Cape Cod Times letter, Nov. 26, 2014

Perhaps sensitized by Charlie Baker’s Election Night comment (“This is going to end very badly for one of us”), I felt worse than usual for the supporters of the losers in this year’s general election.

And for the players, coaches, families and fans of the high school football team I follow (and all the others I don’t) after last week’s loss.

There are a lot of similarities. A regular season/campaign of games/news cycles, punctuated by exhilarating wins and painful defeats, followed by playoff/primary election wins and, finally, someone crushed or edged out in the final. All but one finish in defeat.

Why do we all keep coming back? We all thrive on the shared enterprise, bigger than ourselves, and the risk of loss, enhancing any victory. A good part of living. We’ll mostly be back. Somewhere.

Congratulations to all the players and supporters.

Brian R. Merrick

West Barnstable