Pictures of Me with My Brotha Gary (8/28/94)

It’s not too often you run into a long lost brother. It was the summer of 1994, and I was a counselor at a camp in Maine called Med-O-Lark. Gary (who had arrived from Scotland) and I hit it off immediately by quoting Fletch and Mike Myers SNL skits back and forth to each other…(In my best Scottish accent:“Gary, you’re my BROTHA, I LUV YA!”)…We haven’t really stopped quoting to this day.

The summer I met Gary I was also well into the 2^nd year of my destructive relationship with alcohol. Gary was always there to take care of me, carry me, and get me back to camp. 17 years later, and I know Gary still has my back. Like the day we hung out and played wiffle ball in 1994, I’m glad I got to hang out with him these past couple of days, and hope he moves to the northeast sooner rather than later. Love ya, my brotha!

Notes from 4th Grader and Elm Park Group (2004, 2009)

Eight years ago, I was teaching 4^th grade special ed students. Two of them were diagnosed with autism and the other two had Down Syndrome. One day, “J” was upset with me and told me that she was going to have her father kill me. She felt really bad about it, and this was the apology note she gave me. It was the only time I had to talk to the principal about her behavior, she was usually no problem.

I got this other note while playing wiffle ball at Elm Park with my friend Glen. There was a group there that was spreading positivity with little notes, brownies, and punch. Glen asked me, “What if there’s poison in this?” before we took our first sips. I told him, “Then, we’ll just have to continue the game in heaven – on a scaled-down Fenway wiffle field.”

Ivy and Bobby's Celebration Invite (8/13/11)

I really can’t say it enough. The only that really matters in life is the people you have in yours. Although I try to live my life not needing reminders of this, whenever I hang out with my family it is reinforced. Last night was one of those times, and fitting way for Ivy and Bobby to share their marriage with Westborough. There was family, relatives, in-laws, friends, acquaintances I hadn’t seen in years, and people I had never met. There was a lot of laughing, storytelling, hugs, great food, and fun. And there were definitely enough McGraths there to play wiffle…

Wiffle Ball Rules and Letter

Summer is my least favorite season. There’s no hockey, I get sunburnt easily, and the humid weather doesn’t mix well with my Crohn’s. There are a few things that help me get through the warm extreme of New England weather. When I’m not escaping to PEI or in A/C, I like to play wiffle ball.

I’ve been playing wiffle ball ever since I can remember, and I don’t ever see that stopping. Whether I am playing wiffle with my family, my friends Glen and Carl, or in a tournament; I am always having fun.

My car always has a bat, balls, and chair (umpire) in it to make sure a game is only one pop of my trunk away. After a year of wear and tear, I needed to order replacement equipment from the official Wiffle Ball Online Store. Above are the rules and letter than came along with the bat and dozen balls I ordered. Thanks for making summer more enjoyable, Wiffle!

You can also check out:

Official Wiffle Site

Online Wiffle Rules

And, here are my friend Glen making a sweet catch last year and coverage of the Wiffle Fest help in Burlington, VT every year (I had to skip this year because it was on the same day as the Bruins parade):