Can a catchphrase change your life?
Well, why not?
When it strikes a chord — or uh, in the case of the Green Wall — a ladder, it’s easy to see how a metaphor could reverberate big time in your mind.
Like an electric pinball, it’s got enough power to shoot the whoop-de-woo through your life, racking up millions of new perspectives. Maybe even a few new behaviors.
“Playing the wall at Fenway.”
It’s become my new mantra.
A bit odd for anyone who knew me in the 1970s, I’ve gotta admit. As an outfielder for my home team, I was hall of famed for a number of stunning plays. Among them — counting blades of grass, hiking up my socks and twirling my glove like a pistol.
This was back in the day when some might say they let anyone play — But in fact, nobody really had a choice. Loppy or not, if you were in the neighborhood you were on the team.
But anyway.
I didn’t come to this by way of my 10 years praying outfield. No, it’s a page from my #1 individual sport — reading.
Page 170 of The Tender Bar, an amazing memoir by J.R. Moehringer — to be exact.
This catchphrase has more real life applications than a crow bar.
It’s brilliant.
But you don’t need me to tell you that. Just think about it.
Yeah.
JULIE ANN STEVENS 