Baseball

With game 6 of the World Series just hours away, I was reflecting on the start of the season which, for me, began with a laughter filled trip to Scottsdale Arizona with my two favorite baseball fans - Montana and Leggs.  We squeezed in four games in three days, although the rain and hail cut three of those games short.  Despite the thick pellets of hail and menacing thunder and lightning, and thanks to our trusty emergency ponchos, we still had a delightful time. 

Here's a little expert from my journal I jotted down on the plane ride home... Memorable Moments

The whole first game! Giants vs Dodgers. We got up with the rain, headed to Starbucks for coffee, Albertsons for sunscreen and ponchos, Einsteins for bagels and a new travel mug, then found good parking, close, and headed into Scottsdale Stadium.  The rain came first, so we doddled around, into the Team Store for Giants gear (for Maddie) but the lines were madness, then out into the stadium hallway to browse the baseball paraphernalia  There were concessions, and famous players from another year, like Gaylord Perry and Rollie Fingers, but there was an uproar from around the corner. We meandered over to see what the fuss was about.  Montana smirked.  It was "Mystery Baseball."  A fundraiser for the Giants Foundation community fund - $80 for a chinese take-out box with a Giants sticker on top. Inside was an autographed baseball, which could be a random or could be Buster Posey.  Montana turned to me, "I'm gonna do it." "Do it," I cheered on.  She stepped up to the table, paid her $80, and turned to Leggs and I for advice about which box to choose.  We looked bewildered at each other, both thinking "I don't want to be responsible for her fate" and said "You have to choose." She looked us each in the eye and, like a child in front of a christmas tree, scanned the boxes for her choice.  She reached out, grabbed a box, and greedily scratched at the sticker.  The Foundation staff began the drum roll on the folding table.  The box was open and her long skinny fingers searched for her prize.  Out came the ball.  She scanned it for the signature and we looked on perplexed.  What was the scribble?  Thankfully, the Foundation lady gasped and smiled and scrambled for the box... inside was a sheet of paper.  She ripped it out of the box and fumbled it open.  "Madison Bumgardner" she exclaimed. We all cheered for joy and Leggs and I sighed with relief. Montana will be pleased.  Montana was pleased.