Whenever I see Susan or her smiling face, I think of my mother.  Why? because of Susan's book When Women Played Hardball.  My mother, Mary Martha, was one of those women and it was a great moment when she met Susan to talk hardball.  Though she never played professionally because of her conservative parents Mary Martha played on two world championship amateur teams.  I talked with Susan about this many times. I wish I'd talked to her more.  Which reminds me of a story, "Is there hardball in Heaven?"  These two good friends, Mary and Susan, were nuts about hardball.  They played and when they retired they never missed a Mariners or Wolves game.  At one point, being older and knowing about life, Mary asked Susan if she thought there was hardball in Heaven.  "How could I know ?" said Sue adding, "but I sure hope so."  Mary came up with a plan. "First one who dies figures out a way to get word back to the survivor.: Susan thought that was a grand idea.They shook on it and forgot about it.  Several months later when Mary died at home peacefully, surrounded by family.   Well, it was a month later when Susan was at the park cheering on the home team that she heard a faint voice, "Susan?" She looked around, the stands were nearly empty (the Mariners were having a bad season). No one there!  "Hmm? "thought Susan, "I must be hearing things."  After it happened again ,she recalled the pact she'd made with Mary.... "Mary? she said tentatively, "is that you?" "Sure is." said Mary.  "Well did you make it" said Susan. TBC....