Dale Says

Connor Gillaspie, who may well be part of the Giant’s future at third base, got his first major league hit Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks. He’s now one-for-three, with the prospect of getting a little more time at third and a few more at-bats yet this season. My guess is his first hit felt really good, and I hope it’s the first of many for this scrappy young third baseman.

Connor was born in Omaha July 18, 1987. That makes him 21 years and 63 days old (I have shoes older than that), and he told the SF Chronicle that he “just went through puberty two or three years ago.” Connor was a star in high school, then chose Wichita State (instead of Nebraska) as his college — a fact the fans in Nebraska are still lamenting. He had an excellent senior year (.419 batting average and 11 home runs in 60 games) and led the Shockers to the College World Series his senior year. The Giants drafted him as the 37th overall pick in the supplemental round earlier this year and after a couple of months of negotiating with the Giants he signed a contract and was sent to play for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. He was playing well there when he was called up to the big leagues earlier this month for a little exposure.

So is Gillaspie ready to be the Giant’s next third baseman? Probably not. He’s still got a lot to learn and needs to prove he can play at a minor league level. But he’s got a good attitude (he says he doesn’t expect favors and doesn’t expect people to do things for him) and he’s likely going to be another piece of the future for the Giants. Even if he spends all of 2009 in the minor leagues, he would still be just 23 in 2010 and would have a lot of years left to help the Giants.

The first time we noticed the orange and black butterfly was at the airport when we flew home from Ines’ memorial service. It was perched on the jet way to our plane and we remember thinking it was odd to see a butterfly at an airport. When we got home we noticed another orange and black butterfly in our garden, dancing in the sun as we unpacked. It struck us then that it might be her spirit watching over us, making sure we got home safely. Now, eight years later, we’re sure of it.

There were many wonderful things about Ines. She was a selfless and giving person with an extraordinary desire to help others and the ability to make people feel everything was going to be OK. She baked cookies for sick friends, called on neighbors, and had a smile and good word for everyone she ran into.

She took especially good care of her family – cooking our favorite foods, keeping us “up-to-date,” and choosing the burnt piece of toast (saying she preferred it that way). We often heard her in the kitchen after we had gone to bed, her slippers swooshing against the linoleum floor as she prepared for the next day’s events. She told us she required less sleep than the rest of us, but the truth was she simply got less sleep.

In the fall of 2000, cancer took Ines away, half way through her 80th year. She had raised her family, traveled the world, and celebrated the new millennium. In her spare time, she had taken care of a countless number of people, and each of them believed they had a special friendship with her.

She had led a very full life.

As a reward, we think she is allowed to come back now and then to watch over the people she loved. It makes sense she would come back as a butterfly.

Ines loved butterflies and said they are God’s gift to us. She grew butterfly-friendly plants and had images of butterflies in her kitchen wallpaper and on the family room lamps. She kept watch over the butterflies in her garden and seemed at harmony with them.

Each year since she died there has been at least one orange and black butterfly in our garden – resting on the plants Ines liked most and fluttering when we’re around. And we see them wherever we travel. We spotted orange and black butterflies in the jungles of Peru, and watched a bunch play near the side of the road in the Lake District of Chile. There was a beautiful butterfly flitting around us as we cycled through Loire Valley, and they were with us as we hiked around northern California’s Juniper Lake.

Last weekend we saw the most beautiful orange and black butterfly yet. It was in our garden, hovering in the air. It came to rest on a flower near our table and sat motionless, watching us and waving its wings in the sun. Then it was off, floating on the breeze.

It affects us now whenever we see a butterfly – a warm, achy feeling. It reminds us of the love and kindness Ines had for all living things and encourages us to help make the world a brighter place. And it’s a reminder that she will always be with us, in a special place in our hearts.

About the author:

Dale Fehringer is a freelance writer and editor. His articles on people, places, and contemporary culture have been published in a variety of magazines and newspapers. He lives in San Francisco, where he shares office space with his wife, Patty, and calico cat, Molly. Dale can be reached at 415.602.6116 or by email at dalefehringer@hotmail.com.

Last night turned out to be Rich Aurilia’s night after all. I was hoping he would have a good game, since his photo was featured on the game tickets as part of the Giant’s 50th anniversary tribute to legendary players. And Richie is a favorite of many loyal Giant’s fans. He was part of some very good Giant’s teams and had some excellent years as part of a very solid Giant’s infield. In 2001, for example, Rich collected a National League best 206 hits, and had a .324 batting average, 37 home runs, 97 RBIs, and was selected as an NL All-Star.

This year Rich is a seasoned veteran in the twilight of his career, still able to make significant contributions and willing to mentor the influx of younger players finding their way onto the Giants team.

Rich has had a solid year for the Giants, if not a spectacular one. He’s hitting .268 (.322 on-base average, 4th best on the Giants), with eight home runs and 40 RBIs. He’s played 111 games (6th best on the team), and has contributed to the Giants infield, playing first, short, and third. Last night he was at third base.

The game didn’t start well for Rich. In the first inning, with runners on first and third, he grounded into a rally-killing double play. In the fourth inning, he hit the ball solidly, but again grounded out. But in the sixth inning, with a runner on first Rich doubled to left scoring Aaron Rowand, then scored on a Fred Lewis single, helping the Giants to a 5-2 lead.

Rich grounded out again to end the seventh inning. That’s baseball. So he was 1-4, with a double, RBI, and a run scored. Not bad for a guy about to turn 37. But his greatest contribution was at third base. He played very solid defense all night making several nice plays, including diving for a line shot in the third inning and leaping (well, at his age jumping) to snag a solidly-hit line drive by Jorge Cantu in the eight inning to prevent a Marlins rally. And the Giants won the game, which I’m sure was more important to Rich than his individual outcome for the evening.

I like the mix of veterans and youngsters on the Giants this season, and I get a kick out of watching players like Randy Winn and Rich Aurilia who come out every night and give it their all. That’s a good example for the younger players and fun for the fans. And I especially enjoyed watching Rich have a good game – after all, it was Rich Aurilia night.

Dale Fehringer has wide-ranging experience in the financial services industry and as a freelance writer and editor.

At Rocky Mountain Bank Card System (Denver) and Visa international (San Francisco), Dale participated in early landmark bankcard industry events such as global card acceptance, BankAmericard and MasterCharge becoming Visa and MasterCard, and the introduction of ATMs, ATM cards, and debit cards. Dale held a number of positions during his 20+ years at Visa including Member Service, Market Research, and Strategic Planning. He retired in 2003 as Vice President of Market Intelligence.

After retiring from Visa, Dale embarked on a second career as a free-lance writer, editor, and producer of documentary videos. His articles on people, places, and contemporary culture have been published in a variety of magazines and he has edited numerous articles, books, and manuals.

Dale’s articles have appeared in a wide range of publications including the San Francisco Chronicle, The Italian Tribune, inTravel Magazine, WomenOf.com, SCIP.Online, Competitive Intelligence Magazine, Road & Travel, and Western RV News and Recreation.

He co-edited the first publication of the Competitive Intelligence Foundation (Competitive Intelligence Ethics: Navigating the Gray Zone), and was instrumental in authoring the Foundation’s first research report (State of the Art: Competitive Intelligence). He has been a frequent speaker at the Society of Competitive Intelligence (SCIP) annual conferences, and has written several articles and is a regular columnist for the Competitive Intelligence Magazine.

Dale has also produced more than a dozen personal and commercial documentary videos, which have shown at conferences, trade shows, reunions, and family gatherings. He does both commercial and personal videos, and specializes in recording personal stories.

Dale is a native of Chappell, Nebraska, home to millions of tumbleweeds. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Regis University in Denver. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, Patty and calico cat, Molly. His interests include travel (especially by bicycle), American history, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

Dale Fehringer has wide-ranging experience in the financial services industry and as a freelance writer and editor.

At Rocky Mountain Bank Card System (Denver) and Visa international (San Francisco), Dale participated in early landmark bankcard industry events such as global card acceptance, BankAmericard and MasterCharge becoming Visa and MasterCard, and the introduction of ATMs, ATM cards, and debit cards. Dale held a number of positions during his 20+ years at Visa including Member Service, Market Research, and Strategic Planning. He retired in 2003 as Vice President of Market Intelligence.

After retiring from Visa, Dale embarked on a second career as a free-lance writer, editor, and producer of documentary videos. His articles on people, places, and contemporary culture have been published in a variety of magazines and he has edited numerous articles, books, and manuals.

Dale’s articles have appeared in a wide range of publications including the San Francisco Chronicle, The Italian Tribune, inTravel Magazine, WomenOf.com, SCIP.Online, Competitive Intelligence Magazine, Road & Travel, and Western RV News and Recreation.

He co-edited the first publication of the Competitive Intelligence Foundation (Competitive Intelligence Ethics: Navigating the Gray Zone), and was instrumental in authoring the Foundation’s first research report (State of the Art: Competitive Intelligence).

He has been a frequent speaker at the Society of Competitive Intelligence (SCIP) annual conferences, and has written several articles and is a regular columnist for the Competitive Intelligence Magazine.

Dale has also produced more than a dozen personal and commercial documentary videos, which have shown at conferences, trade shows, reunions, and family gatherings. He does both commercial and personal videos, and specializes in recording personal stories. Dale is a native of Chappell, Nebraska, home to millions of tumbleweeds. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Regis University in Denver. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, Patty and calico cat, Molly. His interests include travel (especially by bicycle), American history, hiking, and cross-country skiing. You can reach Dale at dalefehringer@hotmail.com 

It’s hard work being a professional Santa.  It involves long hours filled with inquisitive children, insistent parents, and demanding employers.  Santa pay varies depending on the employer and level of experience.  At the top end, an experienced Santa with a real beard can earn $10,000 – $20,000 for a 5-6 week stint in a shopping mall.  Santas who work private parties usually earn less, anywhere from zero dollars to sky’s the limit.

How to become a professional Santa:

1.  Most importantly, you need to have it in your heart.  Susen Mesco, who leads a Santa School in Colorado, believes Santa must be sensitive and in touch with his nurturing side.  “Children have so little magic in their lives,” she says.  “There are few heroes left in today’s world.”  She advises her Santa students to put glitter in their beards, so children who touch Santa’s beard can take home a bit of the magic.

2.  Professional Santas must believe that the magic they help bring to children overshadows the less glamorous aspects of the job.  Children ask embarrassing questions, pull your beard, and share all sorts of stories (and germs) with you. Teenagers taunt you.  Parents watch you like a hawk and complain if your distress their children.  But you will also bring joy into the lives of children.

3.  You need the proper equipment; which includes a Santa suit, hat, wig, beard, belt, boots, gloves, glasses, and eyebrow whitener.  All of this will set you back between $30 for a used Santa outfit on eBay and $800 for a deluxe size XXL burgundy plush pile “Majestic” Santa suit from McCulloch’s.

4.  It’s best to make sure you are legally covered.  To reduce the odds of legal troubles, Santa Victor Nevada advises professional Santas to keep their hands in plain view at all times, avoid being alone with children, and speak loudly enough that people around can hear what he and the child say to each other.  Santas are also advised not to comment on a child’s hair, eyes, smiles, etc., and to never promise a child they will get what they ask for.  They should also wear non-slip gloves to reduce the possibility of dropping children, and have a parent or guardian place small children on Santa’s lap.

5.  You might want to attend a Santa school, where you would learn a variety of essential Santa skills, including how to deal with difficult or sensitive situations.  For example, when you need to leave your Santa post, it might be best to tell the children in line it’s time to call the North Pole and see how toy production is coming.  When asked, “Are you real?” an appropriate anser might be, “I’m as real as I can be.”

Yesterday we interviewed Christine MacKensie.  She is 98 and a retired Public Health Nurse.  We didn’t know what that was, but she filled us in on it.  She was really a pioneer in the field of Public Health Nursing, having started in it in the 1930s, in Utah and California.

Public Health Nurses don’t treat patients directly.  Instead, they advise local doctors and governments how to protect peoples’ health through sanitary water and sewage, immunizations, educating pregnant women, etc.  As you can image, there wasn’t much of that in the 1930s, and she had to blaze a lot of trails.

Christine helped set up programs all over the western US and Asia, including living and working in Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, etc.  Quite an adventure for a single woman in those days.

Today, she’s 98 and in excellent health.  She walks without a cane or walker, doesn’t wear hearing aids, and lives on her own.  She’s a remarkable person!