Bonded buddies - A few years ago – may have been 15 – I was speaking to the field hockey team during the preseason about how to interact with the media. I closed with, "Always listen to your parents, except sometimes." There was a long pause followed by a player question. "What are those sometimes, Fredman"? "When a parent is saying things that make it harder for you to be a good teammate. Just let them know, 'I got this. I can handle my business.'" I put together a book called "Broad Street Buddies" for graddaughter Anna's senior season at Temple in 2017. It was about seven women who are bonded buddies for life. It's all about coaching and chemistry and being happy for each other's successes. 

Box of memories - Zane Coulbourne knows his dad Rob and my twin sons Tom and Jack were buddies. And when he found a photo in Rob’s box of memories, he forwarded it to me with this message: “Hey, Fredman, I was lookin' through my dad's old stuff the other day and found this photo. I don’t know if you have it or took it, but I just wanted to share it with you. Have a good night." I'm guessing it was taken in Cape's Little Theater circa 1990s; maybe a study hall took over the stage. Each guy has his own story. Kids care about traditions, school and sports, and family histories. 

Obituary paywall - I am interested in family connections. It's always enlightening to see how people are related to each other. And if I want to write something about the departed person, it's crucial to understand what family surrounds them. Lately, I’ve gotten stopped at the obituary tab. It seems like looking for a contribution but the net result is I have to pay to proceed. I think all life stories should be shared and are worthy to be shared. My motto is “remembering people at their best.” It helps us all, especially those close family members.  

Sports psychologists - I never liked high school teachers who sometimes played the role of mobile therapist. It's nice to be trusted, but when a kid confides in you, there is a way-too-personal line that screams for a referral to a professional. That brings me to the sports psychologists so prevalent around college programs coming to a high school near you. Schools have psychologists and counselors. Most counselors do scheduling and college advice, not therapy. I know a few sports psychologists working at the college or professional levels and they are brilliant, awesome and well paid.

Sea of people - Do you prefer to sit on a lonely beach at sunrise or sunset listening to the rhythm of the waves, or do you prefer lots of people on blankets under umbrellas and the smell of sunscreen? I like them both. I used to like watching political and sports shows, but now the sound of silence is preferable to Chicken Little prognosticators or following Phillies baseball where the hits are not falling. 

Target audience - Beware of people who delete their browsing history, but AI requires a converted cyber chicken plant to send you stuff its algorithms believe you want to read about. I don’t care much about edema and fat ankles. Why are you sending that to me along with the NCAA’s new 5-to-5 rules of eligibility? And the reality is if you pursue any information, you become the guy who looks up that information and it’s coming back at you 50-fold. 

Snippets - An email from the Deacon of Dewey masters track athlete Pastor Bob Paulen. “I have just finished an unusual competition at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio. The meet was interrupted by an air-quality alert and postponed for two days. Following that, they eliminated some events and compressed others. The competition was diluted by the interruptions, but my results include seven gold medals and three silver medals. They succeeded my expectations because I was recovering from a brain bleed and was not able to fully prepare. Also, I was at the top of my age group. I’m looking forward to being the youngest person in the 90-94 age group next year! The competition included 1,800 men and women ages 30-95. Several American records were set as well as a couple of world records. Our team (Potomac Valley Track Club) finished fourth out of over 20 teams. Hope this note finds you well. Hope to see you at the track.” Bob is a mean motor scooter and a bad go-getter. Go on now, git!