What could be better than a girl's day out at the ball game? I cut out of work a few hours early, picked Sugarpie up after nursery school and we headed to the ballgame - the noon game on Thursday. It was a beautiful day for a ball game!!
Watching the game through her eyes is a pretty neat experience. She asks a lot of questions, as most inquisitive 4 year olds would do - but the cool thing about that is, she was asking questions about baseball - she really gets into the game! Now, she has been attending games before she would walk or talk and it's been fun to see her love and interest in the game grow as she does.
We donned our Syracuse baseball hats and pulled on the new baseball shirt that I bought for her and headed into the game. First off, two guys were sitting in our seats (our RESERVED, non-marked, SEASON TICKET seats!!). I politely mentioned that WE have seats number 11 & 12 and one of them said Oh! I think we have 9 and 10, we didn't even look! Hmph! Sugarpie just
s t a r e d (as only she can do) while they got up and kicked all of their food wrappers and beer cups to land under their new seats...all except for the peanut shells they left where our feet are supposed to go. Sugarpie just stared at the peanut shells and said "who would do that? it's a mess!!" Mess indeed!!!
So little side note here: I have a THING about people just sitting wherever they please. I'm going to be talking about that when things start getting busier and I lose my elbow room. I really think everyone should take their rightful place in the stadium. If people have 300 level seats, then they need to go up the stairs and sit where they belong. If people have seats 9 & 10, then look at the numbers and sit there. I could go on - but there will more than likely be more of that as the season continues...haha - stay tuned.
So back to the cool kid...I applied sunscreen to her cute little face and she did the same for me - she made sure it was rubbed in thoroughly and inspected my face carefully to see that she covered every inch. She broke out the bubbles (a must have at the ball game) and quickly made friends with a very cute little boy sitting behind us as he tried to pop the bubbles. He left early, so she settled in with me and tuned into the game.
I tend to be somewhat vocal at the games (Molly likes to help me with that) and if I have a player whom I really like or maybe I just like his name, I will shout it out. Sugarpie copied EVERYTHING I shouted ;) Of course I had my trusty bat shaker and during a particularly good play, we started cheering and Sugarpie turned to me and said "Where's the shaker??!!"
She had questions about the bat boys and their job, the umpire, how to know who was on what team, where were Schooch and Pops, why weren't they dancing when their song came on (she had a couple theories about that), she mentioned that she really likes cotton candy, when I was sad about losing, she did her best to console me saying maybe Carlos will hit a home run, we sang take me out to the ball game, she had a conversation with our favorite security guy, and when "Swing" by Trace Adkins started playing, she turned to me with an astonished expression and exclaimed "that's our favorite song!!!" She particularly like the beginning of the song when he says "take me out to the ball game" in that deep, gravelly voice.
Sugarpie has twin 3 year old brothers and they love the game as much as she does. When we get home from a game, they ask me to play "Swing" and we sing it loudly as they tear around the room, running bases, throwing balls and swinging pretend bats. Amazing how they can emulate so closely the movements of the players. I have to say it's truly one of the most heart warming experiences of my life.
It occurred to me one day, what a gift we are able to give three little children - to enjoy the great outdoors, be together creating lasting memories, instilling in them the love of one of America's favorite pastimes and living life. Not to mention, what a gift they have given me by sharing my love of baseball and having time with three of my most favorite people in the universe. It's just good, clean fun - and lots of it.
It just doesn't get any better than that!!
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