Reverence and Black Cloths
I had another post ready to go today, but for now, this trumps it. As a lifelong Yankees fan and, even more so, a baseball fan, I offer reverence here in light of the deaths of Mr. George M. Steinbrenner III, longtime principal owner of the New York Yankees, this morning at age 80, and Mr. Bob Sheppard, announcer at Yankee Stadium for almost half a century, on Sunday at age 99.
Though I didn’t always appreciate the impression I had of Mr. Steinbrenner’s actions or behavior, I unquestionably feel deep reverence for the pain and loss the Yankees organization may be feeling with the loss of their legendary principal owner. As well I appreciate and revere the profound contributions both Mr. Sheppard and Mr. Steinbrenner made to a team and to a game I love so much. Most of all, I honor their lives, the form of love they took in this lifetime.
I happen to have just finished reading one of my very favorite novels, The Secret Life of Bees, yesterday for the third time. Though it was my third time reading it, it affected me just as profoundly as it did the first two. The following quote, which I had read just hours before learning of Mr. Steinbrenner’s death, came to me as I reflected on these losses to Yankees baseball and to the world.
As one of the main characters, August, drapes black fabric over her beehives to signify mourning, she says, “Putting black cloths on the hives is for us. I do it to remind us that life gives way into death, and then death turns around and gives way to life.” (p. 206)
To Mr. Bob Sheppard and Mr. George Steinbrenner, beautiful journeys.
Love,
Emerald
One Response “Reverence and Black Cloths”
I’m not a big baseball fan, but I do feel the loss of both men, such icons as they were.