In Ways Too Numerous to Mention

Danny Fitzgerald—who was the best softball hitter around—
probably hit the ball over the schoolyard fence about 10%
of the times he batted, which not only made me jealous
but frustrated that I could never hit it over even once.

But I do remember the one time I actually came close,
swinging at the ball and hitting it so solidly that it went
all the way to the fence and bounced off—no more
than a few feet shy of going over.

And I recall feeling proud and disappointed at the same time—
which was pretty much how it would be throughout my life
in ways too numerous to mention…