My Lunch With Gary C.

I forgot to mention a most pleasant experience this week.
On Tuesday afternoon, I had lunch with my friend Gary Columbo. We went to Arby's and before you laugh at that, let me note that they have delicious deli sammitches. I had a roast beef and Swiss on rye for the record.
Gary and I sat down to eat our tasty lunch and talk baseball. And talk more baseball. And even more baseball. Three hours later I had to halt our discussion to get to Coors Field for the Red Sox-Rockies game.
Gary is in his early 60's and still plays in an old guys baseball league, a league even older than the Over 35-league I play in. He grew up in Brooklyn but was a Yankees fan not a Dodgers fan. Gary must have been a tough kid.
Not a big guy, Gary was a standout catcher and eventually played some minor league ball in the Reds organization. He was a year older than Johnny Bench but when he saw Bench catch, hit and throw, he realized it might be time to end his professional career.
So Gary still plays ball and continues to have a burning passion and love for the game. I can relate. As I've gotten older I think I appreciate the game more and more. It gets in your blood and doesn't get out. That's a good thing I think.
It was an enjoyable lunch and a pleasure to talk baseball with a knowledgeable guy like Gary C. Hopefully we can do it again soon. That roast beef and Swiss was good!