Going to Yankee games are some of my best childhood memories. In part because the Yankees were an amazing team when I was growing up in the Seventies, and yes, watching a team win is always way more fun than seeing them lose Going to a game was always a surprise! My father would come home from work early and tell us we were going on outing. I remember stopping for hot corned beef on rye sandwiches to eat in the car or in the deli, and just thinking about them makes my mouth water. Then on we'd go to Yankee Stadium. The experience was electric and the whole area around the stadium buzzed with people, hot dog vendors, and those selling tickets and souvenirs. We would find our seats - usually behind home plate. These were the corporate seats that my dad got from his clients, so they were always great seats. Watching the game, seeing the players up close, peanuts, cracker jacks, ice cream...pure joy!
Going to Yankee games with my kids enabled me to continue the tradition, a love for baseball, and fun family outings. Unfortunately, I had to actually pay for the tickets, so I was lucky to go to a game only once or twice a season. Moving to Florida brought a new opportunity... Yankee Spring Training. While not the house that Ruth built, Steinbrenner Field in Tampa was fun, and every seat was a good one. Ticket prices were way more affordable so attending games was much more feasible. Moving to Tampa opened up so many things to do as we were no longer house bound on cold winter days. Daniel and I never took that for granted and we took many opportunities to enjoy spring training games. The last game we went to - just the two of us = was early March 2020, right before the world shut down for covid. We bought extra tickets to go to more games that season so the kids could come with us, but they games never took place. They were given to the kids as holiday presents so they were very disappointed. Now its 2022 and despite delays due to contract negotiations, the games are on again - and I owed the kids.
It was a glorious day, not a cloud in the sky. So wonderful to spend time with the kids, to watch my favorite team, and yet I'm fighting back tears. I have never been at this stadium without Daniel. I miss him terribly. So many emotions at once. What to do? Stand up and dance with the field maintenance crew to YMCA. Sing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" as loudly as I can, during the seventh inning stretch, with all the swaying and hand motions. Share a bag of cracker jacks. Clap and stand for every base hit and jump up with a "Whoop There It Is" with every run. Take a few selfies with the kids. Enjoy these times together before they are off doing theses things with families of their own. After all, it was a glorious day, not a cloud in the sky.