I’ve been giving some thought to retiring.
The past 12 months have been rough and took some steam out of me.
“Try sitting in a classroom full of fifth-graders every day,’’ said my wife, and of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she’s got to walk into mine 40-some years ago.
But I’m not the same guy you married, I told her, and she said, “Relax, grandpa.’’
I told my neurologist I’m not the same guy I remember, and he seemed pleased I remembered.
I took the job at the Register on the condition it would be fun, forgetting that I would be covering sports.
I began looking for any excuse to retire, even getting into a squabble with the humorless executive who handles expense accounts here who wanted an explanation for every mile driven like I want to admit I drove 68 miles to hear the gibberish Mike D’Antoni has to offer.
I was pretty much a goner until someone named Phil Westfal emailed.
“I’m a minute away from cancelling my subscription due to your article,’’ wrote Westfal, and just when I thought I was out, as Michael Corleone put it in “The Godfather: Part III,” I was pulled back in.
If one article on page 2 of the sports section can make such an impact on someone’s life … how can I stop writing?
So I wrote another column and near the end asked if anyone was interested in matching a $10 donation to Children’s Hospital of Orange County for every Angels’ win.
What happened next is a miracle.
More than 30 people made it to the end of the column before they stopped reading.
They went a step further, agreeing to become donating members of the CHOC Angels, almost overnight every Angels win now worth $335 toward helping kids get the most out of life.
Source Refrigeration doubled its donation. Dan Even & Family did the same, designating an additional $10 for every Angels win to go to the Ronald McDonald House of Orange County.
“Count me in,’’ added John Carnesecca. “My son’s life was saved at a Children’s Hospital. He now stands 6-4, is a solid working man and has 24 good years to be thankful, because of a Children’s Hospital.’’
I’m checking to see if he’s single, doesn’t have anything against an older woman who is an accountant and who is my daughter.
In the meantime, I called friend Jay Rood, the betting boss for a dozen MGM Mirage properties in Las Vegas, and he said he has the Angels winning 86 games.
That would result in a CHOC Angels’ donation of almost $29,000 unless someone else still wants to join the feel-good party.
I’m naming the CHOC Angels along with this story because these people will now have me working to encourage the Angels to win more. Blame them if you were rooting for early retirement. By the way, how many miles is it to Angel Stadium?
As for CHOC, I stopped by Friday to see if administrators would accept such a donation. I got the impression from executive director Melanie Patterson if the Angels win the World Series everybody might get a day off from being sick.
The hospital’s Sarah Butler also agreed to be treasurer for the CHOC Angels.
I don’t know if you have ever been to CHOC. Here’s hoping you never find a reason, but it’s like a Disneyland warm-up routine.
They have “Crush,’’ for example, speaking to kids twice a day. Crush is a talking turtle who seems to know the name of every kid who needs a shot in the arm – one that doesn’t hurt for a change. Just imagine if “Crush” was named “Clutch” and the Angels’ hitters were the same way and how good fans would feel about them.
“Sometimes I stop by (Crush) just to feel good,’’ said Dr. Tony Soliman, as happy a looking guy as you might ever meet, and yet one who deals in devastating prognoses.
“I spend 40 to 50 percent of my time giving bad news,’’ said Dr. Soliman, who oversees the care of 1- to 2-pound babies in CHOC’s small baby unit, and talk about your little CHOC Angels.
“You know what drives me?’’ said Dr. Soliman. “I see a lot of cool endings. The smallest human beings need a crusader; they need a mouth, somebody who will say they are not throwaways.’’
And so in a womb-like setting, lights dimmed and library voices used, Soliman’s extraordinary team of optimists makes the importance of who wins a Super Bowl disappear in a continuing heartbeat.
There are 12 beds in the unit, every one currently filled, four babies and vigilant families to a crowded room, as good a reason as any for the Angels to win more games.
There is an empty fourth floor at CHOC, ideal for building out one-bed rooms for small babies and families once there is the funding to make it happen.
As Social Security regulations go, there’s no limit to dreaming, now is there?
“We have an amazing team of people who do this every day, taking a baby’s head the size of a lemon and putting devices on it to keep it going,’’ said Dr. Soliman. “And you know what, we have good outcomes. We do it because we believe we can have these kids running around one day at school like other kids.’’
Until a day or two ago, I would have been the last guy to tell you I believe these Angels could do any good.
But now I have reason to stay around and find out.
Contact the writer: tjsimers@ocregister.com
