For those of you not obsessed with military acronyms, NMC means Not Mission Capable.
I did not win the finals. I believe I did well with the moment that was given to me, and for a very good and important reason, God has me remaining here -- being Zeke's Sugar Mama in the intangible ways that only a good wife and mother can do.
My first thought? I felt a strange relief afterwards when I realized I wouldn't have to deal with the stress of leaving our home, coordinating care for Liam while competing in the Army-wide finals, arranging for someone to replace me here with my church group, etc...
Funny enough, my second thought was this:
Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.
There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.
Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.
...
The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville - mighty Casey has struck out.
Ernest Lawrence Thayer (1888)
