On Deck

When I started little league, I was still a shy kid. I was athletic as a kid (hello, tomboy!), but I didn't know all the rules to softball yet. As a result, I played the outfield most of my first summer....for anyone who knows 7-8 year old girls know they rarely hit it out of the infield. This was okay with me, because I learned the game.

I got over that outfielder position and quickly graduated to first base, short stop, and pitcher. I liked being pitcher...I liked controlling the pace of the game. Yeah, I know, my control issues go back that far!

Anyway, I was not a good hitter that first summer I played softball. I was tall, and therefore gave the opposing pitcher a decent-sized strike zone. I didn't know when to swing and usually ended up squinting my eyes shut and blinding swinging when I sensed a good pitch was coming. I never had my eye on the ball that first year and any hit was purely by accident.

I eventually learned the wrist-rolling techniques to slap-hit grounders, the attraction to low-and-outside pitches that I could smack out of the park, and to resist swinging on a 3-0 count unless the pitch was perfect.

Nonetheless, that first summer of eyes-closed hitting scarred me. I was *so* nervous as I waited in the batters' box while the hitter before me tried her luck and skill against the pitcher. I'd practice, observe, and generally fret. What would I do if I made the last out of the inning or (gasp!) the game? Would they all dislike me? Would I fester over letting my team down? When you're 8 and still learning how to wield a bat, being the next hitter on deck is terrifying!

So fast-forward to 2010, twenty-some odd years later. I'm on deck again, but this time, I'm not swinging at things with my eyes closed. While I've often FELT like I'm a blindfolded, newbie hospital administrator, crazily swinging at pinatas in the sky, I think I've gathered a fair bit of experience as to when I should focus my gaze and keep my eyes on the target. However, it's still scary being on deck for several big events this week.

I will be attending the annual Medical Executive Committee retreat on Wednesday and Thursday. And I'm speaking at this event; I have a whole hour to fill with the wonders of stroke, the stroke order sets we've slaved over for weeks now (I have had some really messed-up dreams about those stupid order sets and know way more than I care to know about Neurological intervention for emergent stroke patients!). I'm sharing my knowledge with a group of doctors and from what I hear, it'll be a CME. As in, a continuing medical education credit for the docs.

The hospital is putting me (and Jack) up in a lavish room at the Four Seasons. Jack will join me in the late afternoon (I speak from 3-4pm CST on Wednesday) after my speech and we will join the 50-60 physicians and administrators for a dinner in the Signature Lounge, the 95th floor of the Hancock. This is the same lounge I begged Jack to escort me to a few months ago. Except that this time, we get to EAT. For FREE. Score!

So after cocktail hour and dinner, we'll get to enjoy the 5 star comfort of the Four Seasons. I have no idea what to expect; while I certainly prefer stately hotels, I think the nicest place I've ever stayed in was the Palace Tower of Caesar's Palace in Vegas. And that was only because Jack paid off the front-desk lady when we arrived!

After another six hours of meetings on Thursday, the group will be dismissed for four whole hours of down time (make that, prep time!) in the city before the First Look for Charity begins at McCormick Place. I'm very excited to waltz around the designer cars, sipping champagne, with Jack on my arm! I will be sure to post neat pictures of these next few days.

Until then, pray for me that I don't crash in this snowstorm. Every time I check the weather, they increase the forecasted snow amounts!

Sigh. I can't think of a better place to be snowed in. Except, of course, my fancy black heels for Thursday night are OPEN-TOE!