June 19 – “Guys night at the game”

Because of the incredible generosity of a good friend (Thanks so much, Clint Richey), I was able to see an Astros game the other night.  As you might or (probably) might not know, the Astros have been doing really well lately.  They won five games in a row and last night they even had a grand slam home run in a 10 to 1 victory.  Things are really looking up around the ball park.  Great time to catch a game, right?  Well, as far as I’m concerned, going to a game is kind of like going fishing.  The best time to go is whenever you can.  And thanks to Clint, we had four tickets. 

The ones who won the “I got to go to an Astros game with DadDad” lottery this time were Kel, Jachin, and Micah, and I must say the boys were pretty excited.  Jachin and Micah were happy to be going as well.  Micah had swimming lessons up to the last moment before we had to leave, so we met them at a Target nearby.  Why Target?  Well, the little man had to have an Astros cap, of course.  Can’t adequately root for the home team with a cap.  As it turned out they were having a sale on caps with the old logo.  And Micah found just the one he wanted.  His Dad did his best to convince him to hold out for a hat with the new logo on it.  Micah, however, stood his ground.  I don’t imagine it helped Kel’s case any to have good ol’ DadDad standing there, wearing an Astros cap with the old logo on it.  Hey, Micah, Middle Child Solidarity all the way, right? 

The ride to the game could best be described as … noisy.  Those were some excited boys.  It was getting close to game time when we walked in.  Kel fast-talked the attendant into letting Micah keep his bottle of water.  Actually it was another attendant who arrived, sized up the situation – a little kid swigging a just-opened bottle of what was obviously water and not some secret stash of vodka – and waved us through.  As we rounded the corner on our way to the escalators, who should we run into but ex-fire chief Jeff Smith, wearing his first aid outfit.  Seems he is enjoying his retirement in style by occasionally working for the Astros.  Shows up a few hours before the game, hangs out with the players while they take batting practice, eats a good meal when game time approaches, and gets paid in the process.  Any little kid’s dream job, I must say.  Good for you, Jeff.

Our seats were amazing.  Club level.  Right behind home plate and just under the announcers and reporters.  The guy in front of us was wearing a baseball cap that intrigued me.  It was from the Chicago American Giants of the old Negro League.  And around the fourth inning I had my frozen lemonade in hand.  I was officially at the game.  During the seventh inning stretch, while we sang Take Me Out To The Ball Game, the announcers all started tossing bags of peanuts and cracker jacks out of their windows.  I snagged a cracker jacks.  Now that’s the way to see a baseball game.  We made the scoreboard cam around the eighth inning.  I guess by that time there just weren’t very many interesting people left in the stands.  The boys were really getting sleepy by then, too.  It was well after ten, way past my bedtime, for sure, by the time the game finally ended.  We headed back to the car and by the time we got back to LaMarque Micah was out like a light.  Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that the Astros lost 4-2.  The one game they lost out of a streak of six or seven wins.  But it sure didn’t matter to us.  It was all about the experience.  Guys night at the Astros game.  Can’t beat it.

Psalms 96:2-3 says, “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”

Father, thank you for good family times like a night at the ball game.  Thank you for friends that care enough to make them possible.  Bless Clint and Jennifer and little Chase with much happiness.  Amen.