This is a thought that popped into my head lately. And it comes from a friend sent some time ago when we where discussing their disability.

“But your disabled, you know what it’s like, you understand…”

Yes, this is true, I am disabled. The fact is I am visually disabled… I am sorry if even I a self-proclaimed advocate for disabled children do not understand what it is like.

I do not understand what it is like not to be able to hear, I do not understand what it is like not being able to see, being totally blind (remember I can see fairly well as legally blind people go).

I understand what it is like to not be able to see across the street, but not what it must be like to sit in a wheelchair and worry about steps and ramps. I don’t know what it’s like not to be able to hold a pencil to write my name, or be the child that understands every thing that is going on around them, but not be able to speak. I don’t know what it is like to need some one to help me get dressed or use the bathroom.

However there are things I do know. I DO know what it’s like to be stared at, even if I can’t see who is doing the staring, trust me, I can feel you. I DO know what it’s like to be laughed at or pointed at… asked questions, how, when, why… can it be fixed… I DO know what it’s like in school, to be left out or left behind and the last one picked… and needing some one else to take you where you need to go.

I don’t know what it’s like to have a child or be the child that has already spent half their life in a hospital, or making countless trips to therapy sessions… or be the child that has their life scheduled around therapy rather then a Little League game.

So, please… forgive me if I am the one doing the staring or asking the questions… I’m only human… You probably have some questions of your own for me, so be polite, ask… we’ll talk … and then get on being friends.

How is therapy going?
Can I have a ride in your wheelchair?
Yes, you can check out my white cane, just don’t use it like a sword!

I understand what it’s like to be disabled like me… not what it’s like to be disabled like you…

Hello my blog friends. I know many of you have been wondering where I am. Well the truth is I didn’t really go any ware; but have been very busy working, taking photos and attending my Orientation and Mobility lessons.

Little League baseball season is over (for me any way) with the conclusion of the Little League PA Section 8 Championships my season is over! Now we just need to catch up on some editing, and filling print orders.

What have I been up to? Baseball of course! I shot ALL 7 GAMES of the PA Section 8 boys championship… with the final game ending in a double-header. Over four days of games and one rain delay, I managed to shoot over 6000 photos. (Unedited count). I also shot the first round of the girl’s softball Section 8 championships.

(more…)

Championship Day is over here… All 5 games where played… And all 5 games where shot.

The day starts early for me, around 9AM arriving at the field about one hour before game time to set up my small display of photos, and rig my remote camera at home plate, and get a few practice shot in myself. The first game started at 10AM under bright a HOT summer sun.

Yes, we actually use a Shop-Vac to suck puddles off the field after a rain delay! Kevin, the League President, demonstrates proper puddle sucking technique.

My day consisted of:

• 12-hours of non-stop photography
• 5 Games, 2 Coach Pitch (Minor American), 1 1st Year Kid Pitch (Minor National), and 2 Majors (11-12yo Baseball)
• 1 Rain Delay
• 2 Cameras, 1 Remote behind home plate, 1 in-hand
• 2900+ Photos Shot (unedited count)
• 1 game called do to lightning
• 3 hot dogs for the photographer, and countless soda’s and PowerAid’s
• 200+ fans cheering!
• A weeks worth of editing 2900+ photos…

The last game in question was the Boys Majors League Championship Game. A slugfest for sure. With the score changing every inning one-up’ing… plays and steals abound, action at every at bat… All for not, this game was called in the bottom half of the 5th inning 2 outs, runner on 3rd, with a score of 13-13, do to lightning. The umps did there best to try and let them play, but for the safety of the players the field was cleared… only moments later buckests of rain let loose.

So, who won? The rules of course… A very unpopular choice at best… So here is the explanation.

A “Complete Game” (in-the-books) is a game that has at least 4-innings of play. If a game is called do to weather or injury and the inning of play has not finished… the score will revert to the last full played inning… Don’t get it, read it again, slowly…

This means, though our game ended in a tie score of 13-13, because the 5th inning was only half over… the score reverts to the last complete inning (in this case the 4th)… Because 4-innings is considered a “Complete Game“, the game is considered FINAL, and can not be postponed, and finished the next day. That SUCKS!

I give nothing but respect to the boys that played in this game, it was spectacular. And in my view it was a tie, with no winner or looser. But them’s the rules, and sometimes they suck. IF they would have gotten that LAST out, and the score would have remained tied… THEN they could have finished the game the next day!!! But because the Knights of Columbus where ahead by 2 runs in the 4th, they are the “Official” winners.

Still one of the best games I have ever seen!

Championship Day may be over, but my days at the field are not. Little League Baseball and Softball tournaments continue well into July and August. Ending with the Little League World Series, August, 21-30, 2009 in Williamsport, PA!

PLAY BALL!