Weekly Photo Challenge: Between

redslogo
the Reds logo from 1954-59

O and I decided we needed a diversion, actually I decided I needed a diversion, something to get my mind away from what I was thinking, what was on my mind. Baseball, it is the space in between which takes us off our worries, for even a moment.

Baseball. I remember going to watch my home team, the Astros, play games indoors in the Astrodome. I’ve since moved away from home and my team has moved out of the Astrodome, but I am still a fan. I still pull for my Astros, though I have lost the connection to the ‘stros and I don’t get out to the ballpark as much as I used to; I still try to take in a game when I can.

the 7th inning stretch is coming
the 7th inning stretch is coming

Last summer when Grandma Weaver was at the cottage, she wanted to watch her team, the Cincinnati Reds. They weren’t on television – it’s Detroit Tiger country up there – so I tried finiding the radio stream on the internet and couldn’t. I ended up purchasing the iPhone\iPad app MLB that allowed me to listen to the broadcast of the game, any game, live. It was fun listening to the baseball game and the first game we listened to was a no-hitter, so it was even more special. Listening to the Reds at the cottage last summer re-ignited my fire for the game and I have followed for the Reds since. This year I renewed the iPhone app and I’ve been listening to the Reds and other teams, when I can. There is something about listening to the radio broadcast of a game; it is second only to being at the ballpark. Over Spring break we had taken in a Tigers game and it was a blast. Secretly, I was hoping to make it a few more ballparks as I could this season.

The Reds were in town to play the Cubs for a three game series and I wanted to go. I’ve really had the itch to go to the ballpark and take in a game in several times this year, but haven’t. I asked O if she wanted to go or if we could go and she replied, “Of course.”

Wrigley Field is a special place. It’s the second oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball and is celebrating its one hundredth year this year. One of the most enduring traditions at Wrigley is singing, “Take me out to the ballpark” for the seventh inning stretch. The seventh inning stretch, it’s a tradition; it’s the place between the top of the seventh inning and the bottom of seventh inning. There is always a different ‘conductor’ who leads the crowd in singing the song. Last night’s conductor was Sting. The Sting.

Take me out to the ballgame

Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack
I don’t care if I never get back

So it’s root, root, root for the Cubbies
They don’t win, it’s a shame
It’s one, two, three strikes
You’re out at the old ballgame

Let’s get some runs….

WOW! At the time, the score was tied 1-1. The game remained tied until the top of the ninth, when the floodgates opened and the Reds scored five runs to take the lead 6 to 1. The Cubs went three up three down in the bottom of the inning and the Reds earned the win to go over .500 for the first time this season.

O kept score most of the game and had a great time. I had even more fun helping her learn to keep score  and watching the game. It was a great diversion. It seemed like there were more Reds fans attending than Cubs fan, or maybe it’s just a bias. The family behind us, a family of seven, was visiting Chicago from Ohio for the week to visit family and were there to support their team. It was a good time and I had fun with O. It was a good diversion for the two of us, something in between. W is at wrestling camp in Wisconsin and B is in Ohio with her family, we’ll be travelling to Ohio to be with them early Thursday morning.

It seems summer moves quickly, sometimes too quickly to keep up; sometimes it’s a crawl, and sometimes it’s everything in between. It has been fifteen days since summer began. Fifty-seven days remain. I intend to make every single day, every moment ,count. Today is gonna be a great day, I know it and I can feel it so, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, especially with the moments in between.  

What do you do to take up space in between?

Today’s post is in response to the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge – prompt – at Word Press.  This week’s prompt is “Between,” capture something in the middle of two things. It can be a person or object, or simply the space in between. It can also be a feeling or relationship — a bond that connects people, or a space that separates. This word might also reflect a choice you need to make — the challenge of choosing one thing over another — or any kind of transition, from childhood to adulthood, single life to married life, day to night.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

2 thoughts on “Weekly Photo Challenge: Between

Thanks for visiting MtDC. How are YOU Making YOUR Days Count?