath the pavement that carries traffic over the bridge is today’s conduit for fiber optics, utility lines, and other connections between east and west.

There are more hidden treasures in Cleveland.  And since I anticipate another chance to add five more to today’s list, I’d love to hear from you about one of your favorite little known spots.  I welcome your comments and ideas as always.