When Gandhi said, "There is more to life than increasing its speed," I doubt he was talking about spring training baseball, but that is the quote that came to mind as I lay on the berm soaking up the sun on a nearly perfect day.
Last weekend we went out to see the Giants play the Cubs. $30 bought us two lawn tickets from a scalper and for only $5 more we picked up an ice cold bottle of water inside the gates. Concession extortion always annoys me, but as soon as we spread out our blanket and took a seat someone could have told me I needed another ticket to stay past the third inning and I would have happily handed over the cash.
It was about 80 degrees without a cloud in the sky, and we had plenty of room to lay back and bask while Layla ran around making friends with everyone in the area. The drinks were cold, the sun warm, and the hot dogs covered in chili and cheese. It may as well have been heaven. And we stayed there for three solid hours, without a care in the world. Nobody cares what you look like or which team you're cheering for. Nobody gets upset if you step on their blanket or if your kid wanders over and asks for some of their popcorn. The outfield lawn at Hohokam Stadium is as close to Utopia as the 21st century human race is capable of reaching.
I will be the first to tell you that the devil himself leaves Phoenix in the summer for cooler climes, but Springtime here is amazing, and there's no better way to enjoy it than Cactus League baseball. Our home is always open for anyone who wants to catch a game and stay a few nights. Just make sure you're gone by mid-June or there may be serious health risks. The medical community is unsure whether or not the human body can survive even a moment in the Arizona heat, as no one here has ever left their house after summer solstice to find out.
3 comments:
So fun! We should take the girls to a game someday! We went to a few spring training games last year b/c we lived right next to the Peoria sports complex, where the Mariners played.
Oh my gosh, That sounds like a fairy tale. I am so excited for Baseball,warm weather and paying to much for water.
Sounds like the you all had a wonderful time and Layla is just darling!
There is often something salubrious about going to a baseball game. You are outdoors. You have a spectacle to watch, but not at the expense of social exchange. And there is something very grand about a baseball game that you can't appreciate on television--the great expanse of the field, the manicured green grass, the distance from home plate to the foul line, the loneliness in centerfield, or the integrated movements of all the players when the ball is put in play. There is something uniquely American about men hawking beer and hot dogs, and strangers passing them down the row, only to hand down money in the opposite direction. And there is something mystical about thousands of avid fans rousing in unison over a nuance that would escape the average spectator. Baseball is one of the two great cultural contributions America has made to the world. Glad you three are enjoying it.
Dad
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