Day 252 Shouts

August 18, 2015

(If we live with an open and grateful attitude, every day will bring a gift. This is one of 365 gifts during the year I turned 70.)

Bowie Baysox game with Erin, FL, Sarah, David, Bob and Krazy George, inventor of the wave.

Tonight we attended a Bowie Baysox game with the Trenton Thunder. I must admit that I am not a team sports enthusiast and during any ballgame, I have to keep asking my husband what team we are playing. I watch through my telephoto lens how the hitter’s body twists and how it flows as it connects with the ball. I watch the windup of the pitcher and how his body dances. At any particular point in the game, I lose track of who is winning and who is losing because I am watching the players dance.

Unlike me, David could have been a cheerleader. Well…I don’t see him leaping with pompoms but I recognize the essential spirit that must arise and infect other fans. At this game, his voice boomed out, much louder than the stadium’s PA system and with more volume than my body is capable of. I watched—listened—to his shouts, urging the batters to live up to their brother’s record, telling the Baysox that the fans were behind them, urging the fans to clap and shout. The Baysox were behind and David rallied the scattered fans to show their support. And then the magic happened and the Baysox won. 

It’s possible that my husband was part of the magic. It’s possible that his contagious enthusiasm wove a spell among the fans and our team. All I know is that whatever I am doing, I want David as my cheerleader. 

Simply because we do not run across goal lines, slam-dunk basketballs, or hit home runs, doesn't mean we can't change the score.”  ~ Author Unknown

My gift today is a cheerleader.
 

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> Day 253 Four Weeks

You can find links to my other posts on this project here:

http://bjschupp.blogspot.com/2014/12/365-gifts.html

Day 201 Where Gnome One Has Gone Before

June 28, 2015

(This is part of a 365 project during my 70^th year where I write and illustrate a blog on each day’s gift.)

David Ettlin with Buck Showalter gnome.

After storms postponed yesterday’s game, the rescheduled Orioles game tonight against the Cleveland Indians ended with an 8 to 0 Baltimore victory.  A highlight of the game was a fantastic and dramatic stretched diving catch by Travis Snider, who also hit one of the game's homeruns. The Orioles showed gnome mercy to the Indians.  

What a fun time with husband David and friend Stacy. It was a game honoring Orioles manager Buck Showalter and a huge crowd of Baltimore fans lined up to enter the stadium and claim their free Buck Showalter garden gnome. Of course, we all rooted for the gnome team.  At the 7^th inning stretch, we sang John Denver’s Thank God, I’m a Country Boy instead of his well-gnome song Country Roads Take Me Gnome.

What’s more American than baseball and garden gnomes…and all the puns that follow. One fan informed us that it wasn’t weather that had postponed the original game but health concerns about gnomonia. Of course, when talking about gnomes, one must use the correct gnomenclature, as David reminds me. (I’m not sure if I’ve done this.) One fan held a sign: Buck Showalter—to gnome him is to love him. After the game, cheering fans left the stadium saying goodnight to their friends with phrases like, “Nice gnoming you.” And they returned home because there is no place like gnome. 

Gnome puns intended. 

 My gift today is a garden gnome.

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> Day 202: Serendipity

You can find links to my other posts on this project here:

http://bjschupp.blogspot.com/2014/12/365-gifts.html