Ron Darling, SNY.tv
I have been self-quarantined in South Florida with my family and my parents. I guess I do also, but both of my parents have compromised health conditions and we are trying to keep them safe.
I have been teaching my Mom how to use my iPad (Easy Mother's Day decision this year), and she has gone down the Facebook wormhole. But for someone who is so far from her home (Hawaii) and her loved ones, she has been able to reconnect with her family. She speaks with her twin sister once a week.
My Dad is an avid golfer but that three-times-a-week activity is no longer. He is beating colon cancer and has his immunotherapy treatment every three weeks. He never complains and is a model of efficiency. A 10-mile bike ride per day with my Mom following him in the golf cart, and then aquasthenics in our pool. It is quite inspiring.
My wife, who is an interior designer (Schoeller & Darling) has semi-retired to raise our son Cassius and to finish our home in Florida -- the interior as well as the the landscape design. "Las plantas son hermosas." This home has proven to be a beautiful port in this 2020 storm. We feel blessed because we know many are going through unthinkable times.
My son Cassius, we call him Cash, has learned how to swim and to ride a bike. He goes on nature hikes every morning after a big breakfast (waffles and bacon are his favorites) and spends the rest of the day doing arts and crafts, schoolwork and spending time with his Mema and Tutuman. Two to three hours daily in the pool completes his day.
And my day... it seems as though I am on Zoom twice a day with either meetings or media requirements for SNY. Getting the correct "home shot" has been quite challenging. Yes, I am in the majority and believe I look ridiculous on camera.
I am a contrarian by nature, so I can't watch the popular Tiger King but I did watch Alan Yang's Tigertail and I loved it. It's on Netflix if you want to check it out. I am devouring books and magazines at an alarming rate and my choices have been very eclectic. From an Elton John autobiography to Churchill's decisions during WWII. Nietzsche to Mapplethorpe/Smith. I miss my turntable up north, but we have have Miles & Coltrane blasting every day, thanks to Sonos and Pandora.
Regardless of politics (is there such a thing), when this pandemic is behind us, I pray that the new America 2.0 will not forget what is important and who was important during these terrible times. When this is all over I'm hoping GKR can meet as many of the nurses and doctors who are Mets fans and want to be our guests, in the booth, and in the stands. If not this year then next. Four per day for 81 games in 2021. Let's make sure that happens.
Stay healthy, be kind to each other and PEACE.
Watch Gary, Keith and Ron during Beyond the Booth Live, every Thursday at 4 p.m. Check out our most recent episode below: