Monday, January 13, 2025
I unwrapped the holiday gift I received from my son, Matthew, last year and found a New York Mets tear-off calendar for 2024. Six days a week (weekends were combined), there was either a question about Mets history or a fun fact.
Jan. 1: “In 2019, Pete Alonzo blasted 53 home run, setting a record for an MLB rookie.”
Feb. 13: “Who was the first player in Mets history to steal home more than once in a single season? Hubie Brooks, 1991.”
March 27: “In 2022, Francisco Lindor became the first shortstop in Mets history to hit at least 20 home runs in consecutive seasons.”
I don’t know why, but from New Year’s Day through the following 12 months, I wrote notes on the back of each page I tore off.
Jan. 3: “Fast day @ work. Much to do. Zone meeting. Job interview. Freeport production. NYPA.”
Feb. 13: “Snow day. Everyone home. Matt visited. Workers upstairs. Chocolate chip p–cakes/bacon dinner.
March 26: “@ office. Production Nassau early. Closed papers early.”
Early in the year, I debated whether to leave the calendar at home or bring it in to the office. I sided with keeping it on the desk in my man-cave-library-office at home, in what used to be my son’s bedroom.
April 8: “On this date in 1954, future Mets catcher Gary Carter was born in Culver City, CA.” (Additional fun fact: Carter’s jersey number was 8.)
May 14: “In 1972, who did the Mets trade to the Giants in exchange for Willie Mays? RHP Charlie Williams (along with $50,000).”
Every morning this year, after getting dressed, I’ve put off going downstairs for breakfast for a few minutes, sat down and noted the highlights of the previous day.
April 1: “Edited stories. Set up paper. Tuna for dinner. Two great hoops games. Mets 0-4/good job.
May 16: “Got sale docs signed/mailed. C/U backyard. Rangers clinched semi series.”
June 29/30: “Sat. — errands/clean up. Relax/game nite/pizza. Sun. — a little work/relax. Pulled pork @ Les’s/dinner. Spoke with Stuart/plan.”
Writing these brief notes was a way to remember what had happened the previous day, or over the weekend.
It’s been interesting to compare what I wrote in the first few months of the year with my notes later in the year. The
Mets had a horrible start, but then, on Oct. 9: “Mets win NLDS Series 3-1.”
The thoughts trickle back as snapshot memories that I either want to cherish, like Sept. 25 — “White House Tavern dinner 30 yrs.” — Or try to forget, like Oct. 27: “Mr. G’s wake.”
July 19: “Mike Piazza was the first player in Mets history to have four different seasons with at least 30 home runs.”
Sept. 3: “On this date in 1978, who became the first Mets player to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game? Lee Mazzilli.
Time is fleeting, it is precious, and God is not making more of it. These are among the many, many things that have been written about time. Clearly, we should be making the most of it.
July 23: “Office. Production mostly on time. Nautilus for dinner.”
Aug. 6: “Office. Production — Lyn, Nassau, Uniondale & South Shore Record computer glitches/rain storm.
Sept. 14/15: “A little work/errands relaxed. Laundry — work relaxed. Wendy’s w/Liz. Chris out with the ladies.”
Snapshots of nearly 365 days of another year in a life. I wonder what other people’s notes would look like.
Oct. 4: “On this date in 1999, Al Leiter threw a two-hit shutout to propel the Mets over the Reds in a one-game playoff berth for the NL Wild Card berth.”
Dec. 3: “What ballpark was the first to allow fans to keep the foul balls that landed in the stands? Wrigley Field.”
Who knows what the next year will bring? I hope it’s more memories like these.
Oct. 19/20: “Sat. — Errands/watched college FB. B&B Fish and Clam tilapia/onion rings. Sun. — Read stories/laundry. Watched football. Houlihan’s for Liz’s 19th B-day!
Nov. 16/17: “Sat. — Errands, dinner Alan’s B-day, Austin’s Ale House. Sun. — open house. Football. Pasta/sauce/bread dinner.”
Dec. 4: “Office. Asked to write op-ed to fill hole. Valley Stream 100 mtg. Dinner w/Liz, buffalo chicken roll/CParm.”
Time moves quickly, and while details of my daily life may not match the scale of the Mets’ landmark events, they hold deeper significance. My team — my family and friends — far outshines even my favorite baseball squad in importance.
Jeffrey Bessen is the deputy editor of Herald Community Newspapers, and a dedicated note taker.
