In some families, a day at the ballpark would be scrupulously planned.
Especially if the tickets were $50 a pop spiffy skybox seats.
Especially if the Twins were only a half game out of 1st place.
ESPECIALLY if it was the pitching return of prodigal son Francisco Liriano.
In some families, everyone would have risen early and only used baseball metaphors and wittisims throughout the day in their fervor and excitement. Children and parents would be cleaned and dressed. The vehicle would be packed with essential items. Promptly. Tickets would be checked and counted.
TICKETS WOULD BE CHECKED.
I wish I could explain why I thought the game started at 2:55. I don’t know where I got that time. I don’t know why it was lodged so thoroughly and completely in my mind that I felt no need to check the tickets. I actually kind of wish I knew what DID start at 2:55 because I must have thought it was pretty important. More important than… say…. going to a really great game… with my kids and husband… that I paid $150 to see. So, it’s probably the exact moment that an asteroid was supposed to smash into the earth.
Around 2pm I decide I’d better get the troops moving. Because, you know, I like to THINK AHEAD. The Baby was finishing her nap and the rest of us lollygagged around (the infield) the house and took showers and lollygagged (around the outfield) and got dressed and brushed our hair, got a few toys together for The Baby and I’m hanging around surfing the ‘nets and I see a box score….
FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE VERY GAME WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO THAT ISN’T SUPPOSED TO START UNTIL 2:55 OR SO MY BRAIN HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE.
So, I freak out, like you do….
Kory runs over and we check the site and realize the game is playing and I run over and grab the tickets and it says 1:10pm ALL OVER THE TICKETS.
1:10 1:10 1:10
1:10 1:10 1:10
WHAT INNING IS IT?, I yell.
TOP OF THE 6th!, Kory yells back.
GRAB THE BABY!!!, we both yell.
And we grab her and The Teen and run screaming and flailing our arms to the car… and we arrive to the Metrodome in the 7th inning, just in time to eat a few dogs and have some nachos and fruit.
And then… it was over.
Because THAT’s how we roll in my house, darlings. Planning-schmanning.
It’s just not a family outing for us if there are no screaming, flailing and nachos.
“S! Happens.” (“S” because we are desperately trying to not use the swears anymore) is our favorite motto. I can totally relate, and I think you could actually find some super fancy scientific type medical official study that proves our brains shift gears to remembering to feed the baby and away from remembering what time a game starts. It’s true. I know it is. Someone somewhere did a study, dammit. Op, I mean “D!” (The swears again.)
Comment by Krista — August 16, 2008 @ 5:55 am
Ooooooh, I’m sorry that happened to you! But, I can totally relate too, unfortunately.
At least you didn’t grocery shop like a mad woman last week, cart FULL of groceries. Check out, pay, go get the number for the pick-up, get in your car, put your number on your slightly rolled-down window — and then PROCEED TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE GROCERY STORE WITHOUT STOPPING TO HAVE THE KID PUT THE GROCERIES IN YOUR TRUNK!
Get ALL THE WAY HOME before you realize you forgot the groceries. Wonder…Where in the **** is the number I put on the WINDOW?! Imagine cluelessly driving back home, singing to some dumb song on the radio as the plastic number FLIES OFF YOUR WINDOW, probably hitting the car behind you.
Then, driving ALL THE WAY BACK to the grocery store. Having to explain to the 11 year old kid that YOU LOST THE NUMBER SOMEHOW. And then he proceeds to DEMAND PROOF that you REALLY BOUGHT GROCERIES. So, you tell him, “You’re so smart! I’m the Grocery Bandit everyone’s heard about. Driving from grocery store to grocery store STEALING OTHER PEOPLE’S GROCERIES!” Finally embarrassing him enough that he just loads my trunk up. And then finally I’m home WAY LATER AND TOTALLY EXHAUSTED!
I think I need to be included in that fancy scientific type medical study Krista talks about above.
Also, I *love* the 3rd photo down of the baby looking at the teenager like that. That’s a keeper! Awesome!
Comment by blue girl — August 18, 2008 @ 8:01 am
Your son is super handsome! All those naive little farmers daughters in Iowa better beware, the hunk from “The Cities” is on the loose. Hee hee Also Bella is quite the looker. Good baby making skills.
I love that you can laugh at the panic of being late. Kory and you both look super relaxed in the photos and not at all like there was any flailing. Super proud of you both.
Love, Gab
Comment by Gabbi — August 18, 2008 @ 8:06 am
Oh no D! That stinks but i think it’s great that you guys made the best of it. Love the pictures, especially the one of The Baby and The Teen-Bella’s expression is priceless.
GO TWINS!
J
Comment by Jules — August 20, 2008 @ 11:06 am