Families That Hit Pine Cones Together Stay Together

It is said that families that pray together staynaturally. He tripled off the Blue Spruce.
together. I think it's almost equally true thatConveniently at third, used the opportunity to
families that play together stay together. If playhurry Mom out of the game by pounding the
time is the glue of family life, our family is arhythm of "Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho" on
sticky crew!the outhouse wall.
One scorching August day we were trying toMom made her appearance just as Garth lined a
escape the heat by retreating to a summer cabinfoul ball into the right field forest. Kendy claimed
rental at Diamond Lake, high in the Cascadeshe retrieved the ball, but the rest of us had our
Mountains of Oregon. Our little league star, Garin,doubts, as the new ball seemed larger and was
suggested that we play baseball.certainly stickier than the old ball.
"But we don't have a ball up here," I objected."Yuk" exclaimed the pitcher, Kurt. "This ball has
"We don't need a ball. We can use pine cones,"pitch all over it.'
answered Garin.Since I was doubling as catcher and umpire, I
"Where would we play? There's no clearing bigexamined the ball and decided that the new ball
enough," I countered.was definitely in order. I threw out the old ball,
"We can play in the driveway if you move thethrew in the new, and play resumed. Things went
car." Garin always was a problem solver.nicely for 3 or 4 innings Kurt hit the ball over the
"Alright," I groaned. "Come on. Everybody out tocabin and into the lake; the squirrel stuck his head
the driveway." I pouted while moving the car. Iup once but quickly re-submerged when he saw
always was a bad loser.Garth about to slide into home plate; and a
The driveway to our cabin, you understand, waspassing doe watched the game briefly from the
not the nicely paved driveway you find inleft field stands, but apparently got bored with our
subdivisions. Instead, it was more like a wild beargame and moved on to more exciting adventures.
trail, weaving its way between 200-foot pines andAfter the game we totaled the score, which was
spruce and white fur, bordered on the west bykept engraved in the red dirt behind home plate.
Diamond Lake and on the right by the countryKids 76; Mom and Dad 37. Garth complained
road. I had visions of the Cincinnati Reds playingbecause he wanted to go swimming.
the World Series on a motorcycle track. "TheBev and I, decisively defeated, headed for the
boat trailer will be first base," declared Garin withcabin to drown our sorrows in a tall ice tea while
the authority that only comes with entrepreneurs.the kids scrambled to get their swimming suits,
"The back of the car will be second, and theinner tubes, frog feet, and snorkels.
outhouse will be third. Let's use this squirrel holeWhile the victors celebrated loudly in the lake, the
for home plate. "losers retreated to the shade of a massive fir
So we did.tree by the shore where they licked their wounds
Mom said to start the game without her. Sheand re-grouped for the next encounter.
would be there in a minute. Garin was first up,