Savage Words: A quiet moment in Valley Springs kept it in perspective

Perspective is a funny thing.

And I’ve used that word many times over the last several years to help me get through questionable times. I’m forever grateful when perspective shows me some comfort, some satisfaction when thinking about the past, about what things are like on ‘the other side.’

Early in my career, I was recklessly determined to make it to the ‘Big Leagues.’ I was happy, writing for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls. That alone, I thought, was the biggest and brightest thing I could ever accomplish.

But I went for it, recklessly.

And I got it. The term, ‘watch what you wish for’ also bangs around in my head from time-to-time. Because I wished for the biggest stage, the brightest lights. And I got it.

It was thrilling, I can’t lie, working in the NBA, IndyCar and NFL during my career. There were moments I’ll never forget. 

But there’s something about being home, about being in the environment you grew up around.

I was in Valley Springs on Saturday, taking a few photos for the Journal during Booster Days. I watched a bunch of adults flailing around in mud, chasing a volleyball around, splashing, swearing a little, laughing a lot.

I watched, grinned, and snapped some shots. I shook my head a couple of times, but laughed nonetheless. It was hot, muggy, muddy, and looked miserable. But they were having fun, and that was enough for me.

A little later, I drove a whole six blocks from the muddy volleyball tournament over to the kids’ tractor pull in front of Valley Springs Reformed Church. I’ve been trying to increase the number of steps I take each day, so I should have walked. But alas, I decided to dare it and drove my way through the hectic streets of Valley Springs to get there. 

The tractor pull with kiddos as young as 5 years old was my first experience at such an event. And it was adorable. In my mind, I just kept thinking about this little event, in little Valley Springs, with such little people competing, and cheering each other on, and how it was the purist form of a sports competition.

I left the tractor pull, put my camera around my neck and decided to head back to the mud volleyball tournament. But I walked this time, both because I needed the steps, and also found the six-block walk a time of reflection.

I thought about some friends I met in my career that currently work in Major League Baseball. I thought about how my buddy in St. Louis was likely sitting in the press box at an empty Busch Stadium, working on game notes, hours before 30,000 fans would fill the stadium hours later. 

I thought about the NBA Summer League going on right now at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. I watched some games on television of Summer League on Friday night, thinking about how many games I’d been to in that venue, how many game notes I wrote for the event. I thought about some of my friends who were likely currently there, prepping for another game. All the while I was wandering down Broadway Avenue in Valley Springs.

All I heard on my walk was American Flags flapping in the breeze, and birds. I heard a ton of birds, singing their way through a summer day. 

There’s no doubt that 30 years ago, hell even 10 years ago, that situation would have driven me nuts. I would have scratched, clawed, written and convinced whoever it took to get me out of Valley Springs, and to Busch Stadium or the Thomas and Mack Center.Thankfully, on Saturday, I couldn’t have been more content on Broadway Avenue.

Thank you, Valley Springs. Perspective is a funny thing, and I’m so grateful for it.