Along with collecting, softball is a passion
of mine. When I play softball, it is often with "Bud"
Holland. He is 17 years older than me, but we both play in a
senior softball league located in Worcester, MA.
The first time I talked with Bud was just after we both joined
the team about 6 years ago. He was having a tough time catching
and batting, but I admired his determination to play. Bud mentioned
to me how thrilled he was to play softball after all these years.
As a youngster he had to quit school during the depression
to make money for his family, then he served 25 months overseas
during W.W.II (he would have taken part in the invasion of
Japan if Truman had not made the decision to drop the bomb)
and after that he was raising a family. Finally, in his late
70s he was playing softball.
Last October Massachusetts awarded Bud his high school diploma
as a gesture to W.W.II veterans who left school to serve in
W.W.II.
Bud still works occasionally as a master carpenter and he
has arms and a grip of steel. It is no wonder that he drives
the ball the way he does. He is quiet , unassuming, but always
there with a smile and words of encouragement and is one of
the most popular of players. Bud is a pleasure to know and
is one of the reasons that I like to play ball.
Wishing you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy selling!
Jared
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Bud - on the right, pre-Normandy
Bud with Artillery
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