One of the neat aspects of my work is that it puts me into unique events, and at those unique events quite often you encounter a unique turn of events.
For example, let’s use the 2019 Softball Canada Under 19 Championship that was staged at Duncan McLellan Park in Owen Sound.
There were 12 teams entered in the tournament representing almost every region of the country; BC, the Prairies, Quebec, the Maritimes, Newfoundland & of course, Ontario.
It’s fun to see a cross-Canada clash in sports and it’s enjoyable to meet the players and the people who come from those various areas.
Of course, it’s not just the players and the teams that come from far and wide, but also the umpires who are overseeing a major Canadian Championship, they too are from parts and pockets across Canada.
There’s no need to mention where the umpire in question for this story came from.
But midway through the weeklong Championship Tournament, this out-of-province umpire wanted to do a laundry run and asked another umpire ( and there’s no need to mention the 2nd umpire was from Ontario ) if he could borrow his truck to make a quick trip for a wash & dry cycle.
The umpire with the truck gladly loaned his vehicle to the out-of-province umpire in order for the out-of-province umpire to do his ” laundry “.
Later that day, the Deputy Umpire in Chief came into the Press Box & asked the P.A. announcer, a local guy who would know the answer to such a query, ” where’s Meaford from here ? ”
It was a somewhat curious question, but after providing the details that Meaford might be 20 miles from Duncan McLellan Park, the P.A. Announcer asked the Deputy Umpire in Chief, ‘ why do you ask ? ‘
Welllllll, it seems the out-of-province umpire ( and there’s no need to mention he was from Manitoba ) apparently crashed the borrowed truck somewhere on Sykes Street.
And while I’m sure there are terrific laundry facilities in Meaford, it struck everyone as curious as to why the out-of-province umpire needed to drive 20 miles to do his laundry when there was a facility within about 20 feet of Duncan McLellan Park.
Unique events. Unique turn of events. They go hand in hand.