Should be celebrating

Last night should have been a night of celebration. The Browns won a big game against a team in the playoffs, a division leader at the moment. A game won without their starting All-Pro cornerback, one in which they lost their starting center on the second or third drive of the game, further hobbling an injured offensive line. The injuries continued to mount as not one but two Browns defenders tried playing immovable objects against the unstoppable force of Myles Garrett and were absent from the game for a few drives.I could have been celebrating the return of the guru Austin Hedges, a bigger-than-you-think signing when you consider the 24 wRC+ in 2023. A catcher who can impart so much wisdom onto youngster Bo Naylor, acting as a pseudo-manager in the clubhouse, an aid for rookie manager Stephen Vogt. Is he gonna play once or twice a week and be a black hole at the plate? More than likely, but as with the former manager Terry Francona, you can't put a price tag on the intangibles and having him help guide someone who could be a franchise cornerstone in Naylor while helping the young rotation that stands to only get younger with Shane Bieber possibly on the outs is priceless.I really wanted to be excited about waking up today with the Browns having an 80% chance at the playoffs, with a head coach that has navigated a team that has dealt with what should have been crippling injuries to an 8-5 record. Ready to fight internet trolls who want to run one of the best coaches in the league out of a job because he doesn't run the ball enough or too much or is the cause of injury to players or takes advice from someone infinitely smarter and more data-driven than they ever could be. However, I was not celebrating.Last night, I had to inform my wife that the school I work at was the subject of yet another bomb threat, yes I said *another* bomb threat. Multiple schools in northeast Ohio and across the country got emails detailing and threatening violence to our children and teachers because our government has backed and continues to back Ukraine in its war for survival against Russia. Yes, it was a hoax, the FBI deeming it as such, alas we went to bed last night with the thoughts of not only myself being met with catastrophe but our daughters possibly as well. To steal a line from Sam Seaborn, "Schools should be palaces," not the first thought when threats rain down because of political differences. Nothing has happened and nothing will likely happen today or in the future here at the school I am in or the school my children go to, but if my brain was going to be focusing on things that don't matter, I'd much rather they think about Joe Flacco winning a game for the Browns and how many more times that can happen this season than having to map out an evacuation plan in case of an event.I didn't write this to be complainy; I love my job and I am happy to be where I am and I have my health. But we really need to take a look at our world and make sure we are doing enough to make it a better place. Reach out to loved ones, especially in this holiday season, and connect with people. You don't know what they are going through.