78 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 78 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Patton: A Genius for War by Carlo D’Este. This passage is from Patton’s time at West Point

Patton’s letters to Beatrice and his parents in the autumn of 1904 focused almost exclusively on his academic difficulties. West Point required extensive memorization, which turned out to be the only means by which Patton could keep pace with the demands of his instructors. The technique of memorizing he had learned from Nannie and Papa at Lake Vineyard now benefited him.

Although Patton struggled with academic subjects, he had no such problems on the parade ground, where he was far more comfortable. “I have been perfect so far in drill regulations,” he proudly informed Papa.

The grind was interrupted in mid-September by a welcome visit from his mother, Aunt Nannie, and his sister, Nita. “They were all looking splendidly and Nita seems to be quite grown up. I don’t believe I ever will be.” Little has been written about Patton’s loving relationship with his sister, which was devoid of jealousy or envy. To the end of his life he was protective and gentlemanly, and once said of her that while some varnishes “can hide the flaws in base wood, it cannot improve that which is already perfect.” Nita Patton fully reciprocated her brother’s love and admiration. She lived most of her life in the Patton ancestral home at Lake Vineyard, and later turned it into a shrine dedicated to her famous brother. Swords, pistols, rifles, and machine guns, and a large portrait dominated the main room of the house.

Throughout most of Patton’s years at VMI and West Point

either his mother or his doting Aunt Nannie lived in nearby lodgings. They wanted to be near “the boy” in case he needed anything. There are some pathetic letters between Georgie’s parents, written during that time, telling each other how they miss each other, and how someday, when the children are grown, they will be together, never to part. There are many references to “walking hand-in-hand into the sunset.” But in the meantime, they encouraged each other to stay near “the boy”…and bear their mutual loneliness as best they could.

There is, however, no evidence in any of Patton’s voluminous correspondence that their presence either reassured or inspired him, and his innermost feelings continued to be revealed mainly in his intimate letters to his beloved Papa, who rarely left California.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.