Iron Pigs a big mess

Last night I had tickets to the Iron Pigs game. I took Erin and Caleb and had an extra ticket, so Janelle and McKenna came along as well. We got there with what we thought was plenty of time, but due to the rain the night before the cancelled game was being played as well so they started at six and we were nearly an hour late. No worries, we were going to have fun anyway. After parking in Somalia and walking up the hill with my pregnant sister and two year old niece, being passed by shuttle carts with smirking twenty something men who clearly don't know what chivalry means, we approached the gate. After getting in we started the maze of people dodging that left one of McKenna's shoes somewhere behind us and we may never have retrieved it were it not for the kindness of a stranger. After a scolding from my sister for not knowing a shoe fell off someone else's body, and finding out Erin had stepped over it thinking it was some strangers, we got to our seats with everyone's personal effects intact.

Now began the process of getting people dinner. I was responsible for Erin and Caleb and so I divided and conquered. Well, I divided anyway. Erin wanted corn, we got corn, she wanted soda, we got soda. Sent her down, she sent Caleb up. Caleb wanted pizza and soda. Then I walked him down to the seat and went and bought my own dinner. Let me tell you, the corn is so good. I know, there are cheese steaks, and burgers, and whatever else. But corn, and pork kabobs, yum!

So, I go down, eat my food, and Caleb says he is still hungry, not a surprise, I had been warned.
So, I said please let me finish this mess and then we will go. Luckily my sister has insane amounts of baby wipes and I could clean my hands. I picked two of the messiest things of course. So, Caleb wanted corn and Erin wanted pizza. I was glad to get it for them, but I came to realize the scene in A Christmas Story where the Mom gets up to get food for people after they each wait for her to sit down isn't so far from real life.

First game ends and Erin has to use the bathroom. So, we go, and we got ice. I got one, she got one, and I got Caleb cotton candy. I know, I'm poisoning them!
I know prices are steep at ballparks, but after I left with my ice, I had the realization and it just came out of my mouth, "I just spent 3.50 on ice." Erin heard me and without much time to think says, "Maybe its the economy." I laughed and said, yeah I think it is. She's hilarious. Well, we had a good time and ate things that shouldn't be legal. Caleb turned into a sugar tornado that was not to be reckoned with. I felt my leg getting wet and heard fizzing. Soda was spewing and when I looked he had finally gotten the cap on. I asked if he shook his soda and he said yes. I asked why and of course there was no answer. Between that and the cotton candy all over his face he needed to be hosed off, but baby wipe to the rescue, we survived.

McKenna of course, was a form of entertainment, getting excited for Fefe and Ferrous, clapping with a fry in one hand and a bit of chicken in the next. She enjoyed the ice she shared with Janelle as well. We all love sugar!

Another trip to the bathroom with Caleb proved to be an interesting tale. He wanted to go into the men's room. No doubt due to my covering his eyes upon our first entrance into the ladies room. I know, a bit overkill. But, after watching any Dateline episode after 1994, I am so hesitant to let him out of my sight. Luckily a nice lady said there was a family restroom, so, I turned around and let him deal. No sooner was the door closed that the toilet flushed and he was washing his hands. So unfair to be a woman at a public venue. I always knew that. But seriously, how is it possible for it to be done so quickly?!?!!!!

We headed down to our seats and left shortly after. We all walked down and I held McKenna to make it a bit faster, though we were still checking for shoes quite often.

All in all, a great game. We lost the first game, don't know who won the second. I never go for the game really. Just the scene. Love the chaos for a short time, the goofy things they do to pass the time. The odd conversations you can overhear, and the cool weather and bright lights once the sun goes down. Can't beat the company with a stick either. Well, I guess technically you could, but it is illegal and I love them way too much to do that anyway.

I even saw Deanna Gehman, she was there with a group from church, and I get to see her in two weeks at the Musselman reunion. A good start to the summer. Spent way too much money on food for a night and could have lived for two weeks if it were the grocery store, but so glad to do it. There are so many things I will remember, definitely the economy comment, bathrooms and soda with Caleb, and McKenna's exuberance at anything musical or pig mascot, and Janelle's comments while being passed by a shuttle cart. Seriously, those of you who know her, know it is hard not to laugh when she gets a bit irritated, yet is being lighthearted about the situation.

Good times, good times!

Tuesday With Arlen?

The weather was so beautiful yesterday, and though it was cool to some, I would be happy if every single day of the year were the same temperature and humidity. Plus my hair looked awesome!

Anyway, I decided to change things up and park at the Topton Home, jog down to the track, run a few miles, and jog back. Once I finished my little routine around the home, I neared the school to find there was a baseball game in progress on the field next to the track. I wouldn't care except that the spectators sit on the inside of the track to watch the game. Why? I don't know, but it annoys me because I would have to jog in front of them every lap and after a while I just feel dumb. Drives me nuts!

So, I decided to jog down and cross the road and jog through the residential section. I had been down that way before when this same thing happened last year, so I just kept going, knowing I couldn't get lost.

I past an elderly gentleman who commented that he wished he could do what I was doing. It seemed rude to just wave as if to say, yeah, it sucks to be you, so I crossed the street and jogged in place.

He said, "Oh, I'm so glad you stopped", to which I thought, oh great I hope I'm not going to be harangued for too long. Well, I continued to jog in place and we talked about jogging paths and where he had run in his younger days. I had gotten tired of jogging in place on an incline and felt a bit stupid now that the conversation had gone on much longer than I had anticipated.

He apologized that his nose was running and so I handed him a tissue. I always take them when I jog because my nose is always running, gross I know, but that is my life. He was reluctant to take it, but I insisted that it was no problem.

He said he missed running, but he just couldn't anymore. I said I had voiced my concern about wear on my joints for the future and he mentioned he would run upwards of ten miles in the Marine Corps and that I would be stronger in the future for my efforts today. He told me he was 80 and only needed a cane.

I said, "You were in the Marine Corps?"

"Yes, 22 years."

"Thank you for your service to this country." With his head down, he said,

"No, no I didn't say that for you to thank me."

"Listen! Thank you for your service." He looked up and said,

"Thank you."

Then he said after all these years he has one regret. He wishes he would have stayed in the service for 29 years and not gotten out so soon. It was all he could think about each evening while he watched television with his dog, Amber close by him. He had traveled to many places and taken his family when he could. His youngest daughter was born in Copenhagen, but he still wishes he would have stayed.

I felt like a heel for initially not want to stop and talk to this "old man". Then I was humbled by the fact that he was reluctant to take a tissue from me. Something is terribly amiss. I have noticed from many service people that they do not walk around thinking we owe them anything, when we owe them so much. Honestly, a tissue is the least I can give in return.

It had started to get dark and I said I should get going. The path I took was a loop and I had to pass him again. I said good night and he bid me to hurry because the moon was rising.

What a sweet man, outside with his dog at night, engaging in conversation with people he meets, wishing after all these years he could have served his country more. I don't know the actual years you need to be born to be considered a part of the greatest generation, but technical or not, Arlen form Topton is definitely among them.

I didn't get all the jogging in I wanted to on account of it getting dark and my hapchance meeting. But, I'm so glad for the opportunity to meet an interesting character, and I'm glad I took it. I had just been thinking that I so often forgo building relationships with people because I have some task I need to get done. And while to let every task go, would be irresponsible, some tasks just don't have the timeline we put on them. I don't expect that it will turn into a Tuesdays with Arlen type scenario, but if I see him again I will stop and chat.

When I read the Bible and notice Jesus' interactions with people, He never seems hurried. He's not the "white rabbit" that I can be so often. He is calm, He is interested in people, and He is present. Granted, He is perfect and is all those things to people even now, but I want to be like that for Him and others. Those of you who know me, and even those of you who don't, please pray, I have so far to go and the moon is rising.