This blog began as a way to record my musings about preparations and travels to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada February 16-27, 2010. From that amazing experience came this ongoing story of becoming a sports fan. You can follow my tales of awe, agony, and all the emotions in between as well as view pics from seasons of Phillies baseball. Along the way is a little Eagles football thrown in for fun, and even some astronomy and weather related tales. I feel lucky to have witnessed some historic games, some heartbreaking losses, but all wonderful when told from this new fan's point of view.

Blog Archives postings:
Dec 2009-Feb 2010
Olympics
March 2010-Dec 2011
Baseball and more
2011 The Phillies do again, winning the Eastern Championship for the 5th straight year.
April 2012-Sept 27 2012 Not the best season for the Phillies
2013-We wait and see!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Happy New Year!


Peter on the right at a Phillies game
Peter has been my baseball buddy for the past 3 years and a pool buddy for many more than that. He shared this story.......

Peter's Best Rosh Hashanah 

A number of years ago in the early-mid 1990s, I was doing a craft show in Evanston, IL (I am a furniture maker).  It happened that this was the last time the High Holy Days were as early as they are this year.   Erev Rosh Hashanah was prior to Labor Day that year.  In fact, Erev Rosh Hashanah and  the evening service for Rosh Hashanah was the night of the end of the show, Sunday night.   

The friends I was staying with, in Willamette, had obtained a ticket for me to go to services with them.  A few of my friends in the show who were Jewish, and not going home the next morning made me an offer.  It turned out that The Cubs were at home, and playing a day game the next day, and they asked if I wanted to celebrate Rosh Hashanah at Wrigley Field.  My friends said go---how often could I go to a gem at Wrigley? 

Walter, Tobie, and Peter at School Lane House Pool
So, we went.  We got there as early as we could buy tickets, got great seats, second level, right  behind home plate, right below the announcer's booth (During the seventh inning stretch, Harry Carey led the singing of Take me out to the ballgame) and we could hear Harry without his microphone.  They were playing the Pirates, back when they were a good team.*  The wind was blowing out.  There were a bunch of home runs.  The Pirate homers got thrown back onto the field, and the Cubs stole defeat from the jaws of victory.  

Probably my most memorable Rosh Hashanah.

L'shanah Tovah to all. Play Ball! 

* How bout them Pirates in 2013!