×
×
homepage logo
SUBSCRIBE

Autumn, nudity, T-shirts and baseball

By Merrill Ogden - | Sep 25, 2024

Don’t look now, but the seasons changed this past week. The autumnal equinox was on Sunday. Yes, the days are getting shorter. Dang! But on the bright side, we won’t be risking heat stroke every time we go out to do a little yardwork.

Years ago, on one memorable fall equinox day, we celebrated by going with a few neighbors on an early evening run to Maple Grove. If you don’t know where that is, it’s out north from Aurora and south of Scipio. If you still don’t know where that is, “Google it.”

It’s an easily accessible U.S. Forest Service campground/picnic area. The maple leaves are usually very beautiful this time of year. We try to get there each year as the season changes.

The fall foliage is looking good up in the mountains right now. If you have a chance, get up into the hills and enjoy the colors. If you’re out after sundown, don’t forget your jacket. Mother Nature turns the thermostat down hard and fast these days when twilight begins.

Meanwhile, returning to the story of our little neighbor group at Maple Grove, we threw steaks from South Sanpete Pack on the grill at one of the group sites. (Back then, you didn’t have to get a home equity loan to buy steaks.) Good food tastes even better when you’re in the great outdoors.

There was a firepit in the middle of the site surrounded by picnic tables. The circular layout put me in mind of Stonehenge. We built a nice fire and, in the warmth, and glow of it, we told stories. I convinced myself that we were reenacting an old Druid equinox ceremony.

I’m pretty sure that the ancient Druids toasted marshmallows and made s’mores as part of their change of season festivities. They might have been naked when they celebrated (the research isn’t clear); but I don’t think any of the crowd I was with was about to attempt that degree of authenticity.

Interestingly, as I was working on this column, my son – “out of the blue” texted a meme to me. (I’m still getting used to understanding and using the word “meme.” If you’re like me, you may need a definition: meme: (you say it like “me” with a “mmm” on the end of it) — an image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users, often with slight variations)

The meme my son sent was this: “OK, so Naked Running. Apparently, this means running without GPS, Music and any other Tech. I wish I knew this about an hour ago…!”

I saw in the news recently that in Philadelphia they had their annual “Philly Naked Bike Ride 2024.” Evidently, this bike ride has been going on annually for years. It has the slogan, “As Bare as You Dare.”

I have a feeling that most of these people have more daring, than they have regard for the unsuspecting viewing public. Though, I have heard it said that “if God intended for us to run around naked, we would have been born that way!”

And finally, on this “nudity segment” of the column – I guess I should mention Melania Trump being in the news. The former first lady is promoting a new memoir book titled “Melania.”

She posted a 45-second video on X (formerly Twitter) She said, “Are we no longer able to appreciate the beauty of the human body? We should honor our bodies and embrace the timeless tradition of using art as a powerful means of self-expression.”

The video includes pictures of famous classic works of art. Michelangelo’s statue “David” is shown. In many ways I agree with Melania. And I’ll say that if I had a body like a Michelangelo sculpture, I might consider participating in that bike ride in Philadelphia.

Now, to “cover” and move on from the nudity topic, let’s talk T-shirts.

On an older guy at a football game: “My goal is to live forever. So far – so good.”

Another shirt: “Without Me, It’s just Aweso”

Another: “Free Tibet” – “With Purchase of another Tibet of Equal or Greater Value”

Baseball T-shirts: “It’s OK if You Don’t Like Baseball, It’s Kind of a Smart People Sport Anyway”

And then: “School is Important, but – Baseball is Importanter”

And Lastly: “Jesus Hates the Yankees”

Not speaking of the Yankees, how about Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers? Last Thursday, he became the first Major League Baseball player in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season.

The fan who grabbed that No. 50 home run ball is reported to have turned down $300,000 from the Dodgers for the ball. I think we can assume that he may be thinking that there may be some rising future value of the historic ball.

(My research shows that each big-league team goes through tens of thousands of balls every season. As of now, in 2024, professional-grade baseballs, sold in bulk, cost about $7 each.)

And now, speaking of the Yankees, Aaron Judge (nicknamed “All Rise”) is the season leading home run hitter in MLB. That’s as of this writing, and that could change, because there’s several more games to be played in this season. (Judge has 53 homers and Ohtani has 51 now)

Sixteen years ago, this past week, the Yankees played their last game in the original Yankee Stadium. It was a fitting goodbye to the fabled stadium as the Yanks beat the Orioles. Andy Pettitte got the win. It was a big whoop-dee-doo of a day of festivities to bid a fond farewell to the “house that Ruth built.” (I don’t think they toasted marshmallows though)

Babe Ruth’s daughter threw out the first pitch. Yogi Berra, who I love to quote, was in attendance among the 54,000 fans. He was asked if he would have to change his trademark phrase: “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” Berra responded, “I say things I don’t even know I say sometimes. But I’m sorry to see it over, I’ll say that.”

It’s a great time of year. Enjoy the fall season. Take a picture of each other with autumn leaves as the background. Cut and tie a bundle of corn stalks from the garden and decorate your front porch with them.

Root for your favorite baseball team as the end of the season approaches. And remember, chose the correct option for you, when it comes to clothing-optional bike rides. — Merrill

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
I'm interested in (please check all that apply)(Required)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?(Required)