An Ill-Advised Exercise in Reliving Your Youth

This exercise started innocently enough. It was the wee hours of the morning one drizzly night this past May. Mention of a 'Bump Club' reunion for a last hoo-rah had (some of) us giddy with anticipation. But it wasn't to be just any reunion. Oh no. You see, this club is legendary. Unforgettable. Dare I say, infamous, in our softball tournament playing prowess. And not just any softball tournament. We're talking Texas Style softball, people. Not for the faint of heart or the easily discouraged. Two days of softball during the hottest part of summer at a softball complex that offers little shade and even less toilet paper isn't for your run of the mill softball team. It takes a team with determination. Grit. Mettle. 10 coolers full of ice cold 'beverages'. At least that's all it took 10-15 years ago.

Here's a look back at some of the earlier players. There were only a few of the original founding members of the Bump Club present that year. The club had been around a few years before this and I was fortunate enough to 'marry into' it. As it is/was somewhat exclusive and selective in their membership, I consider myself lucky to still be a somewhat active member, not being a Coors Light drinking, KSU alumni and all. *whew!* But I must say, membership does have it's privileges.

Privilege #1: Witnessing irony at it's best first hand. Those of you who were there understand the humor in this picture. For those of you who weren't, believe me, it puts a whole new meaning to the phrase 'coming unhinged'.

Here are some action shots of the first inning of some game.
Regular softball rules still apply.

MM and his 'major league swing'.
I dunno, DD. I think I'd ask for my money back.

Now we've moved on to the 'bat opposite-handed' inning.

As you can see, the Bump Club is pretty adept and accomplished in this inning.

Relaxing under one of the only 2 pavilions offering shade from the blistering heat.

BC members doing what they do best.

Yes, that is a package of (sort of) frozen peas on her mouth. She was playing 3rd and a ball hit to her took a bad hop right to her mouth. When it happened, I seriously thought she'd be spitting out a chiclet or two. Instead, she comes back from Stat Care looking like she got botox. Lucky.

She got a medical red shirt and some killer drugs, so it's all good.

Dug out shenanigans.
TB? What's your hand doing?

He's so good, his feet don't even touch the ground.

I don't know how our 2 pitchers did it. After nearly 13 games with every other inning of doing this, I'm surprised their arms didn't fall completely off.
What's that? Yes, I did say 13 games. Did I forget to mention that? Oh, silly me. Funny story.
If you're a sadomasochist.

A spectacular play at second!
Duh-nuh-nuh! Duh-nuh-nuh!

Here we are in the run to third base first inning. The Bump Club isn't so adept or accomplished at this one.

Although, once you actually make it to third, the rest of the way is cake.

Defense is just as awkward. But T-Ball does a stellar job at making it look easy.


Ali getting the other 3rd baseperson out. I didn't care for this gal much. (The other gal, not Ali!) She was the type to lick her fingers before every batter and when she was up to bat. That's just gross.

Some more outstanding BCD and BCO.

Unhook the plow!!

Good game, Sir!
(BTW that is the quote of the weekend. Right, Tim? With 'Simmer down, Bacon!' as a close second.)

Posing with Ditka at the Scheme.

The next morning. These people are smiling because 4 of them went straight back to the hotel room after dinner and got some rest. Nobody else was looking as chipper.

Trying to work out the cobwebs.

The Senior class picture.

While some of the players and names have changed, the same spirit that started it all was present during (most of) the weekend. (Save, of course, when the majority of us were not getting 'closure'. But I digress.) And really the only things that have changed are:

1. Recovery time. I'm still walking around like Quasimodo. Anybody else? Although in my defense, I only signed up for the usual 6-8 game round robin. Not the suicidal 13 game 'round robin' that they concocted.
2. The coolers. Sure there were 10 like the good ol' days, but about 4 of them had silly things like food, water bottles, Gatorade, juice pouches (as some of us have spawned), frozen peas, Margarita pops, acetemenophin, ibuprofen and Biofreeze.
3. I do believe they are relaxing the minimum age requirement. That or...no, I refuse to admit it. I can't even bring myself to type it out loud.
4. Some of us* are actually twice the age we* used to be when this whole thing started.


*And by us and we, I mean NOT ME! ;P