Another tough day at the office

My weekly column in the Holmes County Journal shares the same title as this entry, but I wanted to explain why I use that header to describe what I do.
I am a sports writer. I get paid to go out and watch kids play ball. It's a pretty amazing thing that I get paid to do something I love to do. I don't get paid much, but it is what's called a labor of love, a lot like teaching. Many teachers teach because they love reaching young minds and sharing knowledge and experience with youngsters. It doesn't hurt that teachers get June, July and August off to recharge their batteries.
As a sports writer, I'm supposed to go watch a game, take some pictures and re-tell what happened in a few, well-structured paragraphs. After more than 20 years of tackling this task, I still get a thrill out of the fact that I'm paid to be sitting on the hillside at West Holmes High School on a sunny 70-degree day watching a baseball game or having to rough it at a basketball game at Hiland, where the athletic booster club provides a sumptuous meal for the media and officials before every game.
Not every game is held on a 70-degree day, and I've frozen my canoles off a few time, but it's my own fault if I go to a game and don't have proper attire stashed in the van. I've got a couple hoodies, and two raincoats for days when it less than perfect outside.
Thursday afternoon was one of those days where it wasn't exactly balmy outside; but after about a week straight of rain, the high 50s and sunshine felt like a trip to the dessert. And I was 'forced' to watch a baseball game and a tennis match. Darn.
My son plays on the tennis team, so having to watch him play really bumbs me out.
So, not only am I paid to watch strangers play, I'm paid to watch my own kids play. That is why I refer to my column as a tough day at the office.
There are days when I'm stuck in the office, staring at my computer for hours on end. Those days are easily erased from memory when I have to end my day by taking in a baseball game, or tennis match or whatever other game is on the calendar that particular day. Some days, I can get photos of a tennis match, baseball, softball and track meet all going on at one locale, giving the appearance that I worked really hard that day. I guess to someone who doesn't like sports, a day like that would be hard to take. For me, on the other hand, it's another tough day at the office.