the LIST

Do I know you? One man's attempt at a lifelong head count. 

NOTE: If you think I might have a photo of you—most likely at least one great photo of you—don't be afraid to ask me to post it (13bob13@gmail.com) along with a brief entry about how I know you. And if I've met or known you but don't have any photo evidence, feel free to send along YOUR favorite photo of you. (I'm fascinated by what that slideshow might look like.)

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12. hannah dewey

Venice, CA. State champ. 2004

Venice, CA. State champ. 2004

This photo was taken at about the time when I personally realized this little girl could be good. Real good. She's a scrappy little 8-year-old here. Fresh off winning the California state title for her age group. I must've gone to 3 or 4 or those games. When the stakes are high for a little girl trying to hit a fast-moving softball—and you know the little girl and you know she's sensitive—it can be nerve-wracking. And exhilarating. Like when your little niece comes up big in the biggest games of her young life. A full 10 years later—yesterday, actually—I sat watching her play again. Only this time I was at home in Austin, TX. Watching, for the 1st time this season, a live streaming of her game in College Park, MD on our Apple desktop. The little girl with the monkey around her neck got a full-ride to play softball at the University of Maryland. Yesterday, in the 1st game I've ever seen her play on my computer, Hannah went 4-for-4 against Howard with 2 doubles. On Monday night I'll get to see her play on TV for the 1st time, when Maryland's game against Notre Dame gets the ESPNU treatment. Go Hannah!

New York City. Christmas Break Road Trip. 2014

New York City. Christmas Break Road Trip. 2014

More than 10 years after we saw her win the California softball state championship as a 9-year-old, Hannah came to stay with us in Brooklyn during her Christmas break from college. The little girl grew up to be a pitcher/outfielder at the University of Maryland. Go Terps!

College Park, MD. Still wearing #12 after all this years. May 2016

College Park, MD. Still wearing #12 after all this years. May 2016

Last year when I came down for Hannah's weekend series at Maryland, she wrapped up a 3-game sweep of Penn State by pitching brilliantly on Sunday and doing the postgame interview on the Big 10 Network telecast. This year the Terps lost 2 of 3 to Indiana. But they won the last game of the season and Hannah made a few sterling plays in the outfield and nearly hit a home run. Next year she's a senior and it's sayonara softball after playing since she was a T-ball twig. I'm gonna miss watching this girl's brilliance and grit.