Echoes

Silver Anniversary

Divided Germany

It would strike most people under age 50 as odd, but I'm old enough to remember a time when the world believed that the Soviet Union would be around forever, along with a divided Germany and the odious Berlin Wall that split that historic city.

Today we celebrate the 25th anniversary of German reunification. That event was an important nail in the coffin of the Soviet Union, which collapsed just over a year later.

When I watch the sorry spectacle of Barack Obama wagging his finger and abasing himself while Vladimir Putin seeks to restore the old Soviet empire, I think back to Ronald Reagan's famous speech at the Brandenburg Gate.

You see, I'm also old enough to remember what it was like having a president who was not afraid to confront evil, who was not afraid to lead.

Germans are right to celebrate this day, of course, but I am hopeful that they don't forget to celebrate the Irish-American whose courage made it possible...

Ronald Reagan speaking at the Brandenburg Gate on June 12, 1987.

Things That Make Me Happy: Pitcher's Duel Edition

So far, at least, October has been kinder to my beloved Kansas City Royals than September was. Last night they won their third straight game (something they failed to accomplish even once in September), prevailing 3-1 over the Minnesota Twins in a tense game at Target Field dominated by excellent pitching.

Royals starter Chris Young, having just rejoined the team following his father's funeral, followed up his previous no-hit outing with another strong showing. Chris pitched into the bottom of the 7th, giving up just four hits and one run, and striking out five. In one of those unfortunate quirks of baseball, Chris didn't get credit for the win because the Royals didn't take the lead until the top of the 8th. Louis Coleman relieved Young with one out and one on, and threw only four pitches, but the last of those got a double-play. That made him the pitcher of record when the Royals broke the 1-1 tie.

"The team won, which is all I care about."

Former Royal Ervin Santana pitched a fine game also, pitching into the top of the 8th and only allowing two runs on four hits. Ervin was the hard-luck loser, and is now 7-5, 4.00 ERA.

Filling in at DH while Kendry Morales rested a sore leg, Ben Zobrist drove in the winning run with a ringing double in the top of the 8th that scored SS Alcides Escobar all the way from first base. He scored an insurance run on a single by 3B Mike Moustakas.

"Bam!"

This afternoon's game will match the Royals' Yordano Ventura (12-8, 4.20 ERA) against Tommy Milone (9-5, 4.04) for the Twins. Minnesota is still alive (barely) for a Wild Card playoff berth, while the Royals are still competing with Toronto for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Should make for a hard-fought game.

The Red Rocket

One of the by-products of my divorce was having to say goodbye to Kate, the 1989 Ford Taurus I wrote about here. It wasn't until I left St. Joseph, Missouri in 2004 to begin a teaching gig in Atlantic, Iowa that I was able to afford another brand new car, but she was worth the wait.

By that time it was was possible to use the internet to not only research various makes and models but even to search dealer inventories once I knew what I wanted. And I found this Mazda 6i hatchback (in Volcanic Red) at a dealership in west Omaha.

Rhonda the Red Rocket was economical thanks to a strong 4-cylinder engine, and the hatchback was a nice convenience (I'm sorry to say that Mazda has discontinued the hatchback body style). She also had a killer Bose sound system that made driving much more pleasurable, especially on long trips.

One of the dumbest things I ever did in my life was returning this car at the end of its lease. I wanted to get a newer version, but for a variety of reasons that never happened.

Rhonda was by any measure the best car I've ever owned, and I still miss her...

2004 Mazda 6i Hatchback in Volcanic Red

"There's another reason she was your favorite, too."

Yes, there was, but I don't want to talk about that today...

Until Next Time...

As a celebration of German reunification I have turned to arguably that nation's greatest composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. His Brandenburg Concertos are among the most beloved works in the classical realm, and seem to me like a fine way to acknowledge the key role President Reagan's speech (and subsequent leadership) played in Germany's rebirth.

Today's send-off is a performance of Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 by the Freiburger Barockorchester, recorded at the famous "Spiegelsaal" in Köthen Castle, where Bach originally composed the concertos. Enjoy...