Positive Thinking About the End of Yankees Season

Can’t say I’m feeling full of positivity this morning. I stayed up last night to cheer on my team, the Yankees, only to watch them fall at home to the Detroit Tigers in game 5 of the ALDS—what New York Times baseball writer Tyler Kepner aptly called “a cruel end to a surprising season.” If you’re a sports fan, you know how this hurts.

To restore my positive attitude, I’m taking the rest of the day off and getting an early start on my weekend. It’s supposed to be warm and sunny, a welcome change from all the rain we’ve been having in the Northeast. Summer’s last hurrah, I think.

Before I take off, here are a few things that have made me smile, think positive and even gasp in wonder this week despite the disappointing outcome of game 5. (Yes, I’m leading off with the Yankees, but hey, they’re my hometown team.)

• Rookie Ivan Nova’s confident pitching and second baseman Robinson Cano’s towering grand slam in rain-delayed game 1
• Venerable veteran Jorge Posada hitting like he did in his prime (a .429 average in the series ... at age 40!)
• Center fielder Curtis Granderson’s two jaw-dropping, eye-popping catches in game 4
• Left fielder Brett Gardner’s steady, patient, productive performance at the plate (read his inspiring Guideposts story)
• Don Kelly of the Tigers, even though he tormented the Yanks with his offense. The dude plays all nine positions well ... gotta applaud that.
• The St. Louis Cardinals Rally Squirrel’s hilarious Twitter feed
• The beauty and astonishing complexity of slime molds (check out this slide show if you don’t believe me)
• These fun food photo-illustrations (seen on Plenty of Colour) by stylist Dietlind Wolf made me happy—and hungry

Here's to summer’s last hurrah! Hope you enjoy it!