Trendsetter John

John's last year of his life was great in so many different ways. One of the most unique was his new found love of kickball. When John first told us that he had joined a kickball league that played on the Mall in Washington, we kidded him about taking up a sport that many people leave behind in the third grade. It was only later that we learned the true initial reason for joining was an excuse for John to get close to Alex. From that encounter, John found two loves; the first, of course, being Alex, but also a love of kickball -- not just for the sport but for the friendship, camaraderie and fun -- the very reason why kickball has played such an integral role in the annual fests commemorating JW's life as indicated here, here, here and here.

Holding a kickball fest in St. Mary's County such as occurred for the past three years has in some ways been a little bit of a culture shock since for generations, the favorite past time in the County has been softball (and beer) --(it seems every softball field is adjacent to a bar). Yet, low and behold, the sign in the adjacent picture just appeared on the softball field adjacent to the local bar near to where JW's annual kickball & kegger fest is held. As it turns out, John was a man before his times (or at least a few years ahead of his peers who he grew up with in the County).