I have been in a funk for about a week. Just not feeling well physically, which according to my belief system reflects my life, and therefore my lack of self love. When I feel bad it is so difficult for me to not judge and berate myself for that lack, which just starts the vicious cycle that I feel like I am too smart to be drawn into, blah, blah, blah. It hit critical mass on Thursday when I decided enough is enough and got out Louise Hay. Over and over I repeated, " I am willing to release the need for...." I named a few things like, smoking, depression, illness, unemployment. I told myself it was ok to get back to basics and let go of the bullshit that keeps rearing it ugly head. Friday I cleaned my room, a "clear clutter for clarity" exercise and did my laundry, repeating my willingness affirmations the whole time.
Reno has a new triple A baseball team, the Reno Aces. They were playing the season opener Friday night against none other than the Salt Lake City Bees, Jim's team. David got tickets for us from Jim, and I was not sure whether I would go all the way up to Friday afternoon. I don't really care about baseball and I was not sure I was feeling up to seeing Jim in person. But, I figured what the hell, I would go and get out of the house. This town has been buzzing about the new team, tickets sold out in less than a half an hour, it was a big deal to be able to go and have the bragging rights later. I was feeling much better by Friday afternoon and decided not to give in to my tendency to keep hiding. Good decision.
I have not been to a professional baseball game since the kids were in Little League, but just walking into the stadium brought back so many pleasant memories. It smelled like baseball and I felt like I was walking into Field of Dreams, with the excitement in the air, the smell of beer and hot dogs, the chatter of the crowd. There was a strange feeling of coming home and it was comforting. I was instantly glad I came.
The field is brand new and barely finished in time for Opening Day. The weather was simply divine, for Reno anyway, the sun was warm, the breeze gentle. I was not fooled however, and was wearing two pairs of pants, two shirts and carrying two jackets, gloves and a scarf for when the sun went down and the wind got mean.
It was a big day for the city and there were several bands playing as we walked the few blocks to the stadium. Richard was making fun of the age of this particular band, asking if this was the Moody Blues. Personally, I would have went more with the Mamas & the Papas, but Richard was too young to even know who they were. For me, they were the first band playing music I liked, go figure.
Since the camera was out, I shot this one of Jenn and Richard while we waited for David to get the tickets at will call. I am not sure if Jenn was gesturing to me or really just using her middle finger to scratch an itch.
When David returned with the tickets, I made him fan them out for a photo, Jenn wanted in on the action and little did we know that her tongue would resemble the Aces Mascot we would soon meet inside the stadium.
This was my first view of the field as I stood amidst the crowd absorbing the smells and the energy of the moment. Amber, Kevin and a group of people they knew were sitting in the general admission seats behind the bull pens directly opposite of where I was standing.
This is the view from our seats on the visitor's side. Needless to say there were precious few Bees fans in attendance.
David made his way down to the dugout to say hi to Jim and of course, Jim gave him a hat. It was too small for David and he in turn gave it to Jenn.
The players line up on the baseline just the same way they have done since little league, this cracked me up for some reason, maybe because the idea of grown men playing a game for a living still baffles me. Jim is wearing number 10, which has been his number his entire career, the only number I have ever seen him wear.
Jim is the batting coach for the Bees, and he coaches first base while they are up to bat. Other than his white hair, it is like nothing has changed since high school. Bizarre, unh?
When the mascot hit the field, we were trying to figure out exactly what it was, well, we are still trying to figure that out. He was a little scary.
He posed right in front of me during the game, and while he may seem fairly harmless, that huge pink tongue in his mouth sticks out about three feet and waves around in a most disturbing manor. It is one of those things that seems so gross, but you can't stop looking at it.
At the seventh inning stretch, the announcer told us to look to center field, the big screen was in left field, so I was confused until a huge baseball appeared and sang
Take me Out to the Ballgame. It was hysterical.
After the song, he just faded back to where he came from.
The game ended and we all got ready to leave. We were meeting Jim at the Sienna Hotel across the street. Later Jim told us that the team drove to the stadium because they didn't know where it was, then felt silly when it was right across the street. They all walked back to the hotel and left the bus at the stadium.
The Bees took a beating, losing 11-1, but the Aces fans were thrilled at the performance.
While I chatted with Jenn, watched Jim do his thing, people watched in the crowd, I did mange to watch enough of the game to know that the Bees need some new pitchers and a better defense. It was like coming home to something so familiar it is like the back of your hand, always there but getting very little attention. I am not saying I will suddenly become the ardent baseball fan, but I will acknowledge that I do love the game for all it has been in my life and appreciate the fun it infused into me last night.
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