DOOVER

I had a wonderful little league coach back when I played the game

I’m sorry to say as the years glided by I have forgotten his name.

You see I loved the game of baseball...it had glamour and appeal

Unfortunately my ability to play the game was not always matched by my zeal.

If I missed a pitch or flubbed a catch while standing in the right field clover

My coach would smile patiently, and say, “Nice try, Jim...how about a do over?”

In fact, I amassed so many second chances, so many do overs along the way

That on and off the field ‘Do Over’ became my sobriquet.

At practice it was not uncommon to hear, “Hey Do Over, throw me the ball.”

“How’s it going, Do Over.” I might hear in school walking down the hall.

On our jerseys, as a surprise, Coach had our names emblazoned on the back.

But when I looked at mine I was dumbfounded to find ‘Doover’ all in black.

How in the world could this have happened? I’m sure I didn’t have a clue...

Although looking back it seems appropriate my jersey was a do over too.

“No one will ever notice.” Coach said as a smile crossed his face

“I’m sure I wrote Do Over on the form..I guess the jersey store missed the space.

I put it on only because I couldn’t think of a ‘way out’ maneuver

And for the rest of my short-lived baseball career my new nickname was ‘Doover’.

But I grew to love that jersey, in it I found both glamour and appeal

And I learned more from that old jersey than from my time spent on the field.

I learned to view the world through patient eyes, I learned everyone deserves a break.

I learned to give people second chances, that everyone makes mistakes

We never know if we will succeed and I learned, when all is said and done,

If we fail...we have to keep trying, because the next do over may be The One.

Eventually my mom threw out that jersey...years of wear and tear taking it’s toll

But I didn’t mind because by then ‘Doover’ was emblazoned on my soul.

‘Doover’ could have been my undoing but in the end it was ‘Doover’ that saved me

So thanks coach, I may not remember your name but I’ll never forget the name you gave me.