This is a story...

 Perhaps this is a story about a baseball game: 

 Halladay has let 4 runs go by, some as home runs. We are sad to watch him flounder. "Not the Halladay we know" say my friends. In order to keep up our spirits, we cheer when the opposing team doesn't score in an inning.

Perhaps this is a story about rising stars: 

Freddy Galvis, Jake Deikman, Ty Wiggington, Hector Luna (he of grand slam fame just a few games ago) who help the Phillies get the 2 runs to the Nationals 5.

Perhaps this is a story of families: 

My cousin's son (technically my cousin as well) plays his last collegiate baseball game, then graduates from LaSalle University cum laude. I am one of 30 family members who show up to cheer him on the whole weekend. This is the amazing Zaslow-Flax 3 generation clan that continues to live in the same area, supporting each other in good times and bad.

Perhaps this is a story about a day of endings: 

Only a mere 2 months after the first open house to start the sale, today we turned over the keys of my mother's house to the new owners who love the house as a new home.
We are glad that they are nice people and will cherish the house that was ours for 43 years.
Marc and I arranged to meet with our financial advisor. Eric joins us through Skype. We are very glad to see each other and learn about our good fortune.

Perhaps this is a story of anticipation of good things to come
Meeting with Headlong Dance, Andrew and Amy, telling stories, improvising a bit, an appetizer in preparation for a performance.

A new song written.  

Perhaps this is a story...

Senior Stroll Around the Bases After a Winning Game

My status as a Senior (as in over 55) with all the rights and privileges associated with it has been officially recognized today. For today, you see, was the afternoon Phillies vs. Astros game that ended with the Senior Stroll Around the Bases, a most pleasant event that capped a winning game.

It was almost a washout, and would have been if the weather forecasts had come true. Last night and this morning, the much needed rain soaked the city. Even up until 12:00 today it was wet and soggy, not the best outlook for holding the game.  Checking on the Phillies site, there was a tweet posted at 9:08 a.m that Amaro, the general manager had called the ballpark to have them take up the infield tarp.  Around 12:00 more tweets indicated the game would start as planned.  As I walked to catch the subway, the rain cleared away, and it seemed all was going well for a good afternoon of baseball.

Janet and Tobie on the field

Sure enough, the whole afternoon, though cloudy, was rain free. The Phillies scored two runs in the 2nd inning and continued to hold the lead throughout the first 8 innings. In the top of the 9th Janet and I made our way down to the 1st level to wait  to start the stroll onto the field which we assumed would start soon. The problem was that the game was far from over. Standing in the long line, we couldn't see the field, but knew something bad had happened when we heard groans and boos.  Hunter Pence missed an easy catch, which resulted in an Astro being flagged to home-the tying run. We edged over to watch the game, where an usher let us sit in the100 level section (very nice!). When the Phillies didn't score any runs in the bottom of the ninth, the extra innings battle began.

A pitcher I had not seen, Jake Diekman,  was making his Major League debut as the closer after being called up from the Lehigh minor league team on Friday. The Phillies news page described it this way. "It was a memorable  [debut], to say the least, and occurred in a high-leverage situation. And as a result, he had his first big league victory"   Diekman's long pitching stride has an elegance that caught my attention. Certainly, a pitcher to watch.

The stroll begins

The bottom of the tenth, Hunter Pence at bat. His  long left leg is raised in preparation  for the powerhouse swing that so electrified us when he first arrived in Philadelphia.   He redeemed himself with  the winning home run! High fives all around for a 4-3 victory.

Trying out for  position of second base

We returned to the line for our chance to stroll onto the field singing 'High Hopes, he's got High Hopes....' Smiles all around.

Dozens of Ballpark folks ushered 1000s of fans down the steps and onto the field, helping everyone take pictures along the way.

View of the stands from the field

As promised,  a lovely thrilling stroll from 1st to 2nd to 3rd and  home plate. The gentleman in a wheel chair behind us  had seen games in all three ballparks. Like me, it was his first time on the field.

Whoever thought this up should get a raise!

Another cold night with friends

The night starts off in a strange way.

It is 6:30 and I  am waiting for friends to bring the ticket. It's 6:30, 6:40, 6:50. The game begins at 7:05 but  I don't have my cell phone to find out why they are late. I do go around and borrow some phones and find out they are stuck in traffic. I will definitely miss the beginning.

So, that is how I find myself in conversation between my 'purist' self, the one who has to be there for  the start of the game rituals-"Oh say can you see" " the first pitch will be thrown by..."  and the 'pragmatist' self

Let's have a listen:

 pragmatist: What does it matter if you miss the first pitch?
 purist:         But that is the ritual!  My friends are messing up my ritual!
 pragmatist:   Its just a game and there are 9 innings, so you'll still get to see 2 hours of  baseball.
 purist:          It's the whole package I'm here for. I like to wander around, settle in, take in the ball  park. And you never know, I might miss a home run!
pragmatist:   If you are so into the whole experience, then pay attention to what is happening around you now.
purist:        Like what?
pragmatist: Have an alternative plan for getting in if they don't show up. Borrow a cell phone to leave them a  message.  Notice how many people are streaming in after the game has already started .Listen to the sounds around you. Feel the air.

So, as I bring the conversation to a close, a young man  passes by selling 328 section tickets for 10 bucks. Ah-hah,  my alternative plan is to  buy one just in case. Next, I do stop to observe that the lines at the gate are packed with people way after the game has started. Amazing. Being inside for all of the previous games, I had always  wondered why the stands weren't nearly full at the beginning of the game. Now at 7:20 there are so many people, the dense ribbon of red and white Phillies gear is astonishing. It brings a smile to my face. Then  I take the time to enjoy the music booming out from McFaddens restaurant. The singer sounds buoyant and upbeat.

The sky is beautiful, with no rain in sight . It's cold, but tonight I am prepared with winter wear.

So, not to worry.

 Elyse and Kenny, of course, show up. Without missing a step we don't stop talking until we are ready to part ways at the end of the game. There has been more talking than watching, but  what we saw was good. Really good. Some homers, some spectacular diving catches, good pitching. Another win for team Phillie (3-1) and team Tobie.

How joyous is that.

Spring and our hearts turn to baseball

"Fredd-y, Fredd-y, Fredd-y, Fredd-y

A new chant booms out from the 1st base side fan seats and builds throughout the ballpark to welcome, encourage, cajole one of the newest Phillies players, Freddy Galvis. It works. He hits a two run double in the bottom of the third as the Phils turn a 1-0 game into a showstopper of an inning. Another new Phil, Juan Pierre, steals bases like a gizelle, wowing the crowd. Later he catches two balls in left field giving way to a smile that beams even to the 400 level fans, "This is fun. I am so happy to be playing here". Our old friends, Roy Halladay, Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz , Hunter Pence continue to beguile.

The game is full of  stealing bases, base hits, doubles, nice outfielding-'small ball' as my educated friends beside me call it. Small enough to produce 7 runs total for the game that also includes home runs and close slides into home plate, enthusiastic high fives from the guys in front and  more from the boisterous women behind us (The young man next to me does more texting than watching).

It is one of two days that are going to dip below 60 degrees, so we are all bundled in winter attire of coats, scarves and gloves. Wish I had worn my warm socks and long underwear. But by the 6th inning we have stood enough times to whoop and holler that  I forget about the wind and the chill.

All along we also watch the posted score for the Flyers -Penguins hockey match up. 2-0, 3-1, and finally 3-3 is how we leave it after the baseball game. In the subway someone starts to cheer when word goes out that the Flyers have won the game 4-3 in overtime. And later it is announced that the 76ers won their basketball game.

A good night for Philadelphia sports fans. On to real spring, warmth sun and more of those new Phillies. We look forward to seeing Ryan Howard and Chase Utley as soon as they are healthy.

Winter haitus

A rough winter as ice skating is on hold to recover from a back injury. But the '76ers are doing great this year, and the Drexel basketball team made an historic 17 straight game winning streak, though sadly  did not get invited to the dance.


I think I will be able to make my goal: to be able to walk to and from the subway station and up to the 400 level of the ballpark without (too much) pain. To this end, continued physical therapy and doctoring.